James McMurtry：Meaning of Talkin' At The Texaco Songmeaning

"Talkin' At The Texaco" is a song about life in a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business. The narrator reminds the listener that they're a little bit late for a good time because the town closes up early. The town is so small that they can't sell beer and the preacher drives a Cadillac. The song tells the story of a person going around town trying to find someone, but the narrator already knows that he will likely find him at the football game. The lyrics suggest that in a small town, rumors spread fast, and everyone knows each other's business. The narrator wakes up feeling foggy and calls an old lady to try to find out what happened the night before, which highlights the lack of privacy in small towns. The song portrays the close-knit nature of small towns and how everyone is connected to each other, whether they like it or not.