About the song
Emmylou Harris, a renowned country music singer and songwriter, penned “Tulsa Queen” as a poignant ballad about love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. This heartfelt song, released in 1975, became a hit single and a defining track on Harris’s album “Pieces of the Sky.”
With her distinctive voice and emotive delivery, Harris explores the universal themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, and the passage of time. Through introspective lyrics and Harris’s soulful performance, listeners are invited to reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
The opening lines, “Tulsa Queen, a faded memory, a ghost from the past,” immediately establish the song’s subject and set a melancholic tone. The lyrics continue to explore the themes of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. The song’s refrain, “Tulsa Queen, I still remember you,” conveys a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Throughout the song, Harris’s soulful vocals and the song’s haunting melody create a captivating and immersive listening experience. The song’s ability to evoke a sense of loss and heartbreak makes it a timeless classic.
“Tulsa Queen” is more than just a popular song; it is a cultural touchstone that has influenced countless artists and generations of music fans. The song’s heartfelt lyrics and soulful performance continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a timeless and enduring piece of music history.
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Lyrics
I heard the train
In the Tulsa night
Calling out my name
Looking for a fight
She’s come a long, long way
Got a longer way to go
So tell me how a train from Tulsa
Has got a right to know
She sings a song
So sad and high
And the Tulsa queen
Don’t ever lie
And she don’t care where she goes
Don’t care where she’s been
And the Tulsa queen ain’t crying
‘Cause I won’t see you again
And I want to ride
Like a Tulsa queen
Calling out to you
As she calls to me
As far away from Tulsa
As these ten wheels can be
Lately I speak
Your name too loud
Each time it comes up
In a crowd
And I know it when I do
The Tulsa queen and you
Are gone…