written by David Kent and Kristi Manna

produced by Bobby Braddock

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I made this page on June 18th, 2021, the 45th birthday of Blake

Tollison Shelton. Happy Birthday, BS!!

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This year is also the 20th anniversary of Blake’s record debut with

Giant/Warner Bros. Records—his opening album being self-titled, as are those of many acts—as well as its kickoff single, “Austin.” Blake is originally from Oklahoma, and has been pretty steadily recording and releasing for the full two decades since. He’s also dabbled in acting and TV work, essentially playing himself in most cases.

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I like country music, though I’m not the most zealous fanatic. My oldest friend from middle school, who’s always been a country fan and more up on the genre than I, brought this one to my attention when I was making compilations for us, and I tracked down Blake’s album around 2004. “Austin” was Blake’s first single to be released publicly and the first to hit US country #1, a position matched and rivaled by a dozen or two singles he’s released since. Later Shelton singles have since also not only cracked but burned up to the top of the Canadian and Australian country charts as well.

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Have notes to add? Let me know!

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YT:

full version

music video

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Blake’s official website

Lyrics

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She left without leaving a number / Said she needed to clear her mind / He figured she’d gone back to Austin / ’Cause she talked about it all the time / It was almost a year before she called him up / Three rings and an answering machine is what she got / If you’re calling ’bout the car, I sold it / If this is Tuesday night, I’m bowling / If you got something to sell, you’re wasting your time, I’m not buying / If it’s anybody else, wait for the tone / You know what to do / And P.S., if this is Austin / I still love you / The telephone fell to the counter / She heard, but she couldn’t believe / What kinda man would hang on that long / What kinda love that must be / She waited three days, and then she tried again / She didn’t know what she’d say / But she heard three rings and then / If it’s Friday night, I’m at the ball game / And first thing Saturday, if it don’t rain / I’m headed out to the lake, and I’ll be gone all weekend long / But I’ll call you back when I get home / On Sunday afternoon / And P.S., if this is Austin / I still love you / Well, this time she left her number, but not another word / Then she waited by the phone on Sunday evening / And this is what he heard / If you’re calling ’bout my heart, it’s still yours / I shoulda listened to it a little more / Then it wouldn’t have taken me so long / To know where I belong / And by the way, boy, this is no machine you’re talking to / Can’t you tell this is Austin / And I still love you / I still love you

first release: Austin (single) (2001/04/16)

second/album release: Blake Shelton (2001/07/31)

audio treated sample