Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” Pays Homage To Her Southern Roots

To the surprise of the Hive, Beyoncé announced a new album during a Verizon commercial on Feb. 11, and dropped not one, but two songs during the Super Bowl, “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

The album, whose title hasn’t yet been confirmed, is the second act of a three-part project that Beyoncé began with 2022’s Renaissance. This second entry, which will be released in full on March 29, is referred to as “act ii” and leans into country music — which many fans had predicted.

What Is “Texas Hold ‘Em” About?

The song’s title and lyrics refer to Beyoncé’s hometown roots — she was born in Houston, Texas. She uses southern staples, like the titular poker game, as metaphors to speak about a burgeoning romance. She sings, “So lay your cards down, down, down, down.”

She belts out a string of nods to southern life during the song’s chorus, including “real-live hoedown,” “There’s a heatwave,” and “There’s a tornado.”

In the country track, which features the banjo and viola skills of Rhiannon Giddens, Beyoncé sings to an unknown partner, telling them to get out of their Lexis and “stick around.” She adds in the chorus, “I’d be damned if I can’t slow dance with you.”

Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” Lyrics

This ain’t Texas

Ain’t no hold ’em

So lay your cards down, down, down, down

So park your Lexus, and throw your keys up

Stick around, round, round, round, round

And I’d be damned if I can’t slow dance with you

Come pour some sugar on me, honey too

It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown

Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

There’s a tornado

In my city

In the basement that shit ain’t pretty

Rub your whiskey, cause we surviving

On red cup kisses, sweet redemption passing time, yeah

Ooh, one step to the right

We headed to the dive bar we always thought was nice

Ooh, run me to the left

And spin me in the middle boy, I can’t read your mind

This ain’t Texas

Ain’t no hold ’em

So lay your cards down, down, down, down

So park your Lexus, and throw your keys up

Stick around, round, round, round, round

And I’d be damned if I can’t slow dance with you

Come pour some sugar on me honey too

It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown

Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you

Come pour some liquor on me, honey too

It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown

Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

There’s a heatwave

Coming at us

Too hot to think straight

Too old to panic

All of the problems, just feel dramatic

Now we’re running to the first bar that we find, yeah

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

This ain’t Texas

Ain’t no hold ’em

So lay your cards down, down, down, down

So park your Lexus, throw your keys up

Stick around, round, round, round, round

And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you

Come pour some sugar on me, honey too

It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown

Don’t be a bitch, come and take it to the floor now

And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you

Come pour some liquor on me, honey too

It’s a real-live boogie and a real-live hoedown

Don’t be a ... come and take it to the floor now, ooh

Take it to the floor now, ooh

To the floor now, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Come take it to the floor now, ooh

And I’d be damned if I cannot dance with you

Baby pour that sugar and liquor on me too