Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band

-"Austin City Limits" presents an hour with the iconic and iconoclastic Texas songwriter Terry Allen.

-♪ Some people think that I must be crazy ♪ ♪ My real name is just Jesse James ♪ ♪ And I left them half-crocked ♪ ♪ Hard knocks of Black Rock County ♪ ♪ Just to ride on that New Delhi Train ♪ -♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Ridin' down that New Delhi Line ♪♪ -♪ When a high-pressure zone hits a low ♪ ♪ Somethin' gotta give and somethin' gotta go ♪ Ah!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -Recorded live from the Moody Theater, it's... -Now singer-songwriter and visual artist who's become a cult favorite, Terry Allen.

-♪ Yeah, they come in from the southwest ♪ ♪ Middle of the night ♪ ♪ It loomed over Lubbock ♪ ♪ What a God Almighty sight ♪ ♪ Yeah, it dipped down into the darkness ♪ ♪ All crazy out of control ♪ ♪ It throwed around that panhandle town ♪ ♪ Till it couldn't throw it around no more ♪ Whoo!

♪ Yeah, some blamed secret government projects ♪ ♪ Some blamed it on the president ♪ ♪ Some blamed wind from the wings of Jesus ♪ ♪ Just flapping 'round heaven-sent ♪ ♪ Yeah, but I don't know ♪ -♪ He don't know ♪ -♪ No, I don't know ♪ -♪ He don't know ♪ -♪ They don't know, whoo ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But when a high-pressure zone hits a low ♪ ♪ Somethin' gotta give and somethin' gotta go ♪ Whoo!

♪♪ ♪ Like a vampire over the broadway ♪ ♪ It showed no moral code ♪ ♪ Take out a mighty church of God ♪ ♪ And leave a honky-tonk by the road ♪ ♪ Tiny creatures went flying ♪ ♪ Right out of prairie-dog town ♪ ♪ Smack up against the Great Plains life ♪ ♪ Little bones in the rain fallin' down ♪ Ha!

Ah!

♪♪ ♪ Yeah, some blamed communist sabotage ♪ ♪ Some blamed rednecks on the right ♪ ♪ Some blamed teenage restlessness ♪ ♪ Rock 'n' roll gone berserk in the night ♪ ♪ Yeah, but I don't know ♪ -♪ UFO ♪ -♪ I don't know ♪ -♪ It's a UFO ♪ -♪ They don't know, whoo ♪ ♪ But when a high-pressure zone hits a low ♪ ♪ Somethin' gotta give and somethin' gotta go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, this hubbub on the hub ♪ ♪ Laid the city to its knees ♪ ♪ Sweet memories beneath the rubble ♪ ♪ Shattered glass, broken dreams ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, but in that wake of destruction ♪ ♪ This dazed and battered town ♪ ♪ Pulled its ass up out of the debris ♪ ♪ Put its feet back up on the ground ♪ ♪ Hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, some said it was the ghost of Buddy ♪ ♪ Some said the ghost of Cain ♪ ♪ Some said the soul of the prodigal son ♪ ♪ Is just stumblin' back home again ♪ ♪ Yeah, but I don't know ♪ -♪ It's a tornado ♪ -♪ I don't know ♪ -♪ It's a tornado ♪ -♪ Maybe so ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But when a high-pressure zone hits a low ♪ ♪ Somethin' gotta give and somethin' gotta go ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] I want to dedicate this whole set tonight to a friend of mine that passed away about three weeks ago -- Dave Hickey.

And Dave was -- Dave was one of those guys -- He got a MacArthur grant, a genius grant.

And he was a brilliant person.

But he -- Whenever he went to Lubbock, he never knew the difference between Idalou Road and the Amarillo Highway.

So... [ Laughter ] ♪♪ Yeah, this is a song that Dave Alvin and I wrote and, uh, Jo Harvey, my wife.

