"All My Ex's Live in Texas" | ||||
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Single by George Strait | ||||
from the album Ocean Front Property | ||||
B-side | "I'm All Behind You Now" | |||
Released | April 10, 1987 | |||
Recorded | September 23, 1986 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:22 | |||
Label | MCA 53087 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sanger D. Shafer Lyndia J. Shafer [3] | |||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Bowen, George Strait | |||
George Strait singles chronology | ||||
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"All My Ex's Live in Texas" is a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in April 1987 as the second single from Strait's album Ocean Front Property . "All My Ex's Live In Texas" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
A version of the song recorded by its co-author Sanger D. Shafer appeared in the film Road House , the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas [4] and TV show Ash vs Evil Dead . Rapper Drake mentions the song in his single "HYFR".
The song "Tip Your Bartender" by New York post-hardcore band Glassjaw, contains the lyric: "All my ex's live with hexes."
The format of the song is that of a list song.
The narrator explains that he had lived most of his life in Texas along the Frio River (Brazos River in Shafer's original recording, Colorado River in his later performances), but that a string of failed relationships with women in that state that ended disastrously (such as going insane, sending the law after him and walking out before the honeymoon) prompted him to flee to Tennessee; he still relives his more pleasant times in Texas by way of Transcendental Meditation each night. The song is known for its Western Swing style rhythm.
Country music singer Jack Ingram covered the song from the television special George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert.
"All My Ex's Live in Texas" is widely regarded as one of Strait's best songs. Billboard and American Songwriter ranked the song number two and number five, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest George Strait songs. [5] [6]
Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B+ grade, saying that "you can almost hear the guy smirking as he sings this swinging hit, running down a list of jilted lovers from all over the Lone Star state." [7]
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [8] | 1 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [9] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [10] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
George Harvey Strait Sr. is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980s, famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts. Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the "King of Country Music" by writers and music critics. He currently holds the record for the most number one songs on all charts by an artist, in any genre of music.
"All My Friends Say" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It originally appeared on his 2006 self-titled EP, and was released in January 2007 as his debut single and the first for his 2007 debut album I'll Stay Me. The song became Bryan's first chart entry, spending more than 30 weeks on US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, where it reached a peak of number 5. The song also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching 59. Bryan co-wrote this song with Jeff Stevens and Lonnie Wilson.
"How 'bout Them Cowgirls" is a song written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in August 2007 as the fourth single from his album It Just Comes Natural. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 67 on the Canadian Hot 100.
"Rumor Has It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was released in February 1997 as the first single and title track from his album of the same name. The song was written by Walker and M. Jason Greene.
"Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, and recorded in a country pop style by Stafford as a single in 1973 to minor success. The song would be popularized in a fiddle-based Western rendition by Texas neotraditionalist George Strait in 1982.
"Shiftwork" is a song written by Troy Jones and recorded by the American country music artist Kenny Chesney with George Strait as a duet. It was released in December 2007 as the third single from Chesney's 2007 album, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.
"Live Until I Die" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in October 1993 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Sanger D. Shafer, better known as Whitey Shafer, was an American country songwriter and musician. He wrote numerous hits for stars such as George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and George Strait. He was also a recording artist. His highest single "You Are a Liar", under the name Whitey Shafer, reached No. 48 on the Billboard country chart, in 1981.
"Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" is a song written by American country music artist Alan Jackson and Jim McBride, and recorded by Jackson. It was released in September 1990 as the fourth single from Jackson's first album, Here in the Real World. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, behind "I've Come to Expect It from You" by George Strait, and number 5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
"Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye" is a song written by Tony Martin and Troy Martin, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in December 1988 as the first single from the album Beyond the Blue Neon.
"Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" is a country music song co-written by American songwriters Jim Collins and Marty Dodson. The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album Troubadour, but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead. Released in August 2008, Chesney's rendition is his thirty-eighth Top 40 country hit and his fifteenth Number One hit. Chesney's version is the first single from his album Lucky Old Sun, which was released on his own Blue Chair label in association with BNA Records.
"The Chair" is a song written by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in August 1985 as the first single from Strait’s album Something Special. The song reached number one on the country music charts in both the United States and Canada in 1985. The song was named by CMT as one of the Top 100 country songs of all time, posting at number 24 on that list. Something that sets "The Chair" apart for most other songs of any style - it has no refrain or chorus. Only the basic melody repeats throughout the song.
"The Fireman" is a song written by Mack Vickery and Wayne Kemp, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in May 1985 as the third and final single from his album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. It reached number 5 on the country music chart in the United States, and number 10 in Canada.
"Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" is a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and Darlene Shafer, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in September 1984 as the lead-off single and title track from his album of the same name. It reached number one on the country music charts in the United States, and number 10 in Canada.
"The Cowboy Rides Away" is a song written by Sonny Throckmorton and Casey Kelly, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in January 1985 as the second single from his album Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. It peaked at number 5 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and at number 3 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada. It is the song used by Strait to close out his performances. This is also the name of his final tour commencing January 18, 2013.
"Unwound" is a song written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in April 1981 as his major label debut single and served as the lead single from his debut album Strait Country. It peaked at No. 6 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and is Strait's first top-ten hit.
"I've Come to Expect It from You" is a song written by Buddy Cannon and Dean Dillon, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in October 1990 as the third and final single from his album Livin' It Up. It peaked at number 1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. In the United States it stayed at number 1 for five weeks. In Canada, it reached number 1 in January 1991 and stayed there for one week.
"Marina del Rey" is a song recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in September 1982 as the second single from his album Strait from the Heart, which went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. It peaked at number 6 in the United States, and number 2 in Canada. The song is set in Marina del Rey, California, and it is structured as a slow romantic ballad. Longtime country songwriters Frank Dycus and Dean Dillon composed the tune.
"Down and Out" is a song written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in August 1981 as the second single from his album Strait Country. It peaked at number 16 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and reached number 14 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
"Drinkin' Man" is a song co-written and recorded by the American country music singer George Strait. The song was written by Strait with his son, Bubba and Dean Dillon. It was released on 30 April 2012, as the third single from his album Here for a Good Time.