Introduction
“Take Me to Texas” is a heartfelt homage performed by country music legend George Strait, written by acclaimed songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. The song was released in 2015 as part of the soundtrack for the History Channel’s ten-part miniseries Texas Rising, which dramatizes the Texas Revolution and the birth of the Lone Star State .
Capturing Strait’s deep roots in his home state, “Take Me to Texas” channels both personal nostalgia and state pride. The lyrics evoke major episodes of Texas history—such as the Battle of San Jacinto and the Alamo—and conjure vivid imagery of the open range, the Rio Grande, cowboys, and small Texan towns. Phrases like “Two hundred years ago / Where a pride rose from the ashes of San Jacinto” and “I’m a child of the Alamo and the Yellow Rose” underscore a romantic yet reverent tone .
Musically, the piece leans on classic country instrumentation: steel guitar, fiddle, acoustic guitar—elements that mirror the song’s themes of rugged landscapes and old‑time pride . Strait’s warm, seasoned baritone delivers the lyrics with sincerity, making it feel like a personal love letter to Texas—and in a way, to himself as a Texan. His voice lends the song emotional depth, pairing seamlessly with the nostalgic mood conveyed in the chorus: “Take me to Texas… the only home I know.”
Because it was tied to Texas Rising, the song also functions contextually as a theme for a broader historical narrative. It sits alongside the miniseries’ orchestral score by John Debney and Bruce Broughton and joins other period‑flavored tracks like “Yellow Rose of Texas” and Kris Kristofferson’s contributions .
In sum, “Take Me to Texas” occupies a unique place in George Strait’s vast catalog: it’s part personal anthem, part state homage, and part historical ballad. Through its evocative lyrics, traditional country sound, and contextual ties to Texas Rising, the song celebrates Texas’s storied past and emotional resonance—a fitting addition to Strait’s legacy as the “King of Country.”
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Lyrics
Take me to Texas 200 years ago
Where a pride rose from the ashes of San Jacinto
It still beats in every heart like a battle cry
Where I was born, where I was raised, so when I die
Take me to Texas on the open range
The Rio Grande is in my veins
It’s heaven there and so my prayer
Is that you’ll take me anywhere in Texas, the only home I know
I’m a child of the Alamo and the Yellow Rose
So when I go
Take me to Texas, where my daddy worked
Where his blood and sweat and tears are still in that red dirt
Wild Palominos run, cowboys are kings
And if I stray too far, I’ll let my Lone Star dreams
Take me to Texas on the open range
The Rio Grande is in my veins
It’s heaven there and so my prayer
Is that you’ll take me anywhere in Texas, the only home I know
I’m a child of the Alamo and the Yellow Rose
So when I go, take me to Texas
There is something in the sky
And in your momma’s eyes
So even if you try to move away
You’ll end up on some road somewhere
With your thumb up in the air
When they ask you where you’re headed, you’ll just say
Take me to Dallas, Fort Worth or San Antone
Houston, Laredo, Galveston
Or Austin, maybe Abilene
The closest thing I’ve ever seen to Heaven’s the Gulf of Mexico
I’m a child of the Alamo and the Yellow Rose
So when I go, take me to Texas, mm-hm
Take me to Texas
Oh, take me to Texas
Take me to Texas