(gentle acoustic guitar music) ♪ When you walked in the room ♪ ♪ They all walked out ♪ ♪ I was the only fool stickin' around ♪ ♪ I should have known right then and there ♪ ♪ That it was trouble comin' towards my chair ♪ ♪ But I never want to turn free whisky down ♪ ♪ You came up and asked me for a light ♪ ♪ Asked me if I came alone tonight ♪ ♪ Said bartender can you help me please ♪ ♪ Won't you get this lady what she needs ♪ ♪ And I never want to turn free whiskey down ♪ ♪ Free whiskey ♪ ♪ Free whiskey ♪ ♪ And that's what is to blame for all this misery ♪ ♪ You tricked me ♪ ♪ It's a mystery ♪ ♪ How I'm hooked on you ♪ ♪ Just like I'm hooked on whiskey ♪ ♪ Well it didn't take too long to throw me out ♪ ♪ Just another girl that you can brag about ♪ ♪ All your buddies they can hear you boast ♪ ♪ About another notch in your bed post ♪ ♪ 'Cause I never want to turn free whiskey down ♪ ♪ No, no, no ♪ (gentle acoustic guitar music) ♪ Free whiskey ♪ ♪ Free whiskey ♪ ♪ That's what is to blame for all this misery ♪ ♪ You tricked me ♪ ♪ It's a mystery ♪ ♪ How I'm hooked on you ♪ ♪ Just like I'm hooked on whiskey ♪ ♪ Free whiskey ♪ ♪ Damn this thirst of mine ♪ ♪ And how it kicks me ♪ ♪ You tricked me ♪ ♪ But oh then you kissed me ♪ ♪ So now I'm hooked on you ♪ ♪ Just like I'm hooked on whiskey ♪ ♪ Now I'm hooked on you ♪ ♪ Just like I'm hooked on whiskey ♪ ♪ Now I'm hooked on you ♪ ♪ Just like I'm hooked on ♪ ♪ Whiskey ♪ (gentle acoustic guitar music) - Oh, "Free Whiskey", title track to one of my albums right there.

I like to start my shows off with that song, because for some reason, every time I play it, people bring me whiskey and I really like it when that happens, so I find that's a good song to start with.

Plus it kinda sets the vibe for the kind of fun show that we're going to have, so thank you so much for tuning in.

My name is Jenni Dale Lord.

I'm so happy to be here on Basin and PBS Main Street Unplugged.

This is my first time to be here and I'm going to be really nervous and mess everything up, so I hope you enjoy it.

I figure if I say that it won't happen, right?

Get it out into the universe.

(soft acoustic guitar music) This next song is the title track to my very first Jenni Dale Lord band album.

I do play with a full band, but the boys are back home in Lubbock tonight.

The song is called "Never Let Go."

(upbeat acoustic guitar music) ♪ No denying I'm not perfect ♪ ♪ No, no, no ♪ ♪ No pretending that I'll ever be ♪ ♪ But I think you'll find me worth ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Yeah, I've got what you need ♪ ♪ So never let go ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ ♪ Some days it's hard to love me ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, I know ♪ ♪ But I thank God that you do ♪ ♪ 'Cause when pushing comes to shoving ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, I know ♪ ♪ I couldn't make it without you ♪ ♪ So let go ♪ ♪ When there's pain ♪ ♪ When they sky is pouring rain ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ ♪ When it seems it'd be easier to leave ♪ ♪ And never give up ♪ ♪ Never give in ♪ ♪ It's a crazy love we're in ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ But never let go ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ ♪ Baby when your arms surround me ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ And your hands, they touch my skin ♪ ♪ I feel love has finally found me ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Won't you hold me once again ♪ ♪ And never let go ♪ ♪ Hold me tight ♪ ♪ Tell me everything's all right ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ ♪ When it seems it'd be easier to leave ♪ ♪ And never give up ♪ ♪ Never give in ♪ ♪ It's a crazy love we're in ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ But never let go ♪ ♪ When there's pain ♪ ♪ When the sky is pouring rain ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ ♪ When it seems ♪ ♪ It'd be easier to leave ♪ ♪ And never give up, never give in ♪ ♪ It's a crazy love we're in ♪ ♪ I know-oh ♪ ♪ I know-oh-oh ♪ ♪ But never let go ♪ ♪ Never let go ♪ "Never Let Go."

