James McMurtry - "Canola Fields" [Official Audio] 

Cashing in on a thirty year crush - some of this guys lines are absolutely magic

I'm about to cash in on a 50-year crush. Haven't seen her since 5th grade. Flying to Hawai'i later this month to spend a week together. No one had ever knocked her out of the number #1 spot in my heart. We were just kids but you never forget your first love. Several seeming lifetimes later, starting this October, we find ourselves available, compatible and in a hot internet love affair in our early sixties. If things go as well as it seems they might, I don't think I'm coming back.... I haven't told but a handful of people, because... who knows for sure how it will play out. But a friend who does know about us sent me this song. If you think 30 years is sweet, try 50.... Thank you.

James Mcmurtry’s songwriting is right up there with John Prine.

I really hope this song earns James a ton more new fans. It's definitely one of the catchiest he's ever written. It's such a great tune. As I was listening to it, I was like damn - if Blake Shelton put this out, it would tear up the charts. I have no doubt in my mind. The chord progression and melody sound like they could have been written by a crack team of Nashville's finest country writers. The lyrics though, whoa, those guys would have nooooo clue. Fortunately we have a genius in James McMurtry that brings us the best of both worlds.

My brother showed me this song and I love it. Rest in peace, he’s not here with us anymore.

"Party on wheels with the suicide doors." A throwaway line. There ia no living songwriter better than James, even Bob.

Agree man McMurtry has that rare and beautiful ability to make you crack a smile and put a lump in your throat all in two or three minutes.

Good Lord! I'm an old jarhead...and this song made me cry! Love James

Just discovered this guy now taking the deep dive.

the radio just sent me running over here with my ears ON FIRE

His storytelling and ability to pull the nostalgia from the memories of our past is second to none. Brilliant lyricist.

Just heard this for the first time today- and it made me do something. Something that as a twenty year sufferer of severe mental health issues I haven't been able to do for a long time. I actually and truly FELT. Thank you for the music, sir.

McMurtry packs so much details about life in a few lines. This is such incredible songwriting.

Easily one of the best and most underrated songwriters ever. Every song is a beautiful story that seems to take you away from the real world for a few blissful minutes

No other artist moves me like James McMurtry. His songwriting skills are unparalleled.

I love the lines about San Jose, Santa Cruz and Los Gatos. Lyle Lovett is a fan our little town just over the hill from Santa Cruz too. Truly a beautiful place to live.

Cannot wait. The songs I’ve heard sound like some of his best work, which is saying something.

Praise be!!!!!! It's almost here!!!!!!

I was in the music business when "Too long in the wasteland" was released. He did a a solo acoustic lunch and looked at me with such intensity I had to look away. As Mellencamp said, he writes songs like he's 150 years old. So happy to hear from McMurtry again. Magnificent!

Sounds like 1995 in 2021. Love it!

I’m only 32 years old, but I honestly LOVE this song. James does such a great job at describing the heartfelt reminiscence of an old love. He really touches on the spark, the heartbreak, how time affects all things, finally giving in to feelings but knowing it can’t last, then remembering how special it was years later. Amazing song James.

Absolutely wonderful from the mighty James Sounding brilliant and love these stories he writes Goddamn, a new record of his is just what I need right now

Been listening to him for 25 years. Seeing him live in clubs in Austin back in the day. He just gets better and better and better……

There's something about JM that I really like. It's called honesty! ✌

Waiting with eager...hai New songs...and hope seeing him live in Italy...!!!...In the end...we can't make it here anymore..!!!! is still echoing...

I can't stop listening to this song. Perfection.

Mc Murtry brings the human experience to song like no other.

Damn the reframe lyrics, "Take my hsnd Matie, get a death grip on me, keep me from drifting far out to see or ill be lost out there!" What a gut punch of a lyric! The lyric about "cashing in on a 30 year crush, hiding out under my hat, you can't be young and do that... can't be young and do that.." Another gut pinch kyric from a writer who knows about life. This is one great damn song on one great album. McMurtry still is at the top of his songwriting skills. Damn fine music!

