Let's Go To Luckenbach, Texas

WELCOME TO LUCKENBACH, TEXAS-POP. 3

Settled in 1850 by German pioneers, tiny Luckenbach remained obscure until 1970 when Hondo Crouch, rancher and Texas folklorist and writer, bought Luckenbach for $30,000 from an ad he saw in the paper.

GENERAL STORE AND BEER HALL

Luckenbach remains as it was—one unpainted combination general store and beer hall, a traditional rural dance hall, and a sometimes-used blacksmith shop.

COMANCHE TRADERS

  Luckenbach was first established as a community trading post and was one of the few that never broke a peace treaty with the Comanche Indians, with whom they traded.

WILLIE NELSON AND WAYLON JENNINGS IN CONCERT AT LUCKENBACH

Years later, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson memorialized Luckenbach with the song "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)"

Author Peter Doggett recalls that Jennings later told audiences that "he hated the song and had admitted 'The guys that wrote the thing have never been to Luckenbach. Neither have I."

Luckenbach, Texas / Back to the Basics of Love

The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women
I don't need my name in the marquee lights
I got my song and I got you with me tonight
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain

So baby, let's sell your diamond ring
Buy some boots and faded jeans and go away
This coat and tie is choking me
In your high society you cry all day
We've been so busy keepin' up with the Jones
Four car garage and we're still building on
Maybe it's time we got back to the basics of love

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin' got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs and
Newberry's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain't nobody feelin' no pain

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas
With Willie and Waylon and the boys
This successful life we're livin's got us feudin'
Like the Hatfield and McCoys
Between Hank Williams' pain songs
And Jerry Jeff's train songs and Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas there ain't nobody feelin' no pain.



CASUAL GATHERING OF MUSICIANS



OLD OPEN AIR DANCE HALL

The little community is still an active home to country music as of 2010, where folks gather by the score to listen to area musicians and drink cold beer, particularly Shiner Bock, a local favorite brewed by the oldest brewer in Texas.

HIGHWAY SIGN

Luckenbach's bemusing ambiance, according to one writer, "is like Brigadoon; you're almost afraid to go back because it might not be there again." It's there, though, in the Hill Country, east of Fredericksburg off U.S. 290, five miles south of Farm to Market Road 1376.
Don't count on the signs, though—thieves swipe them as fast as they can be placed.

Enjoy your visit!

Celia