(soft acoustic guitar music) So being in the music business is a, quite a thrill.

Lots of ups and downs.

It's definitely a roller coaster ride and one of the biggest thrills I've had thus far was recording a duet with the one and only Mr. Joe Ely.

How I was blessed with that, I'll never really understand, except for the fact that, you know, being from Lubbock and him being from Lubbock, we run in a lot of the same circles and so I can definitely credit and thank that to a bunch of our mutual friends.

So while Joe could not be here tonight, I'm gonna play this song anyway.

It's called "Already Gone."

(soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ You said I'm going back to West Virginia ♪ ♪ Texas plains really ain't my style ♪ ♪ I miss the Appalachians in the spring time ♪ ♪ God I haven't seen them in a while ♪ ♪ You said I miss my family out in Charleston ♪ ♪ And I've been craving mama's apple pie ♪ ♪ His baby sister's gonna have her first one ♪ ♪ And he'd sure love to be there by her side ♪ ♪ So first thing in the morning ♪ ♪ He's getting on the plane ♪ ♪ He picked the perfect day to leave ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's supposed to rain ♪ ♪ But what I don't get is why he let me ♪ ♪ Hold on for so long ♪ ♪ When he was already gone ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ She said this time I'm headed out to Nashville ♪ ♪ I met a man who says he'll take me far ♪ ♪ After all these years of searching I've found it ♪ ♪ The chance I need to finally be a star ♪ ♪ She said each time she left me I was trying ♪ ♪ To find a way to make these dreams come true ♪ ♪ And she's sorry that she couldn't take me with her ♪ ♪ She thought I'd understand more than I do ♪ ♪ So first thing in the morning ♪ ♪ She's getting on that plane ♪ ♪ She picked the perfect day to leave ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's supposed to rain ♪ ♪ But what I don't get ♪ ♪ Is why she let me hold on for so long ♪ ♪ When she was already gone ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ Two suitcases by the front for ♪ ♪ Say all we couldn't say before ♪ ♪ So first thing in the morning ♪ ♪ He's getting on that plane ♪ ♪ She picked the perfect day to leave ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's supposed to rain ♪ ♪ But what I don't get is why ♪ ♪ You let me hold on for so long ♪ ♪ When you were already gone ♪ ♪ You were already gone ♪ ♪ You were already gone ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) Definitely one of the highlights of my career right there.

I will say, whenever Joe Ely's not around, I have the honor of singing that song with Mr. Kenny Maines of the Maines Brothers.

For those of you may not be familiar with the Maines Brothers, they are a really amazing band out of Lubbock.

Back in the day, really made their mark on the music scene.

Of course, Natalie Maines stems from the Maines Brothers as well, and I'm so grateful to be playing music in Lubbock.

You know, when I, I grew up in Lubbock, but I moved away to Austin like everybody does in Lubbock to try to go make it in the music business, and I played music in Austin.

I was a folk singer out to save the world when I was there.

But for life reasons and life changes, I had to, I came on home to Lubbock and I gotta tell you, it was the best thing I ever did.

I'm not sure I would be a full-time musician the way that I am now if not for Lubbock, Texas.

And I'm so grateful for that.

It did change me a lot, though.

I definitely have turned into a full fledged country singer.

I still like to throw in some rock and roll and some blues whenever I can, but I came out to Lubbock and I started wearing cowboy boots and writing country music and drinking whiskey and it all went downhill from there.

(chuckles) I guess you could say I was a new me.