There’s a pig out there somewhere smoking cigarettes, in an Airbnb he’s unwanted in, with great taste in music. ❤️

Never get tired of listening to Mr McMurtry's songs. The music and the great stories are outstanding.

Phenomenal. A homerun. Can't wait to see this material live, my God!

McMurtry is the rare artist that catches my attention lyrically. The way he strings together words…

Outstanding singer-songwriter and new work. Discovered him initially in the late 1980ies and hadn't heard of JMM for a long time. "But I still need to feel every once in a while the warmth of a smile and a touch."

love it And there's not much moving on the romance radar Not that I'm craving it all that much But I still need to feel every once in a while The warmth of a smile and a touch

Just heard the song Saturday morning, on "Wide Cut Country" on Alberta's great CKUA radio station. A perfect venue to introduce a perfect song! Thanks Allison! 👍🏻 👍🏻

Heard this while driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway last week. Pure magic.

Cheers Tim

I grew up in the area he describes (San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz). He captures it perfectly.

Top shelf. Gifted songwriting punctuated by his great singing voice. Great song. Makes me want to pick up my guitar and play along. First time hearing James McMurtry. Where the hell have I been?

I can’t believe it’s been 7 years since the last album. So looking forward to this album.

James mcmurty and your real life songs....ARTIST above all

Great song. Saw him on a trip to Austin and here he is referencing "my" home turf. Very cool.

continued great writing/performing from a one of a kind American singer-songwriter that has more depth than most

I'm french and i love this guy's songs since the beginning of his carreer !

This song made my heart smile. Thank you ❤

Awesome. Love when artists release new music that remind you of why you fell in love with them in the first place. Can’t wait for the album.

The man's just got it!

American songwriting at its absolute finest. Too many wonderful lines in this song to single out just one, although I do love "...we met up in Brooklyn before it went hipster, you carried your keys in your fist."

Such a wonderful song. Love the harmonies! 😊

Beautiful. Absolutely his best song since No More Buffalo.

Just what I needed to... "keep me from drifting far out to sea"...solid work again JMc and long live the influence of WZ with this effort.

Man, I get emotional listening to this every time. Powerful

Didn't really know how much I was looking forward to and needed to hear some new McMurtry McMusic until now. Hurry, August!

This song is by far one of my favorites I've heard in a while...so dreamy

Great song.. Reminds me a lot of Tom Petty. Also I'm addicted to that little guitar lick after the first line of the chorus

we met up in Brooklyn before it went hipster ... haahaaa. good

In the end, if he's not considered one of the top 3 songwriters of all times it would be a sin!

God I love this song. 🙂

I've been a fan for 30 some odd years, his lyrics are wizardry! "Song for a deck hands daughter" and "the lights of Cheyenne" are 2 of my many favorites. And "Angeline" I don't love these east Texas pines...

A brilliant song! One of my favourite songs from 2021.♥️it!

Excellent song and the lyrics are gold! He's got the touch!

This hit at just the right time for me to learn this and add it to my set for the summer.

Heard this song for the first time today. Hooked. What a brilliant track. 😊

On the calendar.

FANTASTIC Song !!! Looking forward for the complete album coming out !

“Take a Death Grip on some part of Me” this song full of gems 💎

Great song,great band. Thanks James.

dude love this song you don't find songs that tell a story this good of a story 10 out of 10 stars James never disappoints on his music

Damn....new music on the way!

Another great song James never disappoints on the song or the story

Is it possible that James has outdone himself yet again with this record? Sure sounds like it.🤘

GREAT SONG!!!!

Conocí la música de james por medio de un libro de Stephen king. Under the dome. Ya me traje un cd de Estados Unidos. Candyland. Soy uruguayo!

