♪ "Muscle Shoals to Music Row" ♪ (upbeat country music) [Presenter] The Sam Phillips Music Organization invites you to step behind the music where the hits are made, the stories are told, and the legends are born.

♪ Muscle Shoals ♪ ♪ To Music Row, yeah ♪ [Presenter] This program is brought to you by Visit the Shoals, Big River Broadcasting, Sutherland Sight & Sound, and the University of North Alabama's David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry.

And now, live from the Shoals, this is "Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live."

(audience applauding) Good evening, welcome to another edition of "Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live."

I'm your host, M. Fletcher Brown.

Now the man to my right, I could give you his resume, but we'd be here for an hour, so I'm just gonna let him tell you.

Please welcome "Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live," Dale Watson & His Lone Stars.

(energetic guitar music) ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna have a real good time ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna be one hell of a night ♪ I'm gonna do just like I did on the record now.

I did a Willie Nelson impersonation.

Gotta have a bandana when you do a Willie Nelson impersonation.

Willie taught me how to roll.

(spectators laughing) There we go.

♪ Thinkin' about that red-headed stranger ♪ ♪ His blue eyes cryin' in the rain ♪ ♪ On the road again till the party's over ♪ ♪ And tomorrow starts the same old thing again ♪ ♪ That's Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna have a real good time ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna be one hell of a night ♪ (laid-back country music) ♪ I like to lend an ear to old Waylon ♪ ♪ He's lonesome, he's ornery, he's mean ♪ ♪ He's the only daddy that'll walk the line ♪ ♪ Storms never last when he sings ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna have a real good time ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna be one hell of a night ♪ (upbeat country music) ♪ Now each night, I pick a different poison ♪ ♪ Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, or rye ♪ ♪ Thinkin' about that good-hearted woman ♪ ♪ Hangin' out with old friends of mine ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna have a real good time ♪ ♪ Willie, Waylon, and whiskey ♪ ♪ Gonna be one hell of a night ♪ ♪ Hangin' out with some good friends of mine ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Ow!

(laid-back country music) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Well, I come here every night ♪ ♪ I drink till I get tight ♪ ♪ And I don't wonder why ♪ ♪ I brought it on myself ♪ ♪ I didn't need your help ♪ ♪ It comes as no surprise ♪ ♪ Something about a beer ♪ ♪ In this here atmosphere ♪ ♪ It's the perfect place ♪ ♪ To go when you lose face ♪ ♪ To sit, and drink, and cry ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Now there's people all around ♪ ♪ They don't see me drownin' in my misery ♪ ♪ No, they never notice me ♪ ♪ Like they never see all these memories ♪ ♪ Something about a beer ♪ ♪ In this here atmosphere ♪ ♪ It's the perfect place ♪ ♪ To go when you lose face ♪ ♪ To sit, and drink, and cry ♪ ♪ It's the perfect place ♪ ♪ To go when you lose face ♪ ♪ To sit, and drink, and cry ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you, everybody.

Song about Texas honky-tonk right there, buddy.

This next song I'd like to do for you is one that's gonna be on this new record we got coming out.

And I think this, in my opinion, I was gonna champion this as the first single.

Maybe it might be the second single, but when you hear the first line, you're going to have a tendency to laugh, and it's okay.

If you laugh, go ahead and laugh.

But if you do, you're gonna feel real bad about laughing when you hear the second line.

So I'm just letting you know.

It kinda sounds funny, and it kinda is, but it's not funny.

It's called "If You Really Love Me, Outlive Me."

♪ If ♪ I heard somebody laugh.

(audience laughing) ♪ If you really love me ♪ -♪ Outlive me ♪ -(gentle country music) ♪ Don't make me go ♪ ♪ Through life without you ♪ ♪ If you really love me ♪ ♪ Outlive me ♪ ♪ It's the least someone ♪ ♪ Who loves me can do ♪ ♪ I've had my share of loss ♪ ♪ And I've had to bear the cost ♪ ♪ How much grief can one heart take ♪ ♪ How many times can one heart break ♪ ♪ If you really love me ♪ ♪ Outlive me ♪ ♪ Don't make me go through life without you ♪ (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) ♪ It's a selfish request, I know ♪ ♪ To be the first to go ♪ ♪ Everyone I love has left ♪ ♪ Except you, and so I ask ♪ ♪ If you really love me ♪ ♪ Outlive me ♪ ♪ Don't make go through life ♪ ♪ Without you ♪ ♪ If you really love me ♪ ♪ Outlive me ♪ ♪ It's the least someone ♪ ♪ Who loves me can do ♪ ♪ Don't make me go through life ♪ ♪ Without you ♪ ♪ If you really love me ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you very much.

