Wasn't born here. Wasn't raised here. But you can put me in the category of Davy Crockett just prior to the Alamo when he said, "You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas" Thats how I feel about it. Slap me down for not being born here. Slap me down for not growing up here. But a boy became a man here in Texas so I dare you to take our flag.
For you non-Texans still trying to understand, here are a couple of examples: Texan: Not a Texan: Texan: Not a Texan:
I'm pretty sure if you become the Governor of Texas you can pretty much legally declare yourself a Texan. If you a marry a native Texan and you were a die-hard Rockets fan displaced in California does that make you a Texan? I fought for Rockets pride in the midst of Laker Fandom during a Laker dynasty. Thats like 100 times as many Mexicans as there were at the Alamo.
I think if you're a clutchfan, you get a pass - mainly because I agree that "Texan" is a state of mind/way of life.
Horse Sh**. My parents brought us here from PA when I was 4 in 1980. I never identified with anything but Texas. I was very proud when my son was born that he was the first in both sides of my family to be born in Texas. My wife as been here since she was 3. We are Texans. We will never leave. There is simply no where else in this country that I can honestly say that I would ever want to live. The only other places we say we'd ever want to move to from Austin is pretty much anywhere in Texas...except Dallas.
I believe that if you've established yourself in Texas, like Texas, know all about Texas, and feel Texan especially when you go other places... then it should be enough. But that's my personal feeling about what should count. And, since I didn't get here until I was 17, according to many actual Texans I do not have the authority to decide on what's Texan. So, forget it, I'm just not ever going to be from Texas... unless I'm visiting outside the state, in which case I tell everybody I'm from Texas anyway. It seems more true than anything else.
As someone born and raised in Texas (but part of the Texas diaspora for the last 20 odd years), I would say that people who claim that you have to be born in Texas to consider yourself Texan don't know what the f they're talking about. If that were true, then Mirabeau B. Lamar and Sam Houston wouldn't be Texans. That said, I don't care how long Bush jr. lived in the state, he will never be a real Texan. He is the worst kind of caricature of a Texan. Or as they say "All hat, No cattle." Lyle Lovett/Willis Alan Ramsey/Alison Rogers) You say you're not from Texas Man as if I couldn't tell You think you pull your boots on right And wear your hat so well So pardon me my laughter 'Cause I sure do understand Even Moses got excited When he saw the promised land That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway See I was born and raised in Texas And it means so much to me Though my girl comes from down in Georgia We were up in Tennessee And as we were driving down the highway She asked me baby what's so great How come you're always going on About your Lone Star State I said that's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway Oh the road it looked so lovely As she stood there on the side And she grew smaller in my mirror As I watched her wave goodbye Those boys from Carolina They sure enough could sing But when they came on down to Texas We all showed them how to swing Now David's on the radio And old Champ's still on the guitar And Uncle Walt he's home with Heidi Hiding in her loving arms That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway They're OK in Oklahoma Up in Arkansas they're fair But those old folks in Missouri They don't even know you're there But at a dance hall down in Texas That's the finest place to be The women they all look beautiful And the men will buy your beer for free And they'll say that's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway So won't you let me help you Mister Just pull your hat down the way I do And buy your pants just a little longer And next time somebody laughs at you You just tell 'em you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas That's right you're not from Texas But Texas wants you anyway
