![]() Saint Mary of the Woods (2002) [ larger cover art ] |
Strap them kids in
Give em a lil bit of vodka
in a cherry coke
were goin to oklahoma
to the family reunion
for the first time in years
its up at uncle slatons
cuz hes gettin on in years
no longer travels but hes
still pretty spry
hes not much on talk
and hes too mean to die
and they'll be comin down
from kansas and west arkansas
it'll be one big old party
like you've never saw
uncle slaton's got his texan pride
back in the thickets with his asian bride
hes got an airstream trailer and a
holstein cow
still makes whiskey cuz he still knows how
plays that chocktaw bingo every friday night
you know he had to leave texas but he won't say why
he owns a quarter section up by lake eufala
caught a great big ol bluecat on a driftin jugline
sells his hardwood timber to the chippin mill
cooks that crystal meth cuz his shine don't sell
he cooks that crystal meth cuz his shine don't sell
you know he likes that money, he don't mind the smell
my cousin roscoe, slaton's oldest boy
from his second marraige up in illinois
hes raised in east st louis by his
mammas people where they do things different
thought he'd come on down
hes goin to dallas texas in a semi truck
caught from that big mcdonalds
you know that one thats built up on that
big old bridge across the will rogers turnpike
took the big cabin exit stopped and bought a carton of cigarrets
at that indian smoke shop with the big neon smoke rings
in the cherokee nation hit muskogee late that night
somebody ran the stoplight at the shawnee bypass
roscoe tried to miss him but he didn't quite
bob and mae come up from
some little town way down by
lake texoma where he coaches football
they were two-A champions for two years running
but he says they wont be this year
not they wont be this year
and he stopped off in tushka at the pop knife and gun place
bought a sks rifle and a couple full cases of that steel core ammo
with the berdan primers from some east bloc nation
that no longer needs em
and a desert eagle thats one great big old pistol
i mean fifty caliber made by bad-ass Hebrews
and some surplus tracers for that old BAR
of slatons as soon as it gets dark
were gonna have us a time
were gonna have us a time
ruth-anne and lynn come from baxter springs
thats one hell-raisin town way down in
southeastern kansas
got a biker bar next to the lingerie store
thats got rollin stones lips up there in
bright pink neon
and they're right downtown where everyone can see em
and they burn all night
you know they burn all night
they burn all night
Uncle slaton's got his texan pride
back in the thickets with his asian bride
hes got a corner pasture and an acre lots
he sells them owner financed strictly to them
its got no kind of credit
cause he knows they're slackers
and they'll miss that payment
and he'll take it back
plays that choctaw bingo
every friday night
he drinks his johnny walker
at that club 69
were gonna strap those kids in
give em a lil bit of benadryl
were gonna have us a time
were gonna have us a time
| meauclaire (AZ....the land of misfits) | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:52 My God, make it stop! |
| chris_the_man (amsterdam netherlands) | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:51 got an 8 by me, i like those lyrics,bridge or no bridge(whateverthatis) |
| rromulus | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:51 Yes, this song is monotonous, static, and a really unimaginative use of the Beatles "Come Together" riff as well excruciatingly long...my God! |
| ch83575 | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:49 This song makes me want to hang out with James and his whole family. |
| LowPhreak (United Corporate States of Neo-Feudal Amurika, Inc.) | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:49 git up'n DANCE gotdammit!! ![]() |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: May 07, 2013 - 10:45 dig wrote: Just bumped to 8 to negate the hate. I gave it a 9 cause its dvine! |
| dig | Posted: Mar 10, 2013 - 12:00 Just bumped to 8 to negate the hate. |
| tomingersoll (Sheffield, Massachusetts) | Posted: Mar 05, 2013 - 19:36 I don't know how you do it, but it seems like every time I tune in RP, you are playing EXACTLY what I need to here in that moment. Choctaw Bingo hit the spot, thank you. And thank you again for all you do...I've hooked two new avid listeners here in Western MA just in the last few weeks. |
| dig | Posted: Mar 05, 2013 - 19:30 SAM_I_AM wrote: Wasn't this song featured in an episode of The Dukes of Hazard? Blah! I can't STAND this song. Thank you, That is all. You got a problem with "The Dukes of Hazard"? |