That's kind of funny, I guess.

This next song up, well, let me introduce this band first because the Lone Stars all the way from Austin, Texas.

That is, yeah, Manny Pagan back on the drums.

(audience cheering and applauding) Zack Sapunor on upright bass.

(audience applauding) And originally from Austin, he just moved to Memphis, and he's part of the Memphian, a band that I use at my bar in Memphis, Hernando's Hideaway.

He's on the Memphian record we recorded, and that on the piano is T. Jarrod Bonta.

(audience applauding) He's also his own artist, and the guy helped me out.

My normal guy who's been with me 23 years, Don Pawlak, couldn't be here.

He had a cigarette burning at the house he had to get to.

(drum resonating) My buddy Danny Muhammad over here on the pedal steel from Nashville.

He'll be in to help us out.

This next song I wrote for, anybody named Katie out there, anybody in the studio audience?

Actually, I can be honest.

I wrote this for the Katie that's watching on TV right now.

I wrote it for you.

It's called "Hey, Katie."

(energetic country music) ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back around ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back in town ♪ ♪ From Katy, Texas, your daddy's only daughter ♪ ♪ You sure could be a tall drink of water ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back around ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back in town ♪ Do it, now.

(energetic country music continues) Whoo!

(energetic country music continues) (energetic country music continues) (energetic country music continues) ♪ Now, you went to New York City ♪ ♪ You taught 'em how to dance ♪ ♪ Blue bonnets were so pretty, you came back again ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back around ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back in town ♪ (energetic country music continues) (energetic country music continues) (energetic country music continues) (energetic country music continues) ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back around ♪ ♪ Hey, Katie, you pretty-eyed lady ♪ ♪ Good to have you back in town ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's good to have you back in Texas now ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) (Dale laughs) Thank you very much.

That's for you, Katie.

I'm gonna do this next song.

It is gonna be on the new record.

I think Katie might be on the new record.

I know I keep talking about the new record, but it's a new record, and I like to talk about the new record 'cause I'm redundant that way.

I talk about the new record I'm doing.

Have I told you about that yet?

It's coming out, new record.

And this one's called "Don't Let," I wrote this during the lockdown 'cause all the honky-tonks were having a hard time, especially my little place out in Memphis, Tennessee, me and the little woman run, and it's called Hernando's Hideaway.

It's been there.

It's a very famous place.

And so we had it rough for a little while there, but we survived thanks to the people who didn't let the honky-tonks go.

♪ Two, a-one, two, three ♪ (upbeat country music) (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) ♪ Well, don't let the honky-tonks go ♪ ♪ Help make a honky-tonk grow ♪ ♪ Keep dancing, keep dancing ♪ ♪ Don't let the honky-tonks go ♪ ♪ Help make a honky-tonk grow ♪ ♪ Keep dancing, keep dancing ♪ ♪ Put money in the jukebox ♪ ♪ Be sure to tip the band ♪ ♪ That waitress and bartender ♪ ♪ Could use a helping hand ♪ ♪ Don't let the honky-tonks go ♪ ♪ Help make a honky-tonk grow ♪ ♪ Keep dancing ♪ ♪ Keep dancing ♪ Yeah, Danny, come on, boy.

(upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) Sure thing.

(upbeat country music continues) ♪ Dim lights and loud music ♪ ♪ It's a party atmosphere ♪ ♪ At the end of the week ♪ ♪ You'll sure need a cold Lone Star Beer ♪ ♪ Don't let the honky-tonks go ♪ ♪ Help make a honky-tonk grow ♪ ♪ Keep dancing, keep dancing ♪ ♪ Keep dancing, keep dancing ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Keep dancing, keep dancing ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you very much.

We are big into dancing in Texas.

So I do a lot of dance songs, and two-steps, polkas, shuffles, waltzes.

This doesn't fall into that category, this next song.

This is one that I guess I wrote this because of, well, kind of the climate of people not getting along, you know.

I thought, you know, just 'cause you got a different opinion don't mean you should not get along with somebody who don't share your opinion.

So I wrote this song called "Life Is Like a Song," and it will be on the next album.

Key of C, boss.