I'm here for it. I saw him in Evanston Illinois

GOLDEN!! There's not much moving on the romance radar Not that I am craving it all that much But I still need to feel every once in a while The warmth of a smile and a touch

Fabulous songwriter. Always was.

Another great one. Can’t wait for the album James!

its 14 July '21. "back to normal" is the new buzz. Naw let's keep it outside the lines...a new normal. And weve a new soundtrack for the ride....very nice...

Oh my God this is just so good. That's all I can say.

Thank you James!

The whole album is a complete smash !!

don't forget that whiskey bottle, James . . .

This song is amazing.

Perfection

WOW!

For any of you that’s not sure what James is talking about when he talks of “the white knuckle ride from Santa Cruz to Los Gatos and I could of cut his throat” He’s referring to Highway 17, the Highway From Santa Cruz to Los Gatos and Vise Versa- 17 is a radical drive through the mountains and it’s all major large twists and turns of death, it’s like a race track of death and always has been because no matter when your on it or who’s driving it’s like your in a race, 17 just makes almost everyone turn into a race driver! And again the road is long twisty and when you’re a passenger you feel like you’re gonna die and a lot of people do. So that’s what James is referring to, The Ride Back, and that’s why he says “I could of cut his throat” James was obviously a passenger on that drive. Ive done this drive a million times as I lived in Saratoga right next to Los Gatos for 38 years and I know that drive well and know exactly how James felt, you wanna kill who Evers driving for jeopardizing your life! 😆🤘

Another masterpiece

Super. Nice. 😎👍

"Cashing in on a 30-year crush. You can't be young and do that." Damn. Yeah. But Damn.

Lyrics to Sing-Along!!! I was thinking 'bout you, crossing Southern Alberta Canola fields on a July day About the same chartreuse as that sixty-nine Bug You used to drive around San Jose Never knew where my old white Lincoln might take you Party on wheels with suicide doors Bring the kids and the dogs and your grandma too We always had room for more 'Til that white-knuckle ride back from Santa Cruz Second-best surfer on the central coast Had you wrapped up all the way back to Los Gatos And I could've cut his throat And it wasn't like we were an item to start with It had no basis in fact But the whiskey could push me to sudden extremes I don't wanna think about that, I don't wanna think about that Take my hand, Marie Take a death grip on some part of me Keep me from drifting far out to sea Or I'll be lost out there We all drifted away with the days getting shorter Seeking our place in the greater scheme Kids and careers and a vague sense of order Busting apart at the seams I heard you switched coasts, moved in with your sister I doubt you'd have called it familial bliss We met up in Brooklyn before it went hipster You carried your keys in your fist In a way back corner of a cross-town bus We were hiding out under my hat Cashing in on a thirty-year crush You can't be young and do that You can't be young and do that Take my hand, Marie Take a death grip on some part of me Keep me from drifting far out to sea Or I'll be lost out there Or I'll be lost out there I was thinking 'bout you crossing Southern Alberta Canola fields at harvest time Looked like tumbleweeds all raked up into rows Brown rusty contour lines And there's not much moving on the romance radar Not that I'm craving it all that much But I still need to feel every once in a while The warmth of a smile and a touch And in a way back corner of a cross-town bus We were hiding out under my hat Cashing in on a thirty-year crush You can't be young and do that You can't be young and do that You can't be young and do that You can't be young and do that Take my hand, Marie Take a death grip on some part of me Keep me from drifting far out to sea Or I'll be lost out there I'll be lost out there I'll be lost out there Source: LyricFind Hahah funny thing and obviously my nickname is Marie

This surely makes it...

Love this song...

Love it

Dang that’s good

Thanks man I get it

I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED HE CANCELLED HIS SHOW AT THE ARK IN MICHIGAN! COME BACK PLEASE IT WAS JUST RESCHEDULED YALL! ITS STILL HAPPENING

Where are my Rothschild's at?

you know as we get older you remember and you cant be young and do that

I’m jealous that I didn’t write this song………

Timmy dillon sent me