(soft, upbeat acoustic guitar music) ♪ I heard you cut off all your hair and everybody loves it ♪ ♪ I heard you got new clothes to wear and they fit perfectly ♪ ♪ They even told me your artwork ♪ ♪ Was hanging in some places ♪ ♪ And I was happy for you ♪ ♪ 'Til they said that you found a new me ♪ ♪ You found a new me ♪ ♪ Well how could that be ♪ ♪ Oh and I hate to sound like the cocky clown I am ♪ ♪ You think you found a new me ♪ ♪ Well darling wait and see ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're gonna be wanting back ♪ ♪ The old me that you had ♪ (upbeat acoustic music) ♪ I heard the people at your work ♪ ♪ Are screamin' a promotion ♪ ♪ And that they'd all just go berserk if you'd ever leave ♪ ♪ They even told me you're doing everything you wanted ♪ ♪ And I was happy for you ♪ ♪ 'Til they said that you found a new me ♪ ♪ You found a new me ♪ ♪ Well how could that be ♪ ♪ Oh and I hate to sound like the cocky clown I am ♪ ♪ You think you found a new me ♪ ♪ Well darling wait and see ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're gonna be wanting back ♪ ♪ The old me that you had ♪ (upbeat acoustic music) ♪ I hear her hair's a lot like mine ♪ ♪ Oily, kinda dirty ♪ ♪ And that her smile looks just fine ♪ ♪ But her lips sure are like these ♪ ♪ No way ♪ ♪ And they don't say that you're in love ♪ ♪ Just that she really wants you ♪ ♪ And I was happy to hear ♪ ♪ That she don't hold a candle to me ♪ ♪ Hold a candle to me ♪ ♪ 'Cause that could not be ♪ ♪ Oh and I hate to sound like the cocky clown I am ♪ ♪ You think you found a new me ♪ ♪ Well darling wait and see ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're gonna be wanting back ♪ ♪ The old me that you had ♪ ♪ You think you found a new me ♪ ♪ Well how could that be ♪ ♪ Oh and I hate to sound like the cocky clown I am ♪ ♪ You know I am ♪ ♪ You think you found a new me ♪ ♪ Well honey wait and see ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're gonna be wanting back ♪ ♪ The old me ♪ ♪ Wishing for the old me, no wait ♪ ♪ Crawling back to the old me that you had ♪ Well you know, I remember when I was a kid and I was growing up, my lips were so big, they've thinned out as I've gotten older, but I used to cry to my mom and she'd say, you know, honey, you'll appreciate that one day when you're older.

(chuckles) Truer words have never been spoken.

This next song is my very first angry chick revenge song from the Never Let Go album.

I always like to tease the boys in my band that if they aren't careful, it won't be my last.

I'm very happy to tell you there's a new one on the new album coming out next year.

I warned 'em.

I warned 'em.

(soft, tense acoustic guitar music) ♪ There's an empty bottle sitting on the floor board ♪ ♪ An empty screaming ringing in my head ♪ ♪ A mailbox cuddled up against my car door ♪ ♪ And the memory of her lying in your bed ♪ ♪ And there's a suitcase that is packed and in the hallway ♪ ♪ A pile of pictures shattered on the floor ♪ ♪ A longing for a time when things went my way ♪ ♪ And a lost memory from the night before ♪ ♪ I must've gone crazy ♪ ♪ Just lost it completely ♪ ♪ What have I done ♪ ♪ Thought you were the one ♪ ♪ Went out of my mind ♪ ♪ And there's no denying ♪ ♪ There's something inside me ♪ ♪ Enjoying the tinge ♪ ♪ Of sweet, sweet revenge ♪ ♪ That must've been mine ♪ ♪ Mine ♪ ♪ Now I'm not sure if there's any need to worry ♪ ♪ My mama, well, she raised a good, good girl ♪ ♪ But part of me feels some strange need to hurry ♪ ♪ While the other parts inside's a tilt-a-whirl ♪ ♪ And I'm not sure about my usually good intentions ♪ ♪ The ones that always had the best of me ♪ ♪ Many things I know I ought to question ♪ ♪ Like an empty can of gasoline ♪ ♪ I must've gone crazy ♪ ♪ Just lost it completely ♪ ♪ What have I done ♪ ♪ Thought you were the one ♪ ♪ Went out of my mind ♪ ♪ And there's no denying ♪ ♪ There's something inside me ♪ ♪ Enjoying the tinge ♪ ♪ Of sweet, sweet revenge ♪ ♪ That must've been mine ♪ ♪ Mine ♪ (tense, upbeat acoustic guitar music) ♪ There's an empty bottle sitting on the floorboard ♪ ♪ The border line coming up ahead ♪ ♪ An a thousand miles behind me and this old Ford ♪ ♪ And the memory of her lying in your bed ♪ That's a song that if I ever make a million dollars, I'm going to make a music video to that tune and burn some stuff down, you know?