(laid-back country music) ♪ Life is like a song ♪ ♪ We just sing along ♪ ♪ Humming in the end ♪ ♪ Till it fades away and gone ♪ ♪ The melody is love ♪ ♪ Lyrics all ring true ♪ ♪ Life is like a song ♪ ♪ Connecting me to you ♪ ♪ You can go your way ♪ ♪ And I can go mine ♪ ♪ The rhythm is the same ♪ ♪ It's maybe in and out of time ♪ ♪ So it goes, my friend ♪ ♪ We may not get along ♪ ♪ It's good to know that in the end ♪ ♪ That life is like a song ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Enjoy the music ♪ ♪ We only get one tune ♪ ♪ To sing it harmony ♪ ♪ Any note we choose ♪ ♪ Life is like a song ♪ ♪ We just sing along ♪ ♪ Humming in the end ♪ ♪ Till it fades away and gone ♪ ♪ The melody is love ♪ ♪ Lyrics all ring true ♪ ♪ Life is like a song ♪ ♪ Connecting me to you ♪ ♪ Life is like a song ♪ ♪ Connecting me to you ♪ (laid-back country music continues) [M. Fletcher] If I had to describe Dale Watson one word- [Dale] Thank you.

-what word would I use?

-Oh, boy.

And I think the perfect word- Careful, it's a family audience.

-Careful.

-This is true.

The perfect word came to me, authentic.

Oh, well, that's a huge compliment.

-Thank you.

-You are one of the most authentic country artists I think I've seen in a really, really long time.

That's a huge compliment, thank you.

Well, I mean, I say that, and like I said, you just recently won the 2026 Living Legend Award, CMA of Texas.

-Right.

-Right?

And when I found that, I think that's where that thought came from, 'cause I'm like, "Well, that's well deserved."

You have more than 30 years on the road playing music.

-Yeah.

-You have over 30 albums.

You got a brand-new album.

-Yeah.

-You've been making this authentic, traditional country -for so long.

-'Cause all my stuff is derived from my influences, and just because my originality doesn't go far away from my influences, you know, that's just where I'm at.

You know, I want people to know that, hey, you could tell that I listen to Merle Haggard.

You could tell listen Johnny Cash.

You could tell I listen to Buck Owens, or Ray Price, or all these folks that reminds you, Glen Campbell.

It's no mistake, and you know, there was a fellow here tonight after I got done, he said, "You know, I hadn't heard these songs, but by the second verse, I was able to sing along."

[M. Fletcher] Yeah.

And that made me feel good, too.

Well, I think that's probably your biggest appeal is that, even to someone who isn't well versed in your discography, who hasn't heard all the Dale Watson- -Right.

-you automatically feel familiar to someone who is a lover of traditional country music.

Yep, I appreciate that.

Like I said, you are like the greatest hits of my country favorites and songs that I'm like, "I don't know this song, but I know this song."

(laughs) Right, sometimes when I write a song, I'm thinking, "Boy, I wish I could hear Ray Price sing this, or I wish I could hear George Jones sing this," you know.

And so sometimes I lend myself to that, the production and the playing style, you know, so, yeah, yeah, so it's on, I don't know if it's on purpose, but it's not without intent, because I'm a fan of them, and my audience, they come to see me, they're a fan of them people, too.

Well, you're a storyteller, and I love storytellers, and that's why I love country music.

I've always loved, my mother raised me on country music.

I've always loved country music.

It is a storytelling genre.

So I would like to think of myself as a troubadour telling people about real people, real things.

Hey, but you know what?

I got nice surprise for y'all.

I got a really good surprise for y'all.

I brought my lovely wife, who sings with me, writes with me, and the reason I write a lotta, any love song I wrote is because of that woman.

And she's gonna get up here and sing a song that we wrote together.

Well, I would say it's about Johnny and June, but it's about us.

And put your hands together please for Miss Celine Lee.

-(upbeat music) -(audience applauding) ♪ Tease it to Jesus, uh-huh, huh ♪ ♪ Uh-huh, huh ♪ ♪ You gotta tease it to Jesus, uh-huh, huh ♪ ♪ Uh-huh ♪ Miss Atomic Bomb Shell herself, Celine Lee, here we go.

Hello, Muscle Shoals.

What an honor to be here.

Thank you so much.

-(audience applauding) -(gentle guitar music) You look beautiful, honey.

Thank you, baby.

