Waco, Texas

Everything Waco is known for

67 songs mention this city 61 artists from here

Waco, Texas, located on the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Austin, boasts a diverse musical landscape. The city has been designated a "Music Friendly City" by the state. While known for attractions like the historic Waco Suspension Bridge and Baylor University, Waco also has a strong connection to music.

With 63 artists calling Waco home and 68 songs mentioning the city, its musical identity is evident. Notable artists from Waco include gospel singer Kari Jobe, hip-hop artist Wacotron, and jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove. The city is also referenced in songs such as "George's Bar" by Pat Green and "The Man from Waco" by Charley Crockett.

Music in Waco

Songs About Waco

George’s Bar
Pat Green
96%
"My brother and I used to go down to Georges Bar"
Waco Drive
Wacotron
90%
"Waco Drive"
waco
charlie daniels band
90%
waco express
the waco brothers
90%
don't let me die in waco
croy and the boys
85%
Before You Reach Waco
Wilson Getchell
85%
wacko for waco
billy joe shaver
85%
The Man from Waco
Charley Crockett
83%
"The man from Waco"
Don’t Let Me Die In Waco
Croy and the Boys
83%
"Don't let me die in Waco"
Cross The Brazos At Waco
Billy Walker
82%
"Cross the Brazos at Waco"
Waco
Charlie Daniels
82%
"Waco"
Waco Express
Waco Brothers
80%
"Get on board the Waco Express again"
The Waco Song!
The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities & Towns
80%
"Song about Waco"
Waco
Corbin
80%
"Song about Waco"
Waco* (Bonus Track)
The Mountain Goats
80%
"Song about Waco"
Waco
The Charlie Daniels Band
80%
"Song about Waco"
Waco Moon
Todd Snider
79%
"Yellow Rose, Waco Moon"
Shortcut to Waco
Nate Fredrick
78%
"There ain't no shortcut to Waco, whichever way that we go"
Wacko From Waco
Billy Joe Shaver
77%
"Wacko From Waco"
How Far To Waco
Ronnie Dunn
60%

Showing top 20 of 67 songs

Artists From Waco

K
Kari Jobe
gospel Pop: 63
W
Wacotron
hip-hop Pop: 53
A
Ashlee Simpson
pop Pop: 50
W
Wade Bowen
country Pop: 46
R
Roy Hargrove
jazz Pop: 46
H
Hi-Five
r-n-b Pop: 44
S
Steve Martin
other Pop: 42
S
Strange Fruit Project
hip-hop Pop: 40
J
Jennifer Love Hewitt
pop Pop: 40
D
Dreamer Boy
pop Pop: 38
K
Kristen Kelly
country Pop: 37
P
Pat Green
country Pop: 30
T
Tom Wilson
rock Pop: 30
C
Carolyn Hester
folk Pop: 28
T
Tony Thompson
r-n-b Pop: 28
P
Paul Wolfe
other Pop: 25
M
Mercy Dee Walton
blues Pop: 20
T
The Changing Times
rock Pop: 20
B
Benny Hester
gospel Pop: 19
B
Billy Williams
blues Pop: 18

Showing top 20 of 61 artists

Rivers & Roads in Song near Waco

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Waco.

Interstate 35 27 songs Brazos River 16 songs

History of Waco

Waco, TX RoadyGoat

Waco’s story is tied to the Brazos River. The Huaco Indians, for whom the city is named, knew this well. The river offered fertile land and a natural crossroads. In the 19th century, that meant cotton. Waco became a major shipping point, and the suspension bridge – once the longest of its kind – was a testament to that ambition, a literal span connecting the cattle drives and cotton wagons to the rail lines. That bridge still stands, a reminder of how geography shaped the city's destiny. Today, some visitors arrive drawn by the revitalization efforts, the blend of small-town feel with modern shops and restaurants. Still others pilgrimage to the Dr Pepper Museum, a monument to the uniquely Waco beverage first served at Wade Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store. But ask a local why people really stay, why Waco keeps drawing folks in, and they'll tell you it's the unexpected pockets of beauty like Cameron Park, a sprawling green space that feels a world away from the city, or the quiet strength of a community built on something more than just cotton and commerce. It's a place where the past and present intertwine, creating a unique and welcoming home.