'Cause I don't know if you're listening to the words, it's about someone who gets their heart broken and drinks a bunch and doesn't remember what she did the night before, but she found an empty thing of gasoline and feels guilty so she runs off to Mexico and you know, you think maybe she burned the house down, and so, that would be really fun.

Really fun to burn some stuff down.

Never done it before, but I'm always willing to try.

Now this next song was one of my more recent radio singles.

It's a song from my Sometimes a Girl Needs the Blues album called "The Bottle."

You know, all of my songs are very personal to me in one way or another.

In fact to 99.9% of them, the last song excluded, I've never really done that before (chuckles) are true stories and come from something that I'm dealing with or people or things in my life and "The Bottle" is no exception to that.

It's a very serious topic about alcoholism and you know, something that some way we've all had to deal with probably in one way or another.

I tried to tackle it as gracefully as possible, but this song definitely came from a moment in my life that I guess I'm glad I had to experience it, 'cause you know, they say you learn from things and it makes you who you are, but I'm also glad to be past that point.

And I'm in a really good place and I'm glad to be there and yeah, here's "The Bottle."

♪ He loves Jameson, Jim, Johnny ♪ ♪ And then some more that I can't even name ♪ ♪ No it ain't a lady ♪ ♪ That's driving me crazy ♪ ♪ And gettin' between us again ♪ ♪ Sometimes it's red wine ♪ ♪ But most of the time it's whiskey ♪ ♪ Stealing my dreams ♪ ♪ That man loves the bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ ♪ That man loves a bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ ♪ He's been trying to tell me ♪ ♪ But I just refuse to believe ♪ ♪ Well I've tried and I've tried ♪ ♪ I've pleaded and cried ♪ ♪ But now I finally see ♪ ♪ That man loves a bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ ♪ Well it's easy to think ♪ ♪ Whenever he drinks ♪ ♪ That I should just pack my things ♪ ♪ But in those few moments ♪ ♪ Whenever he's sober ♪ ♪ The last thing I want is to leave ♪ ♪ But those moments I guess ♪ ♪ Becomes less and less ♪ ♪ The reasons to stay hard to see ♪ ♪ That man loves the bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ ♪ That man loves the bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ ♪ He's been trying to tell me ♪ ♪ But I just refuse to believe ♪ ♪ Well I've tried and I've tried ♪ ♪ I've pleaded and cried ♪ ♪ But now I finally see ♪ ♪ That man loves a bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ Well I've tried and I've tried ♪ ♪ I've begged and he's lied ♪ ♪ But now I finally see ♪ ♪ That that man loves a bottle ♪ ♪ More than he loves me ♪ That song made it all the way up to number 27 on the Texas Regional Radio Music Report, which is the official chart of Texas music.

It's issued in Billboard Magazine every week, so I was pretty proud of that.

Now this next song is our latest single.

It hit the chart after only being out three days, so yeah, a little shameless self promotion here.

Please call up all your favorite country stations and request our music.

There's a fun music video that goes along with this single as well.

It's got my friend Kenny Maines in it and some other people that I love dearly, and this song is called "Next to You."