♪ Like a sparrow'd miss flight ♪ ♪ Like the moon would miss night ♪ ♪ Like a flower'd miss dew ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ ♪ Like a mother'd miss her baby ♪ ♪ Like a cowboy'd miss his lady ♪ ♪ Like the sky would miss blue ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ ♪ You're the cream in my coffee ♪ ♪ You're the yes to my maybe ♪ ♪ You're the wind in my sail ♪ ♪ A lullaby to my baby ♪ ♪ Like a song would miss music ♪ ♪ Like a singer'd miss song ♪ ♪ Like Johnny missed June ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) (gentle country music continues) ♪ You're the cream in my coffee ♪ ♪ You're the yes to my maybe ♪ Or the biscuits in my gravy.

♪ You're the wind in my (laughs) sail ♪ ♪ A lullaby to my baby ♪ ♪ Like a song would miss music ♪ ♪ Like a singer'd miss song ♪ ♪ Like Johnny missed June ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ ♪ Like a bell would miss ringing ♪ ♪ Like we would miss singing ♪ ♪ Like Johnny missed June ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ ♪ Like Johnny missed June ♪ ♪ That's how I'd miss you ♪ (audience applauding) -"You've Got My Heart."

-(gentle bass music) ♪ I searched my whole life for you ♪ ♪ I did my share of searchin', too ♪ ♪ We loved and lost along way ♪ ♪ This time love is here to stay ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I've got yours ♪ ♪ Where we are, the other goes ♪ ♪ We treat them better than our own ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I got yours ♪ (laid-back country music) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Nothing can keep us apart ♪ ♪ We've grown together in our way ♪ ♪ One thing we knew right from the start ♪ ♪ It's me and you for all our days ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I got yours ♪ ♪ Where we are, the other goes ♪ ♪ We treat them better than our own ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I got yours ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I got you yours ♪ ♪ Where we are, the other goes ♪ ♪ We treat them better than our own ♪ ♪ You've got my heart, and I got yours ♪ ♪ We treat them better than our own ♪ ♪ I got your heart ♪ ♪ And I got yours ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (audience cheering and applauding) Give it up for Dale Watson & His Lone Stars, y'all.

Thank you so much, Muscle Shoals.

Miss Celine Lee, y'all, how about her?

(upbeat music) ♪ Tease it to Jesus, uh-huh, huh ♪ ♪ Uh-huh, huh ♪ Miss Atomic Bomb Shell herself, one more time for Celine Lee.

(audience cheering and applauding) Oddly enough, I don't know who I wrote this song for.

I kinda wrote it for, I wrote it for her.

I'm sure I wrote it for her, but... (audience laughing) I mean I did.

I wrote this song for her is what it meant to say.

(laid-back country music) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ She can make a man hardheaded ♪ ♪ She can make a man go blind ♪ ♪ She can make a man go deaf and dumb ♪ ♪ Give up without even trying ♪ ♪ She's my baby ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ I fell under her spell ♪ ♪ She's my baby ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ She can make a man stop drinking ♪ ♪ She can make a man start, too ♪ ♪ She can make a man stop thinking ♪ ♪ Then start thinking what's he going to do ♪ ♪ She's my baby ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ Yeah, I fell under her spell ♪ ♪ She was my baby ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Now, I say was ♪ ♪ That's because you can't rope the wind ♪ ♪ You'll go insane to try to tame ♪ ♪ What you don't understand ♪ ♪ She can make a grown man crazy ♪ ♪ She can make a grown man cry ♪ ♪ She can make a man sit down, shut up ♪ ♪ Take the mote right from his eye ♪ ♪ She was my baby ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm ♪ ♪ I fell under her spell ♪ ♪ She was my baby ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Whoop, whoop, (laughs) thank you.

I'm inspired by a lot of the legends I grew up listening to.

Obviously, that was Waylon inspired.

And I got Willie, and Merle Haggard, and Gary Stewart, and Ray Price, of course, is another one.

And that comes in.

And because Sam Phillips studio is another studio- -Yes.

-I recorded -a couple of records there.

-Yeah, you recorded, I know you recorded your 2019 "Call Me Lucky"- Right.

at Sam Phillips Recording Service.

Right.

What is your connection, personal connection to the Phillips family, and to Sun, and Sam Philips Records?

Well, you know, I've been going to, I made a promise to, if anybody joined my band, I always have to stop in Memphis.