[ "Death of the Last Stripper" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ She had a boy ♪ ♪ With some guy from Fresno ♪ ♪ Where he is now ♪ ♪ None of us know ♪ ♪ She had a number ♪ ♪ On some paper in her purse ♪ ♪ That was the number ♪ ♪ We tried first ♪ -♪ But nobody answered ♪ ♪ Every time we tried ♪ ♪ We're the only ones in the world ♪ ♪ That even know she died ♪ -♪ Gave her clothes to the Goodwill ♪ ♪ Except for one pretty dress ♪ ♪ Tried to make her face up ♪ ♪ So she could look her best ♪ ♪ Got carnations at the Safeway ♪ ♪ And no roses there ♪ ♪ Had no money for a preacher ♪ ♪ So we tried to say a prayer ♪ ♪ Yeah, but ♪ -♪ Nobody answered ♪ ♪ Every time we tried ♪ ♪ We're the only ones in the world ♪ ♪ That even know she died ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Yeah, they shut down the mill ♪ ♪ Now there's no one around ♪ ♪ She was the last stripper ♪ ♪ The last club in town ♪ ♪ Can't say that I knew her ♪ ♪ Can't say we were friends ♪ ♪ But I still try that number ♪ ♪ Every now and then ♪ ♪ Yeah, but ♪ -♪ Nobody answered ♪ ♪ Every time we tried ♪ ♪ We're the only ones in the world ♪ ♪ That even know she died ♪ ♪ We're the only ones in the world ♪ ♪ That even know she died ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] This next song, uh, five of us wrote.

So it's a real schizophrenic song, you know?

[ Laughter ] It's called "All These Blues Go Walkin' By."

And Shannon's gonna sing it.

Shannon wrote it, I wrote it, Charlie wrote it, Bukka wrote it, and my wife, Jo Harvey, wrote it.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Song intro plays ] ♪♪ -♪ Old song on the radio ♪ ♪ Folded clothes on the dresser drawer ♪ ♪ Kimono hanging on the back of a bedroom door ♪ ♪ Love letters hidden under the bed ♪ ♪ Signed, sealed, never meant to be read ♪ ♪ It all makes me ♪ ♪ Blue ♪ -♪ Memories linger, but they don't last ♪ ♪ Some days just come too fast ♪ ♪ So hard ♪ ♪ They break like glass ♪ ♪ Reflections seem to live or die ♪ ♪ Just can't find the reasons why ♪ ♪ All these blues go walkin' by ♪ ♪ By, by, by, by ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪♪ ♪ New song playin' on the radio ♪ ♪ Melancholy as the one before ♪ ♪ Hold your ground as it all comes around again ♪ ♪ Lord knows it comes and goes ♪ ♪ Moving fast or moving slow ♪ -♪ Lay it all down ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's the same old ♪ ♪ Blues ♪ ♪ Memories linger, but they don't last ♪ ♪ Some days just come too fast ♪ ♪ So hard ♪ ♪ They break like glass ♪ ♪ Reflections seem to live or die ♪ ♪ Just can't find the reasons why ♪ ♪ All these blues go walkin' by ♪ ♪ All these blues ♪ ♪ Go walkin' by ♪ ♪ All these blues ♪ ♪ Go walkin' by ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Whoa, oh ♪ -[ Scatting ] ♪♪ -♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] This song was written by my grandson.

And he was 9 years old, and we were watching vampire pranks on TV and started talking about maybe it being a song, and he basically told me what I should put in the song, the images that I needed.

And he wanted it tied into a circus, as well.

So this is what we came up with.

It's called "City of the Vampires"... [ Cheers and applause ] ...by Kru Allen and myself.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the circus comes to town ♪ ♪ In the city of the vampires ♪ ♪ There's nary a soul to be found ♪ ♪ When the sun glints off ♪ ♪ The church spires ♪ ♪ And the citizens have all gone to their basements ♪ ♪ To wait for the nighttime in their coffins ♪ -♪ So you better go exercise the elephants ♪ ♪ Ohh, ohh ♪ ♪ While you can ♪ ♪♪ ♪ See the carved painted wagons ♪ ♪ With wolves ♪ ♪ Pace back and forth in their cages ♪ ♪ There's a wait for a full moon to rise ♪ ♪ While they shapeshift into hairy bone-cracking stages ♪ ♪ That will let them become normal people ♪ ♪ So hungry vampires can suck their blood dry ♪ -♪ So you better go exercise the elephants ♪ ♪ Ohh, ohh ♪ ♪ While you can ♪ ♪♪ -[ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -[ Hisses ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, the big top at night is aglow ♪ ♪ And vain painted clowns are performing ♪ ♪ Baby vampire eyes shine at the show ♪ ♪ And no one seems to think it's alarming ♪ ♪ Until they grab the clowns and bite holes in their necks ♪ ♪ And the clowns aren't so funny anymore ♪ -♪ So you better go exercise the elephants ♪ ♪ Ohh, ohh ♪ ♪ While you can ♪ -[ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Alright.

