A Timeless Ode to the Lone Star State’s Enduring Dance Halls
This iconic track is a heartwarming promise that the spirited heart of Texas, found within its humble honky tonks, will never truly fade away.
It was 1976, a year of bicentennial pride and shifting sands in popular music, yet the soul of country music remained firmly rooted in tradition. Into this climate stepped Johnny Rodriguez, the pioneering Hispanic country star whose voice held a remarkable blend of smooth vulnerability and deep country authenticity. He was already a proven hitmaker, boasting an incredible streak of consecutive Top 10 hits on the country charts. That year, he released the album Reflecting, and nestled within its tracks was a poignant, instantly classic piece of Texas lore: “There’ll Always Be Honky Tonks in Texas.”
The song, a magnificent composition penned by the legendary songwriter Mickey Newbury—who gave us “American Trilogy” and “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”—was released as the B-side to a single, but its enduring sentiment and catchy, gentle sway have made it one of the most recognizable and beloved pieces of Rodriguez’s catalogue. While exact chart data for its B-side performance is often elusive, the track is a clear album favorite from an artist who was then consistently hitting the top spot; his singles like “You Always Come Back to Hurting Me,” “I Just Can’t Control Myself,” and “I Couldn’t Be Me Without You” were all massive Number Ones around this time. This song rode the massive wave of popularity Rodriguez enjoyed in the mid-70s, cementing his place as a superstar of the era.
The story behind the song is less about dramatic events and more about a simple, powerful truth: the honky tonk is the essential, sacred space for country music lovers, especially in Texas. It’s not just a place for drinking or dancing; it’s a sanctuary where life’s pain is eased, where community is found, and where the classic sound lives on. Newbury’s lyrics, delivered with Rodriguez’s earnest, heartfelt conviction, capture the spirit of resilience. The meaning is wonderfully straightforward yet profound: no matter how much the world changes, no matter what modern trends sweep through, the quintessential Texas experience—the cold beer, the warm embrace, the crying-in-your-beer lament, and the boot-stomping rhythm—will endure as long as those dance halls stand.
For those of us who came of age with this music, the song is a powerful tug on the heartstrings. It’s the sonic equivalent of dusty floors, neon signs, and the sweet smell of sawdust and stale beer. It reminds us of a simpler time, perhaps a time when our own hearts were broken on a dance floor, only to be patched up by the comfort of the band and the company of strangers. Johnny Rodriguez brought a unique cultural perspective to country music, a smooth voice that made the traditional sounds accessible and deeply moving. “There’ll Always Be Honky Tonks in Texas” isn’t just a song; it’s a cherished, nostalgic promise to every country soul.
Oldies Songs