♪ I saw you down there starin' ♪ ♪ It's true, you caught my eye ♪ ♪ I was hopin' you weren't daring ♪ ♪ Enough to come say hi ♪ ♪ I could tell that you were trouble ♪ ♪ Thought it best to keep the space ♪ ♪ But now you're in my bubble ♪ ♪ And these feelings won't escape ♪ ♪ I wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ Because there's just something about you ♪ ♪ That's pulling me away ♪ ♪ Something in the air around you ♪ ♪ Gets me drunk on all you say ♪ ♪ And I try so hard to fight it ♪ ♪ But it seems like there's no use ♪ ♪ There's no way I can deny it ♪ ♪ And I know you feel it too ♪ ♪ I wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I won't take you home this evening ♪ ♪ You won't see inside my room ♪ ♪ There's someone there believing ♪ ♪ I somehow hung the moon ♪ ♪ And I'm never gonna hurt him ♪ ♪ 'Cause he's all I'll ever need ♪ ♪ And I'm not sure I deserve him ♪ ♪ But I'll never make him leave ♪ ♪ So I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Because there's just something about you ♪ ♪ That's pulling me away ♪ ♪ But I can wrap my hands around you ♪ ♪ Or get wrapped up in a day ♪ ♪ All my lips can touch is whiskey ♪ ♪ All my hands can hold is glass ♪ ♪ Even though I know it's risky ♪ ♪ I'm still up for the task ♪ ♪ I wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ (acoustic guitar music) ♪ Because there's just something about you ♪ ♪ That's pulling me away ♪ ♪ And when I go I know I'm bound to ♪ ♪ Let my imagination play ♪ ♪ And it feels so good to feel good ♪ ♪ It's nice to know I can ♪ ♪ But that sure don't mean that I should ♪ ♪ I'm wise enough to understand ♪ ♪ I wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ ♪ I just wanna stand next to you ♪ If you ever have the chance to come see me do that live, I like to throw a little bit of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" in there.

It's just something fun.

I like to do that with a lot of my songs, just take little snippets of really famous songs by other people and just kind of squeeze them into the portion of the song somewhere.

And it's just something silly I've enjoyed doing for a very, very long time, and I don't even remember how "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" came about, but we were talking about I wanna stand next to you, I want to do this, I wanna do that, and I guess I wanna dance with somebody just kinda flowed into it perfectly, you know?

It's like, oh.

It was like it was always meant to be.

And I don't know about you guys, but I miss Whitney Houston.

We, you know, she's one of the ones people go who are the ones that you miss the most?

I don't know that I have one that I miss the most, but Whitney Houston is definitely up there.

Definitely.

But I'll be honest, there's a lot of people that I, I really, really miss, including the lady who inspired this next song.

Her name is Cindy and she was one of my very dear friends.

She passed away from brain cancer last fall.

In fact, tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of that.

I hate using the word anniversary.

It sounds like it's something that should be happy, (chuckles) but it's not.

So it's, it's like the one year mark of one of the worst thing that's ever happened.

But something really cool came out of that for me.

Before Cindy died, she asked me if I would write her a song and I realized that there were a few different ways I could have taken that song.

I could have done the I'm going to miss you so much and it's breaking my heart and I don't know what I'm going to do without you kind of version of events or I could have written a song to celebrate her life.

And for those of you watching that knew Cindy, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

She was the most full of life person I have ever met.

I want to be just like her when I grow up.

She made the most of every single moment.

She laughed at everything.

She followed me around the country and surprised me at all of my shows and brought this enormous light with her wherever she was.

You know, she bought herself a really nice rack and had no problem showing it off to everybody and so I've got goals, you know, got goals.

She was amazing.

So I decided to celebrate her life rather than mourn it.

And so this is the title track to the album that I have coming out in 2022 called "In the Dance."