Waco, TX RoadyGoat

Waco might surprise you. For a place that feels like small-town charm, it's had more than its share of national figures walk these streets. Back in the day, the Chisholm Trail ran right through here, so cowboys driving cattle north would’ve crossed the Waco suspension bridge — quite a sight, since it was the longest single-span bridge in the country when it went up.

Waco, TX RoadyGoat

Waco began as a settlement along the Brazos River, named for the Huaco people who called this place home long before. That river, winding its way through Central Texas, was key to Waco’s early growth. The suspension bridge, once the longest of its kind, was more than just a crossing; it was a symbol of connection, linking the city to new opportunities and trade routes that stretched beyond the rolling hills. This wasn’t the flat coastal plain of Houston; Waco had a different character, shaped by its location and the rise and fall of the land. Over time, Waco evolved. It became a center for education, with Baylor University shaping the city's identity and drawing people from all over. And while manufacturing plays an important role, it’s also a place where you can still experience the charm of a smaller town. It's a city where a drink like Dr Pepper, first poured at the Old Corner Drug Store, feels like a piece of living history. Cameron Park, sprawling along the river, offers a reminder of the natural beauty that has always been at Waco’s heart, even as the city embraces modern revitalization.

Waco Tornado of 1953

1953

On May 11, 1953, an F5 tornado struck downtown Waco, killing 114 people and injuring 597. It was the deadliest tornado in Texas history.

Historical Marker →

Miller, Dorris

1941

Doris (Dorie) Miller was reared on a farm in McLennan County, Texas, and attended Waco's A.J. Moore High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the battleship "USS West Virginia" in 1940. The "West Virginia" was docked in Pearl Harbor when it was struck by a Japanese torpedo on December 7, 1941. Moments after the torpedo hit, an explosion on a nearby ship showered the "West Virginia's" deck with burning debris and flaming oil. Miller helped move his wounded captain to safety, then maneuvered through the flame-swept deck and took over a machine gun position. Though never trained as an aerial gunner, he confidently shot down four enemy aircraft. Miller reacted with such extraordinary skill and bravery in the defense of his ship that he became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross. Fellow Texan Admiral Chester Nimitz awarded him the Navy Cross on May 7, 1942. Miller died when his ship, the "USS Linscombe Bay," was torpedoed in 1943. The destroyer "USS Miller" was named in his honor in 1973. Miller, posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and honored by associations, cemeteries, parks, naval bases, and other organizations across the nation, is credited with helping break down the color barrier in the Navy.