[ "What of Alicia" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ He just turned 17 ♪ ♪ When he left old Abilene ♪ ♪ With his bags ♪ ♪ And permission from the kin ♪ ♪ Yeah, but things just weren't the same ♪ ♪ After his mama signed her name ♪ ♪ And let the Navy ♪ ♪ Take him in ♪ ♪ Ah, but what of Alicia?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Española ♪ ♪ A 13 years old ♪ ♪ Child of Mexico ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And he just turned 19 years ♪ ♪ When he learned to face the fears ♪ ♪ Of growing up and acting like a man ♪ ♪ He just cocked his sailor cap ♪ ♪ Stuck his hands down in his lap ♪ ♪ Leaned back and stroked ♪ ♪ Them girls in Japan ♪ ♪ Ah, but what of Alicia?

♪ ♪ Española ♪ ♪ A 15 years old ♪ ♪ Girl of Mexico ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And he just turned 23 ♪ ♪ When he took his final leave ♪ ♪ Anchored in the Port of San Diego ♪ ♪ Well, he met this border girl ♪ ♪ Aw, he fancied her body's curl ♪ ♪ So he married her ♪ ♪ Then he carried her to Colorado ♪ ♪ Ah, but what of Alicia?

♪ ♪ Española ♪ ♪ A 19 years old ♪ ♪ An old woman ♪ ♪ But out of Mexico ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ ♪ Yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi, yi ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ "There Oughta Be A Law Against Sunny Southern California" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well I'm goin' back, goin' home again ♪ ♪ I'm goin back to my own again ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back, yeah, to my home town ♪ ♪ The one that put me out, the one that laid me down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, I wired up a car in East Fontana ♪ ♪ I was a-headed for San Berdu ♪ ♪ That midnight oil, it was on the boil ♪ ♪ And, boy, I was a-barrelin' through ♪ ♪ Yeah, I took a turn, but I hit the curb ♪ ♪ And spun off the center lane ♪ ♪ When I heard the crash, well, I stomped the gas ♪ ♪ And I was barrelin' on again ♪ ♪ Leave a few people dead, but I got open road ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Leave a few people dead, but I got open road ahead ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember the cop with his slicked-back hair ♪ ♪ He told me to get outta here ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember the judge with the gold-plated mouth ♪ ♪ Said, "Go live in the north, you gonna die down south ♪ ♪ Gonna die down south" ♪ ♪ Well, I'm goin' back, goin' home again ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back to my own again ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back, yeah, to my home town ♪ ♪ The one that put me out, the one that laid me down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Went flyin' through South San Berdu ♪ ♪ With my mind on East L.A. ♪ ♪ My pachuco queen, she's cookin' re-fried beans ♪ ♪ And she's waitin' for me today ♪ ♪ Yeah, stopped on off, liquor store ♪ ♪ Made everybody lay down on the floor ♪ ♪ Took all the whiskey, took the bread ♪ ♪ Shot out their lights just before I fled ♪ ♪ I leave a few people dead, but I got open road yet ahead ♪ ♪ Ahh ♪ ♪ Leave a few people dead, but I got open road yet ahead ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember the bitch whose black tongue lied ♪ ♪ When she told me she's dissatisfied ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I remember her daddy, big as a truck ♪ ♪ He said...with me, boy if you want to... ♪ ♪ Yeah...with me, boy ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm goin' back, goin' home again ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back to my own again ♪ ♪ I'm goin' back, yeah, to my home town ♪ ♪ The one that put me out, the one that laid me down ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, there oughta be a law ♪ ♪ Against sunny Southern California ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, there oughta be a law ♪ ♪ Against putting the devil behind the wheel ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, 'cause as long as you people are gonna ♪ ♪ Sanction such an evil ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm gonna turn your asphalt ♪ ♪ Oh, back into brimstone ♪ ♪ Yeah, you...bet I will ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Finale plays ] ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Panhandle Mystery Band!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Red Bird" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hoedown down, hoedown dee ♪ ♪ Red bird dancin' in custody ♪ ♪ Goin' down New Orleans ♪ ♪ Red bird dancin' ♪ ♪ And a red bird sing ♪ ♪ Red bird sing, red bird do ♪ ♪ New Orleans ♪ ♪ And a red bird blue ♪ ♪ I been born ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna die ♪ ♪ Blood-red wing, you gonna make me fly ♪ ♪ I'm goin' in a red-bird den ♪ ♪ Ain't gonna come out again ♪ -♪ Hoedown down, hoedown dee ♪ ♪ Red bird dancin' in custody ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Hoedown down, hoedown dee ♪ ♪ Red bird dance ♪ ♪ A penitentiary ♪ ♪ A jailer stoned ♪ ♪ And he barred the door ♪ ♪ Red bird gone ♪ ♪ He had to fly no more ♪ ♪ Black crow see, black crow knew ♪ ♪ New Orleans is where the red bird flew ♪ ♪ I been born ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna die ♪ ♪ Blood-red wing, you gonna make me cry ♪ ♪ Rusty wing ♪ ♪ A dead dark thing ♪ ♪ Crows too loud now when red birds sing ♪ ♪ Hoedown down, hoedown dee ♪ ♪ Red bird dance ♪ ♪ A penitentiary ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] That's actually the first song I ever wrote that I actually thought was a song, if that gives you any kind of clue.

