
Bass Hall
Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen has spent decades mesmerizing audiences with his raw storytelling, his razor-sharp wit, and a musical style that blends country, folk, and Americana like no other.
From his early days alongside songwriting legend Lyle Lovett, to anthems like “The Road Goes on Forever,” Keen’s music has been the soundtrack to late-night drive sessions, summer barbecues, and soulful sing-alongs across the country. Even after all these years, his live performances are as electrifying as ever, and his tour shows no signs of slowing down. One of his next stops? Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall on March 7, where the legendary performer will continue to share his timeless music with fans old and new. Ahead of the show, I caught up with Robert for a candid conversation about his rise to fame, the evolution of Texas country, and what keeps him motivated outside of music.

Bass Hall
Fort Worth Magazine: I was doing some digging, and I didn’t realize you and Lyle Lovett were actually roommates at one point. How did that come about?
Robert Earl Keen: Yeah, it got a little out of hand with the story. In reality, Lyle lived about four houses down from me in College Station. We were good friends, spent a lot of time together, but we weren’t roommates. The myth took off after I mentioned it once during a live show. He was more private than I was — my place was a wreck, and we used to play a game called beer can soccer, breaking windows in the process. Lyle wasn’t into that. But we did bond over music. He had the only recording device I knew, and we’d talk about songs, life... and, of course, sports and girls. The music stuff just naturally came from there.
FWM: You’ve had a long and influential career in Americana and Texas country music. What do you think has kept your music relevant over the years?
REK: You know, I joke that my music is like a Milton Bradley game — good for everyone from eight to eighty. I think what’s kept me going is the live shows. They’re lively and fun, and I’ve never been afraid to write about anything. My songs mix humor with heart, and they seem to resonate with all kinds of people. I’m lucky that my crowd ranges from kids who are 10 or 11 to folks with a little more... ‘seasoned’ experience. I see it at every show. Some of my friends play only for older crowds, but I’m fortunate to have that broad cross-section.
FWM: Can you take me back to when you first started writing songs? What made you want to pursue music as a career?
REK: I’ve been writing poetry since I was 8, though I wasn’t thinking about music back then. But I made up my first song at Larry’s Mexican food restaurant in Rosenberg, Texas. I sang it for Larry, and he patted me on the head and said ‘Bueno!’ That was it. After that, I wrote poems, and once I was at Texas A&M, I picked up my sister’s guitar and just started learning country songs. It was that ‘Aha’ moment with the D chord that made me think — ‘I can do this.’ I started writing my own songs soon after, and one of the first I co-wrote with Lyle ended up on his record.

Bass Hall
FWM: Speaking of songs, ‘The Road Goes on Forever’ has become an anthem. Did you know it was special when you wrote it?
REK: Not at all. I thought it was a good song, but I had no idea it would resonate the way it did. I played it for my publisher, Al Cooley, and this publicist, and when they heard it, they started jumping around, screaming that it was a hit. That’s when I realized it had something special. Up until then, I had no clue. It was just a song I liked, but when they reacted that way, I knew it had legs.
FWM: Your sound blends so many influences — country, folk, bluegrass — how do you describe it, and how has it evolved?
REK: I call it Americana. It’s a big umbrella that can fit a lot of different styles — country, blues, even hip-hop in some cases. As for evolution, it changes with each album. I get an idea with each record, and if I don’t capture it, I bring it to the next one. It’s almost like a conversation with myself, evolving with every project. One record leads to the next. It’s all about keeping it fresh.
FWM: Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
REK: Willie Nelson is a big one. I’ve always admired his songwriting — his lyricism. He was a huge influence on me, and I’m kind of a lyric snob now because of him. I can’t stand a bad rhyme or a forced narrative. Another one you might not expect is Norman Blake, a flat-picker from Georgia. He played on Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline, and I saw him live a lot. His style was so authentic. And of course, Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne are major influences. I’m always drawn to great lyricists.
FWM: What do you think sets Texas songwriters apart from the rest of the country?
REK: Texas songwriters are road warriors — they’re always on the road, playing shows. A lot of bands outside Texas only tour during the summer, but Texas artists play year-round. They’re also a bit of a mystery outside the Lone Star State. A lot of really talented Texas artists don’t catch fire outside of the red dirt scene. Me, I started playing all over the country — New York, California, Virginia. That’s what set me apart. I didn’t just stick to Texas. I got out early, and that made a difference.
FWM: Outside of music, what do you enjoy doing?
REK: I’m big into quail hunting and working with my dog, Rodie — he’s a quail-hunting machine. I’ve even built a pigeon coop for off-season hunting. I’ve also gotten back into writing poetry, which is a lot freer than songwriting. It helps my songwriting, too. I collect guitars — about seventy now — and I’m putting together a coffee table book about them, with some of my poetry mixed in. Oh, and I collect books, especially Cormac McCarthy first editions. I’ve got signed firsts of everything he’s written, even his earliest works.
FWM: Any advice for young songwriters?
REK: Write down everything as soon as it hits you. It’s so easy to forget, and the best ideas always come at the strangest times. If you’re driving, pull over and jot down a line. Don’t let it slip away. That’s the one thing I’d tell myself if I could turn back the clock.
FWM: What’s next for you? Any new music?
REK: I’ve got a new record in the works. It’s called The Wailing War, and it’s coming out in August. We’ve already started recording it, and I’m looking forward to getting it out there. It’s been a crazy process, but it’s happening.