The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116137   Message #2510744
Posted By: Richie
09-Dec-08 - 11:16 AM
Thread Name: Origins: The authors of the 'Carter Family songs'
Subject: Lyr Add: MY HEART'S TONIGHT IN TEXAS
My Heart's Tonight in Texas also known as "Tonight my Heart's in Texas" was recorded by the Carter Family for Bluebird in 1834. The western folk song, credited to Roden-Max S. Witt in 1900, was first recorded as "By the Silvery Rio Grande" by Ted Chestnut in 1928. "Down by the Silvery Rio Grande" was published in 1913 as by Dave Weisberg, R. F. Roden, and music-Charles Speidel.

The Carters probably based their version on the Girls of the Golden West's recording in 1932.

MY HEART'S TONIGHT IN TEXAS- Carter Family

In the distant state of Texas
By the silvery Rio Grande
Strolled a couple out one evening
Was two sweethearts hand in hand
Was a rich man's pretty daughter
And the lad she loved so dear
Though tomorrow they must part for many a year.

My heart's tonight in Texas
Though I'm far across the sea
The band is playing Dixie
And that's where I long to be
Dad says the earl I'll marry
But although here is my hand
My heart's tonight in Texas
By the silvery Rio Grande.

To Europe she was going
To become a lady grand
For her father hoped an
Earl of course she'll wed
But she went away next morning
And her heart was true to Jack
A letter came one day and this it read

At a stately ball in England
Stood the Texas lass one night
The scenes were all splendid
And the light were dizzyingly bright
The earl knelt beside her
Asking her to be his bride
But her thoughts were by the silvery Rio Grande