(soft, upbeat acoustic guitar music) ♪ I know that nothing's promised ♪ ♪ No one gets out of life ♪ ♪ I've been close to the darkness ♪ ♪ And brought back to the light ♪ ♪ Not everyone's so lucky ♪ ♪ Not everyone's the same sometimes without a warning ♪ ♪ Sometimes without blame ♪ ♪ Someone's gone in just an instant ♪ ♪ And we'll never the same ♪ ♪ If there's anything I've learned ♪ ♪ From staying in the game ♪ ♪ I'm gonna love, I'm gonna sing ♪ ♪ I'm gonna laugh, enjoy everything ♪ ♪ Wake each morning like it's my last chance ♪ ♪ To make some new memories ♪ ♪ To dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ To dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Take time to call my mama ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know one day I can't ♪ ♪ Tell my brothers and my sisters ♪ ♪ Thanks for being my best friend ♪ ♪ Give some to a stranger ♪ ♪ Who knows just where they've been ♪ ♪ Hold the door a little longer ♪ ♪ Big smile when they walk in ♪ ♪ Hug my babies while they're babies ♪ ♪ And even when they're not ♪ ♪ Wrap my arms around my lover ♪ ♪ It might be my lost shot ♪ ♪ I'm gonna love, I'm gonna sing ♪ ♪ I'm gonna laugh, enjoy everything ♪ ♪ Wake up each morning like it's my last chance ♪ ♪ To make some memories ♪ ♪ To dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ To dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Wonder would it be a better place ♪ ♪ If we all just live this way ♪ ♪ I'm gonna love, I'm gonna sing ♪ ♪ I'm gonna laugh, enjoy everything ♪ ♪ Wake each morning like it's my last chance ♪ ♪ To make some new memories ♪ ♪ To dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Yeah I'm gonna run with sand in my toes ♪ ♪ Climb up that mountain ♪ ♪ See how high it goes ♪ ♪ Soak up the sunshine, moonlights, and romance ♪ ♪ Make some new memories, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm going to dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ I'm gonna dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ I'm gonna dance in the dance ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪ And that one's for you, Cindy.

Play you guys another one of my radio singles.

This is a song from my Reboot album.

It's actually a song from my very first Jenni Dale Lord album.

When I made that record, I was attending Texas Tech University and I had never really played with a band before.

I'd always been a solo singer songwriter.

But they were building a recording studio in the basement of the Texas Tech library and they asked me if I would be the first full length project coming out of that and of course I jumped all over that.

But not having a band and anything like that.

I just had a bunch of songs and I was like, oh, well I'm just a girl with a bunch of songs.

And so between them and me, we just kind of gathered a whole bunch of musicians together to help me take all of these songs and make full band sounds with them.

And so I made the Jenni Dale Lorde album.

Fast forward, I don't know, six years later, I had a band and I had a sound and I knew exactly what I was going for, so I wanted to kind of reboot that album.

So there was a little play on words there.

So I took all of the songs from the blue Jenni Dale Lord album and put them into this new album fully focused on the sound that I wanted to create.

And when we did that, I was able to take those songs and release them to radio and one of my favorite songs from the album, if not my favorite song from the album, is this song right here.

It's called "Smile."

And one of the things that I find most fascinating about this song is, on the surface, you hear the name "Smile" and you think it's going to be like this super happy song, smile, but it just might be the saddest song I've ever written.

We'll see what you think.

