If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
Alabama
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If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. That lead guitar is hot, But not for "Louisiana man". So rosin up that bow for "faded love" And let's all dance. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. I remember down in Houston We were puttin' on a show When a cowboy in the back stood up and yelled, "Cotton-Eyed Joe"! He said, "we love what you're doin'. Boys don't get us wrong, There's just somethin' missin' in your song. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. That lead guitar is hot, But not for "Louisiana man". So rosin up that bow for "faded love" And let's all dance. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. So we dusted off our boots and put our cowboy hats on straight. Them Texans raised the roof when Jeff opened up his case. You say y'all all want to two-step. you say ya want to doe-si-doe. Well, here's a fiddlin' song before we go. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. That lead guitar is hot, But not for "Louisiana man". So rosin up that bow for "faded love" And let's all dance. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band. That lead guitar is hot, But not for "Louisiana man". So rosin up that bow for "faded love" And let's all dance. If you're gonna play in Texas, You gotta have a fiddle in the band.
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Written by: DANNY MITCHELL, DANNY JOE MITCHELL, MURRY KELLUM
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Release Information"If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" was released in July 1984, as the lead single from Alabama's album "Roll On."
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Song PerformanceThe song quickly reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States and stayed there for one week.
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SongwritersThe song was written by Murray Kellum and Dan Mitchell, both prominent songwriters in the country music industry.
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Crossover AppealThe song has been recognized as one of the crossover hits that helped introduce country music to a wider audience in the 1980s.
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Country Music StapleIt is considered a staple tune for country artists, especially those who incorporate a fiddle in their music performances.
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'Fiddle' Mentioned in LyricsThe song's title comes from its catchy, refrain, "If you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band." This is a catchy way of saying that to please a crowd in Texas, it's essential to play music that suits their taste, which is usually a mixture of country and western.
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Musical ElementsNotably, the music to "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" features a fiddle prominently, reflecting the song's title and lyrics.
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Live PerformancesThe band Alabama often performed the song live with a special solo by their fiddler, Jeff Cook.
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Recognition"If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" is one of Alabama's 32 number one country hits.
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Chart-topping SongThe song not only topped the country music charts in America, but it also crossed over to become a popular hit in Canada, reaching the No.1 spot on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.
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Pop Culture ImpactThe song's catchy tune and memorable lyrics have earned it a place in popular country music culture, often referenced in various forms of media.
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Citation
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"If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 19 Mar. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/10197123/Alabama/If+You%27re+Gonna+Play+in+Texas+%28You+Gotta+Have+a+Fiddle+in+the+Band%29>.
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