"TEXAS HOLD 'EM" is a song by Beyoncé for her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. It was released as the album's lead single on February 11, 2024 alongside "16 CARRIAGES".
The song is an up-tempo country pop and Western music song featuring elements of folk and soul. Music critics praised "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" for its playful tone and Beyoncé's vocal performance.
Background[]
Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where the city's cowboy heritage and zydeco music played a role in her upbringing. She listened to country music from an early age, particularly from her paternal grandfather. She attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year with her family wearing western clothing, and later performed at the Rodeo four times between 2001 and 2007. Throughout her career, Beyoncé has celebrated her Southern roots, such as implementing elements of country music on B'Day (2006), through the visuals and performing a country version of "Irreplaceable" with Sugarland in 2007, celebrating her country and Southern identity on "Formation" (2016), releasing the country track "Daddy Lessons" from Lemonade (2016) and later performing the song with The Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards, spotlighting Southern culture during her 2018 Coachella performance, and centering her pride about her Southern country roots on "Black Parade" (2020). In 2021, Beyoncé released the Ivy Park x Adidas "Rodeo" clothing line inspired by "the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy"; Beyoncé commented on the collection saying: "Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses. They took their talents and formed the Soul Circuit. Through time, these Black rodeos showcased incredible performers and helped us reclaim our place in Western history and culture."
Release and promotion[]
Titled after the poker game, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" was teased by Beyoncé after she hinted that she would be releasing new music through her Super Bowl LVIII commercial for Verizon. At the end of the commercial, which sees the singer attempt to "break the Internet" in various ways, Beyoncé says, "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music," leading to media speculation of the second act of her seventh studio album Renaissance.
As the Super Bowl continued, she released two lead singles, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" and "16 CARRIAGES" from Cowboy Carter to streaming services and digital download.
Beyoncé then took to her Instagram account to announce her eighth studio-album, (referred to a Act II, and later revealed to be titled "Cowboy Carter"), released on March 29, 2024, through a teaser of an unidentified woman starting up a car with a license plate that read "TEXAS HOLD 'EM". As she drives through an empty road, she passes by a group of men staring at a Billboard with the same slogan as the license plate featuring a cutout of Beyoncé wearing an all-red outfit of a cowboy hat, lingerie and cowboy boots.
Gallery[]
Photoshoot by Mason Poole[]
Lyrics[]
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus (Woo)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
Stick around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I can't slow-dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo, ha (Woo)
[Verse 1]
There's a tornado (There's a tornado)
In my city (In my city)
Hit the basement (Hit the basement)
That shit ain't pretty (That shit ain't pretty)
Rugged whiskey (Rugged whiskey)
'Cause we survivin' ('Cause we survivin')
Off red-cup kisses, sweet redemption, passin' time, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, run me to the left
Then spin me in the middle, boy, I can't read your mind
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down
So park your Lexus (Woo)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
And stick around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I can't slow-dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some liquor on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now, woo
[Post-Chorus]
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
Woo-hoo
[Verse 2]
There's a heatwave (There's a heatwave)
Comin' at us (Comin' at us)
Too hot to think straight (Too hot to think straight)
Too cold to panic (Cold to panic)
All of the problems
Just feel dramatic (Just feel dramatic)
And now we're runnin' to the first bar that we find, yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, one step to the right
We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice
Ooh, you run to the left
Just work me in the middle boy, I can't read your mind
[Chorus]
This ain't Texas (Woo)
Ain't no hold 'em (Hey)
So lay your cards down, down, down, down, oh
So park your Lexus (Hey)
And throw your keys up (Hey)
And stick around,' round, 'round, 'round, 'round (Stick around)
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some sugar on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now (Woo)
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Come pour some liquor on me, honey too
It's a real-life boogie and a real-life hoedown
Don't be a—, come take it to the floor now, ooh
[Outro]
Take it to the floor now, ooh
Hoops, spurs, boots
To the floor now, ooh
Tuck, back, oops (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Shoot
Come take it to the floor now, ooh
And I'll be damned if I cannot dance with you
Baby, pour that sugar and liquor on me, too
Furs, spurs, boots
Solargenic, photogenic, shoot