(soft acoustic music) ♪ Yes I think she's perfect for you ♪ ♪ I'm so happy that you're glad ♪ ♪ I can tell that she adores you ♪ ♪ But if she didn't she'd be mad ♪ ♪ And I heard you tell your mama ♪ ♪ That you think that she's the one ♪ ♪ And then you asked you for the ring ♪ ♪ She said was for her son ♪ ♪ And I smiled ♪ ♪ I couldn't let you see ♪ ♪ That you loving her with me loving you ♪ ♪ Was killing me ♪ ♪ I just smiled ♪ ♪ Like I've learned to do so well ♪ ♪ So we agreed best friends we'd be, I'll never tell ♪ ♪ Yes I think your family loves her ♪ ♪ And I'm sure she loves 'em too ♪ ♪ Yes I know you're crazy about her ♪ ♪ Why do you need me to approve ♪ ♪ I realize now it's really over ♪ ♪ I guess that I was hanging on ♪ ♪ To all the memories we made before she came along ♪ ♪ Before I smile ♪ ♪ Because I couldn't let you see ♪ ♪ That you loving her with me loving you ♪ ♪ Is killing me ♪ ♪ I just smiled ♪ ♪ Like I've learned to do so well ♪ ♪ Since we agreed best friends we'd be, I'll never tell ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ I'll just smile ♪ ♪ No, you won't ever see ♪ ♪ That I have been here waiting for you so patiently ♪ ♪ I just smiled ♪ ♪ And I pretended to believe ♪ ♪ When you said the best of friends is what we need ♪ ♪ When you said the best of friends, I just agreed ♪ ♪ And I smiled ♪ ♪ I smiled ♪ If you're not sure if that's the saddest song I've ever written, well, you should check out my catalog.

(laughs) You know, I love the sad songs, I'm not going to lie.

There's a something about it, ever since I was a kid, I've always just really related to the sad ones, even before I really knew what sadness was, I think.

Just the way that they touch your heart and all the things that they do.

Ballads have always been my favorite.

If I could have albums of just ballads, I'd probably have 14 records by now.

So... You know, when I do interviews and stuff, I always get asked what my goal in this business is and I used to say, well, my goal is to travel the world.

You know, like, 'cause there's nowhere in this world that I want to see that I don't want to see.

I just want to see everything that there is and travel around and play music and I always thought, you know, there's nothing greater that I can imagine.

But I have since changed my answer.

And now my goal in this business is to make it high enough that I have people come out from the side of the stage and hand me perfectly tuned guitars.

So you don't have to watch me tune my guitar between every song and I don't have to stand here and do it either.

I'll just be like oh thank you.

Oh yes.

Perfect.

Thank you.

That's a true story.

(soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ I keep getting older ♪ ♪ No matter how I try ♪ ♪ To stop the clock time keeps moving on ♪ ♪ But how can I be older ♪ ♪ When it feels like yesterday ♪ ♪ I was just a girl living at home ♪ ♪ And my mama would yell down the street ♪ ♪ Kids, it's time to come eat ♪ ♪ And we'd go runnin' in ♪ ♪ Oh, to be back there again ♪ ♪ Climbing trees and falling down ♪ ♪ Daddy makes the world go 'round ♪ ♪ Brother is my only enemy ♪ ♪ And mama's kiss can heal the pain ♪ ♪ Of any wound and every break ♪ ♪ Growing up will take eternity ♪ ♪ If only I'd known then ♪ ♪ Oh to be back there again ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ I keep getting older ♪ ♪ And I'm not sure that means ♪ ♪ Wise will come knocking at my door ♪ ♪ Lately getting older ♪ ♪ Means that all I see ♪ ♪ Are things that are a little lower than before ♪ ♪ But when I was 17 ♪ ♪ And they crowned me Cotton Queen ♪ ♪ Gravity was my friend ♪ ♪ Oh to be back there again ♪ ♪ Letter jackets, football games ♪ ♪ Out at night and sneakin' in ♪ ♪ Praying that mom and dad don't wake ♪ ♪ And just say yes but if it's no ♪ ♪ I promise you I'll never go ♪ ♪ Girl I'm gonna marry you some day ♪ ♪ If only I'd known then ♪ ♪ Oh, to be back there again ♪ ♪ Mom and daddy please don't cry ♪ ♪ I'll just be down on river side ♪ ♪ I'll come home and visit when I can ♪ ♪ If only I'd known then ♪ ♪ Oh, to be back there again ♪ ♪ Oh to be back there again ♪ ♪ To be back there again ♪ You know when I wrote that song, I didn't mean it to be as serious as it ended up being.

But once my dad died, the first show I played after my dad died and I sang that line, "Mama, daddy, please don't cry, I'll just be down on river side, I'll come home and visit when I can," broke my heart.

Broke my heart.

So man, we got to take advantage of life.