| tutakea | Posted: Jan 02, 2013 - 03:39 this song is not too long. it is too boring and too bad and too annoying... |
| hbs47 (SE England) | Posted: Jan 02, 2013 - 03:28 It's OK it will end in about half an hour. |
| gypsyman (just passing through....) | Posted: Dec 01, 2012 - 18:34 ploba wrote: sucko-barfo is being kind! Yeah. Kind of stupid. Imagine seeing this guy live at a good bar. |
| Geoduck | Posted: Dec 01, 2012 - 18:34 I keep waiting for the "bridge" that never comes. I still like it. One great driving song... |
| pianocomposer (Springfield) | Posted: Sep 29, 2012 - 23:27 glowworm wrote: Anyone else feel this is missing a hooky chorus? Great lyrics and good use of a typical 'good old boys' riff to drive the point home. I am reading that many don't like this and it is too long. I tell you, if something is good, it's good and you should keep going. I love the lyrics and, even though it's repetitive, it's a good riff to repeat. Gave it an 8. Love it. |
| ploba (the other coast and hang a left) | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 10:29 sucko-barfo is being kind! |
| Bosami (Deep in the heart of nowhere) | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 10:28 lily34 wrote: make it stop. + 1 |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 10:25 make it stop. |
| elcrose | Posted: Aug 29, 2012 - 10:23 He's a great story teller! |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:47 rainbowdb wrote: Gosh, this song is monotonous after a while... He plays the Continental Club every Wednesday. Go see him do this live then report back ;-) |
| scraig (Santa Barbara, CA) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:47 CamLwalk wrote: I agree with this article. This song should be the national anthem. Kids would learn all the words in school. Might slow up sporting events, but man, it'd be worth it. I found the column far more entertaining than the song, but I will give it another listen just for you. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:46 Finally saw him last weekend. This thing cooks even more, live. |
| Red_Dragon | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:45 cc_rider wrote: You poor bastard. thank you for your heart-felt sympathy, my friend. |
| rainbowdb (Austin, TX) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:44 Gosh, this song is monotonous after a while... |
| Dr_Taco (Vail, CO) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:44 So many good lines in this song. I wish I was doing some sister twistin' right now. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:43 ziggytrix wrote: Roscoe's from Illinois. Bob and Mae could easily be from the south side of Texoma. Ruth Anne and Lyne are from Kansas. :p It's kinda strange, if you dig into the lyrics, none of Slayton's kin (with the possible exception of Bob and Mae) are actually from OK, but that's where the reunion is being held cuz Slayton is getting too old to travel. The subculture is centered around the confluence of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. East Texas and western Louisiana have historically been pretty lawless: neither state had any interest in policing the area, so it was a haven for 'shiners, fugitives, et al. |
| Ouachita | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:42 You had to be there. |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:38 I agree with this article. This song should be the national anthem. Kids would learn all the words in school. Might slow up sporting events, but man, it'd be worth it. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:38 oldslabsides wrote: I've lived in Oklahoma City for over thirty years. The song is quite entertaining when one knows and has seen every place mentioned in it, and understands well the redneck sensibilities expressed. You poor bastard. |
| QuestionMark (Toto's homeland) | Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 13:38 J.J. Cale wanabe. |
| SAM_I_AM (Ladera Ranch, CA) | Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 17:31 ...and one more thing. MY GOD THIS SONG is long! I want to yell at it as if it were my kids driving me crazy in the back seat of the car! |
| SAM_I_AM (Ladera Ranch, CA) | Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 17:28 I don't switch it off, because I know there will be a good song coming next. But sheesh, it's close. My friends might be over. How can I explain this one? chiplueck wrote: Yup. Very very few tracks make me switch off RP, but this is definitely one. |