This is for Jo Harvey.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Flatland Boogie" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Hey, up on the caprock, me and my baby ride ♪ ♪ Goin' a hundred miles an hour ♪ ♪ 'Cause this old Ford can still fly ♪ ♪ Got four roses in a sack ♪ ♪ And we ain't lookin' back tonight ♪ ♪ Some top-40 shorty's singin' on the radio ♪ ♪ And there's cotton fields forever ♪ ♪ On both sides of the road ♪ ♪ It's still the Flatland Boogie ♪ ♪ But where did the Wolfman go?

♪ -♪ Old photographs turn yellow ♪ ♪ And times, they come and go ♪ ♪ We can still do the boogie ♪ ♪ From the High Plains to Mexico ♪ ♪ Some old angel from Amarillo ♪ ♪ Must be helpin' us to hold it on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Ah, moonlight's a-fallin' ♪ ♪ Look at that caliche glow ♪ ♪ Old coyote's a-howlin' ♪ ♪ Doesn't know that he's too old ♪ ♪ Yeah, headlights a-shinin' ♪ ♪ On all we ever need to know ♪ ♪ Cross the Llano Estacado ♪ ♪ Baby's still by my side ♪ ♪ Ain't no reason to stop ♪ ♪ And there ain't no place to hide ♪ ♪ You want to Flatland Boogie ♪ ♪ Better flat out come to ride ♪ -♪ Old photographs turn yellow ♪ ♪ And times, they come and go ♪ ♪ We can still do the boogie ♪ ♪ From the High Plains to Mexico ♪ ♪ Some old angel from Amarillo ♪ ♪ Must be helpin' us to hold it on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Some old angel from Amarillo ♪ ♪ Must be helpin' us to hold it on the road ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "New Delhi Freight Train" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Some people think that I must be crazy ♪ ♪ My real name is just Jesse James ♪ ♪ And I left them half-crocked ♪ ♪ Hard knocks of Black Rock County ♪ ♪ Just to ride on that New Delhi Train ♪ -♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Ridin' down that New Delhi Line ♪ ♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my love behind ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my love behind ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I'm just a country boy without angels ♪ ♪ Yeah, just a country boy without gold ♪ ♪ And I been to silver cities load of rainbows ♪ ♪ Where I pillaged and I killed and I stole ♪ -♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Ridin' down that New Delhi Line ♪ ♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my life behind ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my life behind ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug ♪ ♪ Chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug, chug-a-chug ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, I killed me a man named Smilin' Jordan ♪ ♪ I killed him with one of my guns ♪ ♪ And I knew I had did what I had not ought to ♪ ♪ But I welcomed the run from what I'd done ♪ -♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Ridin' down that New Delhi Line ♪ ♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my guns behind ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my guns behind ♪ -♪ Chug, chug, ow ♪ ♪♪ [ Imitating train engine chugging ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ -[ Imitating train engine chugging ] ♪♪ -♪ Ridin' down that New Delhi Line ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ridin' on that New Delhi Freight Train ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my guns behind ♪ ♪ Yeah, I left my guns behind ♪ -[ Imitating train engine chugging ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Tempo slowing ] ♪♪ [ Imitates steam hissing ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ "Gimme a Ride to Heaven Boy" plays ] ♪♪ -♪ Well, I was all caught up with myself ♪ ♪ On the highway at night ♪ ♪ Drivin' like a bat outta hell ♪ ♪ When I beheld an amazing sight ♪ ♪ Was a lonely apparition ♪ ♪ By the roadside standing there ♪ ♪ With thumb out in the wilderness ♪ ♪ And a halo in his hair ♪ -♪ He said, "Gimme a ride to heaven, boy ♪ ♪ I'll show you paradise ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, my name is Jesus Christ" ♪ -♪ Well, I come screeching to a halt ♪ ♪ I said, "Hop on in" ♪ ♪ He said, "Thanks a lot for the lift ♪ ♪ I forgive you of your sins ♪ ♪ Yeah, I just come from Jerusalem ♪ ♪ Where things are going bad ♪ ♪ Ah, gimme a ride to heaven, boy ♪ ♪ I need to talk to my dad" ♪ -♪ "Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, I'll show you paradise ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, my name is Jesus Christ" ♪ -♪ Well, I didn't know what to do ♪ ♪ So I jammed her down in gear ♪ ♪ Kinda kicked my feet beneath the seat ♪ ♪ I was trying to hide the beer ♪ ♪ Ah, but he just grinned and said, "My friend ♪ ♪ I know you must think it's odd ♪ ♪ You got nothin' to fear about drinkin' a beer ♪ ♪ If you share it with the Son of God" ♪ -♪ "Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, I'll show you paradise ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, my name is Jesus Christ" ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, I saw good news in his baby blues ♪ ♪ So I stomped it on the floor ♪ ♪ Said, "You have to show me how to get there ♪ ♪ I ain't been before" ♪ ♪ "It's a hard place to find," he said ♪ ♪ "But I'll give you a little clue ♪ ♪ It ain't somewhere up in the air ♪ ♪ It's sittin right here inside with you" ♪ ♪ Then right in the middle of that perfect smile ♪ ♪ From his robes he pulled a gun ♪ ♪ Stuck it up beside my head ♪ ♪ Said, "How's this for Kingdom Come?"