If they haven't been to Graceland, I take 'em to Graceland.

Haven't been to Sun Studios, I take 'em to Sun or Stax, and Stax, you know, and Sam Phillips Studio because these are very important influences of my music.

You gotta get it, you know.

You gotta understand this.

This is part of the roots.

So I met Jerry through that, and then he came to Austin, I guess through this, through "Muscle Shoals to Music Row."

We were doing some business there, and he came out to where I was playing where I was doing chicken bingo.

(Dale and M. Fletcher laughing) [M. Fletcher] Yeah, I found that, too.

And we just hit it off, and we just stayed in touch, and we've written songs together, me and Jerry, and his whole family, just I love 'em very much.

I'm very honored to be friends with him.

This is actually one that, I opened some shows with Ray Price.

I got lucky enough to be friends with him, and I don't take that lightly 'cause I mean, he's a legend.

Ray Price is a big hero of mine.

And so he let me open some shows for him.

And so I got to know him pretty well, and he wrote this song for me, and that's why I wanna record this song for the new record, but it's even more special because he wrote this song for me I guess about nine or 10 months after he died, and that made this song way more special.

(water bottle creaking) (Dale laughs) Was that an uncomfortable pause there?

No, I know, I know, after he died.

But it's true, and I can explain it.

He came to me in a dream about nine or 10 months after he passed away.

And in this dream, I was on his front porch in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

And he opened up the door and says, "Hey, Dale, I'm just," I didn't know where I was at really.

I go, "Where am I?"

And then he opened up the door, and he looked great.

He looked just like he did on the "For the Good Times" album.

And he goes, "Glad you're here.

I got a song I wrote.

I think you'd be great singing it.

Come on in.

I wanna sing it for you."

We walk in, and there he is.

He sits down in this lounger upon him, and all of a sudden, the band kicks in.

It's a dream, so you know, I'm looking around, "Where'd the band come from?"

But there they are.

The band kicks in.

We're in the living room, and they kick in, and they play this song, and I'm hearing him sing, and I'm knowing he's already passed away, but I'm thinking, "Wow, I get to hear Ray sing one more time.

This is great."

But then I start panicking because I'm thinking, "I'm supposed to remember this.

How am I gonna remember this?"

so I reached for my phone, and that's where I realized, 'cause I've tried it since then, apparently, you can't have your cell phone in a dream, or I can't.

Has anybody here had a cell phone in a dream?

I really haven't, so maybe that's a rule.

But I was going to write it down, or record him, or something, but I couldn't, so I panicked.

I woke myself up.

So there I was in my bed.

I go, grabbed my phone off the bed stand, and I wrote down, and sung into it the words and the music.

And then I go to sleep, started to go to sleep, and I realized, "I don't know how it ended.

I woke up before it ended.

How did it end?"

So I guess this really is a co-write with Ray Price.

And I don't know how the copyright's gonna be on this thing, but it's called "Just Yesterday."

♪ One, two ♪ ♪ A-one, two ♪ (laid-back country music) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ I'm grateful for the lips ♪ ♪ I kiss each day ♪ ♪ The only lips I'll kiss ♪ ♪ Till my dying day ♪ ♪ I'm thankful for the caress ♪ ♪ That takes my cares away ♪ ♪ I'm amazed ♪ ♪ I loved you less just yesterday ♪ ♪ Yesterday, my love for you ♪ ♪ Was mountain high ♪ ♪ Today, my love for you ♪ ♪ Is beyond the sky ♪ ♪ Tomorrow, who's to say ♪ ♪ It could go past the Milky Way ♪ ♪ I'm amazed ♪ ♪ I loved you less ♪ ♪ Just yesterday ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Now, surely, love can't grow like this ♪ ♪ Every day ♪ ♪ Heaven only knows ♪ ♪ It feels that way ♪ ♪ The more and more you give ♪ ♪ The more and more I'll take ♪ ♪ I'm amazed ♪ ♪ I loved you less ♪ ♪ Just yesterday ♪ ♪ Yesterday, my love for you ♪ ♪ Was mountain high ♪ ♪ Today, my love for you ♪ ♪ Is beyond the sky ♪ ♪ Tomorrow, who's to say ♪ ♪ It could go past the Milky Way ♪ ♪ I'm amazed ♪ ♪ I loved you less ♪ ♪ Just yesterday ♪ (laid-back country music continues) (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you.

Thank you, Ray.

