“Too Far from Texas” is Track 6 on Trouble in Shangri-La and a duet with Natalie Maine. It follows “Every Day” and precedes “That Made Me Stronger” in the track order.
About the Song
“[The Chicks‘] Natalie Maines came to me through Sheryl because Sheryl Crow knows everybody,” Stevie explains. “I had noted two or three years before, when Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks had just come out, that she and I have very similar country voices, and I could definitely sing with her. I wrote it in my journal, turned the page down, put a little star by it. I just kind of put that in my brain and never really thought about it again. When I mentioned it to Sheryl Crow she said, ‘Let’s send her the cassette, and we’ll see if she likes it.’ She did, and two days later we went to [Trouble in Shangri-La producer and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers member] Mike Campbell’s and recorded “Too Far From Texas” live with me, Sheryl, and the Heartbreakers, except for Tom Petty, and Waddy Wachtel. It was like a live band. We were all standing there together playing, and it came out great.”
Natalie Maines: “I did a duet with Stevie Nicks for her album that she’s been working on for a long time and has no idea when it’s going to be done. That was fine with us because then it won’t conflict with ours. It was a ton of fun and a little intimidating. It was one of those moments that we still have where we’re sitting in a room going, ‘Oh. My. God.’ We were at [Mike Campbell’s] one of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers’ house. Sheryl Crow was producing, and I was surrounded by all these wonderful musicians, going ‘I’m not worthy'” (Maines, 2000).
Lyrics
There’s a plane, it’s headed for London
Twenty-four hours more and he’ll be on it
And I can’t show my love, and I can’t stop it
Ooh, I can’t stop it
There’s a house there, somebody’s waiting
Somebody else’s arms will wrap around him
And in that moment what will he think then
When I can’t touch him
Maybe my love could fly over the ocean
Maybe my heart should try to leave him alone
All that I really know is that he’s goin’
Too far from Texas
Too close to home
In a room just outside of Houston
That’s where I spend my nights trying to get through to him
He says he’s comin’ back in every letter
But he might never
No he might never
Maybe my love could fly over the ocean
Maybe my heart should try to leave him alone
All that I really know is that he’s goin’
Too far from Texas
Too close to home
Does he know how long
I’ve waited for this love to come
Does he know I’m holdin’ on
And that won’t change no matter where he’s gone
Maybe my love could fly over the ocean
Maybe my heart should try to leave him alone
All that I really know is that he’s goin’
Too far from Texas
Too close to home
Couldn’t I, couldn’t I wait
Couldn’t he, couldn’t he stay
One more day
(Steve Booker/Sandy Stewart) © 1998 ℗ Windswept Music (London) Ltd. (PRS)/Dalmatian Songs/BMG Music Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
Credits
| Writers | Steve Booker and Sandy Stewart |
| Producers | Mike Campbell, Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Nicks |
| Engineer | Don Smith |
| Drums | Steve Ferrone |
| Bass | Sheryl Crow |
| Guitars | Mike Campbell and Waddy Wachtel |
| Hammond B3 Organ, Chamberlin, and Piano | Benmont Tench |
| Tambourine | Stevie Nicks |
References
Maines, N. (2000, May 15). Interview. CD Now.
Nicks, S. (2001). Trouble in Shangri-La [press release].
TROUBLE IN SHANGRI-LA: Trouble in Shangri-La | Candlebright | Sorcerer | Planets of the Universe | Every Day | Too Far From Texas | That Made Me Stronger | It’s Only Love | Love Changes | I Miss You | Bombay Sapphires | Fall From Grace | Love Is