♪ ♪ I pulled off scared, but I heard him say ♪ ♪ As he left me beneath the stars ♪ ♪ "Well, the Lord moves in mysterious ways ♪ ♪ And tonight, my son ♪ ♪♪ ♪ He gonna use your car" ♪ -♪ "Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, I'll show you paradise ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, my name is Jesus Christ ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy, I'll show you paradise ♪ ♪ Gimme a ride to heaven, boy ♪ ♪ My name is Jesus Christ" ♪ ♪ My name is Jesus Christ" ♪ [ Finale plays ] ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ "Sailin' on Through" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Maybe life's just the cliff ♪ ♪ You gotta climb ♪ ♪ Go hang by the skin of your teeth ♪ ♪ You can fall anytime ♪ ♪ So better break out the bottle ♪ ♪ And bring on the glass ♪ ♪ Fill it up with the good stuff ♪ ♪ 'Cause nothing's gonna last ♪ ♪ Just go ♪ -♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Ah, every time the phone rings ♪ ♪ Seems some friend is gone ♪ ♪ A loss from the world ♪ ♪ Ashes, dust, and song ♪ ♪ So every time there's bad news ♪ ♪ You run through the yard ♪ ♪ You go hide with the radio ♪ ♪ Inside your car ♪ ♪ And just go ♪ -♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ -Turn it up.

♪ Just go ♪ -♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ You can wander the East Coast ♪ ♪ ♪ I'll wander the West ♪ ♪ ♪ But you never had to wonder ♪ ♪ Which one you like the best ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And the highway's your mainline ♪ ♪ Highway's a snake ♪ ♪ Hard as a habit gone bad is to break ♪ ♪ Just go ♪ -♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, there's storms in the Gulf ♪ ♪ And fires on the Plains ♪ ♪ Half the world is screwed ♪ ♪ The other half's insane ♪ ♪♪ -♪ So better break out the bottle ♪ ♪ And bring on the glass ♪ ♪ Fill it up with the good stuff ♪ ♪ 'Cause everything must pass ♪ ♪♪ -♪ And just go ♪ -♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ -Just like Moby Dick.

-♪ Go sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -Thank you, Austin City Limits!

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continues ] I remember being on a hayride in Lubbock.

We pulled up to this barn to get out and get warm, and I heard this sound coming out, and it was Bo Diddley, and it was the first Bo Diddley record.

I think when I heard that beat, that first Bo Diddley beat, it changed something inside of me as far as kind of thinking about what I wanted to do or what music could be.

I didn't know, but it opened some kind of door.

And so I always thought of piano playing and the need to play an instrument -- it was more of a rhythm sense for me.

I write songs, I play music, and I make pictures, and I make objects.

And it's all the same kind of thing depending on whatever necessity I feel at a time or curiosity about something at a time.

When I go into my studio, I go in there to deal with what I want to deal with.

And the work is always what it is, whether it's a song or a picture or whatever.

It doesn't matter what you say about it.

It doesn't matter what you call it or where you classify.

It's what it is.

And to me, that's what it's about.

When you make a song, it's about the song.

It's not about me.

It's not about anything other than the song.

And that's the same with a picture, with anything that you do.

That's what you -- You try to make it be what it is as much as you can.

-Just like Moby Dick.

-♪ Go sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪ Sailin' on through ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -Thank you, Austin City Limits!

Thank you.