Hey, I did write that, I wrote that second verse, okay?

-(laughs) You- -I wrote it for "Swing."

'Kay?

Co-writer with Ray Price.

You know, traveling all over the world, and I go somewhere maybe to get a haircut while I'm on the road, and inevitably, they say, "Well, what do you do?

"A musician."

"What kind of music do you do?"

And every time, I hesitate 'cause I used to say country music, but for the past 20, more years, when you say country music, they automatically think it's the kind of country music that's out now, which is definitely not (laughs) what I do.

[M. Fletcher] (laughs) Not at all.

So it's misleading.

And it makes me feel bad because they say, "Oh," either, "Well, I wanna come out and see you."

I said, "No, because what you just think, what you think country music is is not (laughs) what I'll be doing, and you're gonna be disappointed."

And I would be disappointed that they're disappointed, so I just wanted to make up a name that really fit me and the roots music that I do, original music with prominent roots influence.

And we came up with the name Ameripolitan, and it worked because when I tell people I do Ameripolitan music, they get that, you know how a puppy dog goes, "Hmm?"

-(M. Fletcher laughs) -You know?

Well, that's what they do, and I like that 'cause it's easier to educate people what you do.

"Well, come on out if, you know, I mean if you like, if you like Johnny Cash type music, or Merle Haggard, or Jerry Lee Lewis, or Conway Twitty."

I mean, you name, throw some things out there, "And if you like that, you might like us, you know."

Maybe they don't even know who that is 'cause a lot of people don't even know who them people I just mentioned are.

So that's why I say it's roots music, original roots music.

And so it's easier to reeducate than it is, I mean to educate than to reeducate because trying to explain why I'm not, why I am not country (laughs) by today's country definition is so much harder, you know?

So you have to, and I don't wanna knock what's going on in Nashville anymore 'cause a lotta people like that, and I've learned, in my (laughs) age that, you know, let people like what they like.

That's fine, you know, but I just like to show 'em an alternative to what they're listening to on mainstream radio, that there is some roots music out there, and that's why I did Ameripolitan Awards.

We do the Ameripolitan Awards.

There's rockabilly, honky-tonk, Western swing, and outlaw music, and it's all original, and these are bands that are touring, and they got records out.

And that's the criteria of being in the award show, and we do that to help them say, to give them a boost, lift them up so they can keep doing what they're doing.

We don't want them to change.

We tell 'em, "We love what you do," and it's 100% fan voted on, by the way.

The fans vote on and nominate these people.

So it's a grassroots thing, and it really has gone worldwide 'cause we have, a Swedish band won country music, honky-tonk band of the year, Country Side of Harmonica Sam, fantastic band.

You'd be amazed when you hear them, you know, but past winners, Charlie Crockett won.

-Love Charlie Crockett.

-Sierra Ferrell won, fantastic.

Margo Price is one.

You know, there's some, really people that moved, went on to do a lot more things, you know, in the mainstream.

[M. Fletcher] So there's room for all of it.

There's room for all of it, I do believe.

But I do wanna push, you know, say, "Hey, make room for the roots."

This next song I wrote was inspired by a sign on the highway.

Now it's not gonna be on the new record coming out, but it's gonna be on the next record because the records, the two records I'm doing with Forty Below Records, the first one is gonna be honky-tonk and outlaw.

It's a Ameripolitan style.

Ameripolitan, for those who don't know, we do an award show every year, and Ameripolitan is original music with prominent roots influence.

-It's honky-tonk, -(drums resonating) Western swing, -rockabilly, outlaw music.

-(drums resonating) -So that's what it is.

-Whoo!

That's right.

So we do an award show, and we give away awards to a male, female, band, also to venue of the year, festival of the year, and musician of the year, and DJ of the year as well to promote the roots music and keep it going 'cause there's a lotta bands out there, and we're proud to give them awards and lift 'em up.

So this two albums I'm putting out is gonna have honky-tonk and outlaw on the first one.

And then the second album's gonna be Western swing and rockabilly.

So this song will probably be on that one.

It's about Texarkana.

(laughs) So, yeah, this song, I wanted to record it live in Texarkana because I need the audience participation on this.

I need you to go, "Texarkana!"

[Audience] Texarkana!

No, you need to do a little bit better than that.

Everybody say Texarkana!

[Audience] Texarkana!