That's one thing that I've learned and this past year has been hard on all of us, for sure.

So you just got to stick with it together.

Take it one day at a time.

(soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ I know it's hard for you to see ♪ ♪ And even harder to believe ♪ ♪ You're tired of hearing all the same old lines ♪ ♪ But they're true ♪ ♪ Just take it one day at a time ♪ ♪ One day ♪ ♪ You can blame your crazy heart ♪ ♪ We both know we played its part ♪ ♪ But you can't hide away and let life pass you by ♪ ♪ It may be hard ♪ ♪ Just take it one day at a time ♪ ♪ One day at a time ♪ ♪ This old world sure loves to kick you when you're down ♪ ♪ But I know there's strength inside of you ♪ ♪ Just waiting to be found ♪ ♪ So if you could find a way ♪ ♪ To pick yourself up off the ground ♪ ♪ I will stand by you ♪ ♪ And help you walk around ♪ ♪ One day ♪ ♪ There are things you'll never know ♪ ♪ Sometimes people just let go ♪ ♪ You hear the reason but you never the rhyme ♪ ♪ What can you do ♪ ♪ Just take it one day at a time ♪ ♪ And this old world sure loves to kick you when you're down ♪ ♪ But I know there's strength inside of you ♪ ♪ Just waiting to be found ♪ ♪ So if you could find a way ♪ ♪ To pick yourself up off the ground ♪ ♪ I will stand by you ♪ ♪ And help you walk around ♪ ♪ I will stand by you ♪ ♪ And help you walk around ♪ ♪ I will stand by you ♪ ♪ And help you walk around ♪ ♪ One day ♪ ♪ One day ♪ ♪ One day ♪ ♪ One day ♪ "One day."

Oh man, you guys thank you so much for listening.

Tonight's program would not be possible without the generous support of the Arts Council of Midland and shout out to Basin PBS.

They told me to be myself.

I don't think they knew what they were getting into, but thank you so much.

You guys, please support your local public television programming by becoming a member at BasinPBS.org.

For the record, my mom is a hardcore subscriber to PBS.

I get to watch all the shows on the PBS app.

So things like Passport, the PBS Passport.

So I love PBS.

I'm so grateful to be here and kind of just finishing up on the subject we touched on a second ago.

It's been hard.

It's been a hard last year and a half or so, but I sure do give you guys a bunch of credit for just sticking to it.

Sometimes that's all we can do.

So this next song is kind of about that.

I wrote it specifically about the music business, but I think it relates to this little thing called a life.

So when it gets hard, you just got to keep on keeping on.

And I'll make you a promise, I won't give up if you don't.

(soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ Sometimes it feels like ♪ ♪ One by one ♪ ♪ For whatever reasons ♪ ♪ They all come ♪ ♪ To fill me with doubt ♪ ♪ To just break my heart ♪ ♪ To leave me with questions ♪ ♪ I start picking apart ♪ ♪ But I won't give up ♪ ♪ I won't give up ♪ ♪ I won't give up ♪ ♪ No I won't give up ♪ ♪ It may be hard ♪ ♪ Yeah, it may tough ♪ ♪ And there might be moments ♪ ♪ It feels like too much ♪ ♪ And then I'm faced with the choices ♪ ♪ Wondering do I keep trying ♪ ♪ If I make it look easy ♪ ♪ Let me tell you, I'm lyin' ♪ ♪ But I won't give up ♪ ♪ I won't give up ♪ ♪ I won't give up ♪ ♪ No I won't give up ♪ ♪ Because the days and nights ♪ ♪ It feels so right ♪ ♪ I just can't get enough ♪ ♪ And the high that it brings ♪ ♪ Is so heavenly ♪ ♪ I swear angels lift me up ♪ ♪ And the demons I face are somehow replaced ♪ ♪ I feel strong and I feel loved ♪ ♪ I feel strong and I feel loved ♪ ♪ Yes I am strong and I am loved ♪ (soft acoustic guitar music) ♪ I won't give up ♪