| SAM_I_AM (Ladera Ranch, CA) | Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 17:27 I couldn't agree more. dwlangham wrote: Is this still on? Time really slows down during root canals and this song. |
| SAM_I_AM (Ladera Ranch, CA) | Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 17:26 Wasn't this song featured in an episode of The Dukes of Hazard? Blah! I can't STAND this song. Thank you, That is all. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Jun 10, 2012 - 08:01 |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 23:28 ottojschlosser wrote: I was listening with one ear today and I was startled to hear him sing that they were going to give the kids 'a little bit of vinegar'. Wait a darn minute! One of the enduring images of this saga is giving the kids a little bit of vodka to keep them quiet on the car trip. Did Bill play some kind of cleaned-up AOR version by accident? Hope I misheard... You misheard something: Strap them kids in, give 'em a little bit o' vodka... {8 minutes later} Strap them kids in, give 'em a little bit o' Benadryl... |
| glowworm (Devon, UK) | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 23:22 Anyone else feel this is missing a hooky chorus? Great lyrics and good use of a typical 'good old boys' riff to drive the point home. |
| sdgserv (Palm Springs) | Posted: Apr 24, 2012 - 23:22 Gets your motor running |
| toomanyollys (43.360368,77.020855) | Posted: Apr 13, 2012 - 05:28 dwlangham wrote: Is this still on? Time really slows down during root canals and this song. I only wish my dentist played RP... |
| Red_Dragon | Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 05:58 tryallmusic wrote: Lived in Dallas for 11 years... The lyrics never fail to get me to smile.. favorite line ".. Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he didn't quite..." I've lived in Oklahoma City for over thirty years. The song is quite entertaining when one knows and has seen every place mentioned in it, and understands well the redneck sensibilities expressed. |
| trailhub (St Louis) | Posted: Mar 24, 2012 - 05:55 6 for the music, 10 for the lyrics. Hilarious. |
| tryallmusic (sunny Seattle) | Posted: Mar 23, 2012 - 13:47 Lived in Dallas for 11 years... The lyrics never fail to get me to smile.. favorite line ".. Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he didn't quite..." |
| ziggytrix (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:20 markw wrote: Actually, the characters in this song, except for the singer, are all Okies. Lake Eufala is in Oklahoma, to be sure. But that's a fine point. There really isn't that much difference between the rural cultures of Texas and Oklahoma. Roscoe's from Illinois. Bob and Mae could easily be from the south side of Texoma. Ruth Anne and Lyne are from Kansas. :p It's kinda strange, if you dig into the lyrics, none of Slayton's kin (with the possible exception of Bob and Mae) are actually from OK, but that's where the reunion is being held cuz Slayton is getting too old to travel. |
| Lrobby99 (Wisconsin, USA) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:12 Just bought it. Thanks, RP. |
| dwlangham (Nowhere to be found) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:11 Is this still on? Time really slows down during root canals and this song. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:11 coccyx wrote: It's about the STORY... not the melody :) I dig the story. The man has story telling in his genes of course. I just wonder if he sent Chuck Berry as check on the basic melody line. |
| Sasha2001 (I can see Zabars from my window) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:09 I guess this song answers the question, "What's the rural version of Lou Reed's New York?" |
| 2cats (Oklahoma) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:08 xtalman wrote: Okay, don't want to hear this all the time but every so often is fun, especially living here in OK. Everything is somewhat true. I live in OK, too, an I want to hear this ALL the time. |
| chiplueck | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:08 dwlangham wrote: This is where I get off. PSD, here I come. Yup. Very very few tracks make me switch off RP, but this is definitely one. |
| coccyx | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:08 It's about the STORY... not the melody :) |
| xtalman (What dimension?) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 14:07 Okay, don't want to hear this all the time but every so often is fun, especially living here in OK. Everything is somewhat true. |