(upbeat country music) ♪ 17 miles to Texarkana ♪ ♪ Lordy, can't wait to see my mammie ♪ ♪ Been long down in Alabamee ♪ ♪ They say I won't even recognize my family ♪ ♪ Wait till they see what I've been planning ♪ ♪ 17 miles to Texarkana ♪ ♪ Hey, finally gonna be with my pretty little missus ♪ ♪ I met her way down in old Mississippi ♪ ♪ That ain't all I got to show them, is it ♪ ♪ A bundle of joy is going to be there with us ♪ ♪ Wait till they see what I've been planning ♪ ♪ 17 miles to Texarkana ♪ (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) [Dale] Yeah, boy!

(upbeat country music continues) ♪ Well, it ain't like it be like we go there every day ♪ ♪ Sure enough, we save up for enough stuff to say ♪ ♪ Well, I bought a (indistinct) on the way ♪ ♪ Through Louisiana, shrimp gumbo ♪ ♪ And a goola boola boudin ♪ ♪ Cold Lone Star and shine from lower 'Bama ♪ ♪ 'Cross the Texas line, the sun'll be setting ♪ ♪ On the front porch with the (indistinct) ♪ ♪ It's 17 miles to Texarkana ♪ (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) ♪ Well, it ain't like it be like we go there every day ♪ ♪ Sure enough, we save up for enough stuff to say ♪ ♪ Listen now ♪ ♪ I bought a (indistinct) all the way ♪ ♪ From Louisiana, shrimp gumbo ♪ ♪ And a goola boola boudin ♪ ♪ Cold Lone Star and shine from lower 'Bama ♪ ♪ 'Cross the Texas line, the sun'll be setting ♪ ♪ On the front porch with (indistinct) ♪ ♪ It's 17 miles to Texarkana ♪ (upbeat country music continues) (upbeat country music continues) -(Dale laughing) -(audience applauding) Whoo!

(audience cheering and applauding) Good job, fellas.

This is the last song, not my last song ever, I hope.

-(musician laughs) -You know.

-Let's hope not.

-Let's hope not.

But it's one very popular song I got to do and on national TV everywhere, and now I'm on national TV here in Alabama, and I appreciate them having me out here on "Muscle Shoals to Music Row."

Thank you very much for having me and the Lone Stars here.

(audience cheering and applauding) Let's do some lying and some drinking, boys.

♪ Two, a-one, two ♪ (laid-back country music) (laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ Oh, I lie when I drink, and I drink a lot ♪ ♪ Don't believe me when I've had a few ♪ ♪ I lie when I drink, and I drink a lot ♪ ♪ I only drink when I'm missin' you ♪ ♪ I walk in, the bartender rolls his eyes ♪ ♪ But at the same time, the waitress, she just smiles ♪ ♪ He's heard the truth about you ♪ ♪ And she's heard it too, but slightly skewed ♪ ♪ I had lied, I broke your heart in two ♪ ♪ 'Cause I lie when I drink, and I drink a lot ♪ ♪ Don't believe me when I've had a few ♪ ♪ Oh, I lie when I drink, and I drink a lot ♪ ♪ I only drink when I'm missin' you ♪ Yeah, Danny!

(laid-back country music continues) (laid-back country music continues) ♪ At closin' time, I'm the last one out the door ♪ ♪ I tip that waitress ♪ ♪ That bartender, I ignore ♪ ♪ I yell, I'm, I'm never comin' back ♪ (musician laughs) ♪ That always made 'em laugh ♪ (Dale laughs) ♪ They know me, I won't keep my word, no ♪ ♪ 'Cause I lie when I drink, and I drink a lot ♪ ♪ Don't believe me when I've had a few ♪ Come on, y'all.

Help me out.

Here we go.

♪ Oh, I lie when I drink ♪ Everybody, here we go.

♪ And I drink a lot ♪ ♪ I only drink when I'm missin' you ♪ ♪ I only drink when I'm missin' you ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you all.

♪ Two, a-one, two ♪ (laid-back country music) How about it for the Lone Stars up here?

That is Danny Muhammad, (audience cheering and applauding) Manny Pagan, Zack Sapunor, and T. Jarrod Bonta.

Appreciate you so very much, y'all.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up for Mr.

Dale Watson.

(laid-back country music continues) Dale Watson & His Lone Stars.

(audience cheering and applauding) Was that not an incredible night of music?

I told you you wouldn't be disappointed.

You'll find more next time on another "Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live."

We'll see you again.

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