Historical Marker →

Dr Pepper Company

1885

The Dr Pepper Company has operated in the Dallas area since being officially incorporated on July 6, 1923 under the State of Colorado. The company marketed Dr Pepper fountain syrups and sold soft drink concentrates to independent franchised bottlers. These licensed bottlers then added sweeteners and carbonated water, package the result, and sold the finished product in the surrounding market. Dr Pepper is currently part of a network of soft drinks under the umbrella company Keurig Dr Pepper. Dr Pepper was first made in Waco, Texas, in 1885. Wade B. Morrison, owner of Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store, employed a pharmacist named Charles Courtice Alderton, who, when not filling prescriptions, often mixed soft drinks for customers from the soda fountain. Alderton enjoyed experimenting with various combinations of fruit extracts and sweeteners. One combination of twenty-three flavors proved enormously popular with drugstore patrons. This drink was originally called a Waco, and later Morrison would name it Dr Pepper. There are many different myths about how the drink got its name, but all are unsubstantiated, and no one knows exactly why Morrison chose the drink name. As the consumption of Dr Pepper increased, Morrison's drugstore could no longer produce a sufficient quantity of the beverage. In an effort to satisfy the demand, Morrison, along with Waco beverage chemist Robert S. Lazenby, started the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company in 1891. On September 8, 1898, the Southwestern Soda Fountain Company of Dallas purchased the rights to produce and sell Dr. Pepper fountain syrups. On September 25, 1902, Southwestern Soda Fountain changed its name to Dr. Pepper Company. In 1904, the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company took Dr Pepper to the world stage at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri. The company purchased a plot of land at the corner of 5th and Mary Street in Waco for $6,000 in July 1905, and selected Milton Scott, a local architect, to design their state-of-the-art Richardsonian-Romanesque company headquarters building. The production of Dr. Pepper and other beverages began in 1906 at this location, now known as The Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute. The Southwestern Soda Fountain Company of Dallas moved to Waco in 1907 into the new facility that included both syrup and bottling production. The Circle "A" Corporation founded by Robert S. Lazenby purchased the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Works in 1920 to become the only bottler of Dr Pepper concentrate. On June 12, 1923, because of rising commodity prices and high bottling taxes, Circle "A" Corporation went bankrupt. Less than a month later, the remnants of the old Dr. Pepper Company and Circle "A" Corporation officially incorporated as the Dr. Pepper Company on July 6, 1923, in Dallas. Lazenby's son-in-law, John B. O'Hara, was named general manager of the firm. In those early years, the struggling firm developed a small but loyal following in the South and Southwest. The company prospered on Second Avenue in Dallas using prolific advertising to propel the beverage to the front of the soft drink industry. The “10-2-4” logo and slogan developed during the 1920s. Dr. Walter H. Eddy conducted a study on the human body’s fatigue at Columbia University. He found that a human blood sugar fell to the lowest levels around 10:30am, 2:30pm and 4:30pm, which left them feeling tired and hungry. At the time, the Dr Pepper Company employed the Tracy-Locke-Dawson (TLD) agency for their advertising. In 1926 after learning of Dr. Eddy’s study, the company asked employees to develop a new slogan for the brand. Earle Racey of TLD suggested “Drink a Bite to Eat at 10, 2 and 4.” He received a $25 bonus for developing the slogan and Dr Pepper used different versions of the logo until the 1970s. The company slogan gained new meaning during World War II as the United States rationed sugar as a prominent ingredient for explosives. The sugar r

Tsha Handbook →

Jaworski, Leon

1973

Leon Jaworski, lawyer, was born in Waco, Texas, on September 19, 1905, the son of Polish and Austrian immigrant parents Rev. Joseph and Marie (Mira) Jaworski. The family lived for several years in Geronimo, Guadalupe County, where Reverend Jaworski pastored an evangelical church, before returning to Waco, where Leon finished high school. He graduated from Baylor University law school in 1925, then attended George Washington University and received the LL.M. degree in 1926 before returning to Waco to practice law. Jaworski moved to Houston in 1930 and practiced in the firm of Dyess, Jaworski, and Strong until April 1931, when he joined the firm of Fulbright, Crooker, Freeman, and Bates. He became a partner in 1935 and managing partner in 1948; his name was added to the firm's in 1954. Twenty years later, the firm name was shortened to Fulbright and Jaworski ( see FULBRIGHT, RUFUS CLARENCE ). By the time Jaworski retired in 1981 the firm ranked among the largest in the nation; it maintained offices in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Washington, and London. Jaworski was a leader in the legal profession and had held the presidencies of the American College of Trial Lawyers (1961–62), the State Bar of Texas (1962–63), and the American Bar Association (1971–72). In addition to private practice, he served in the United States Army judge advocate general's department during World War II and was made chief of the trial section of the war crimes branch in the late stages of the war in Europe. In this office he directed investigations of several hundred cases concerning German crimes against persons living and fighting in the American zone of occupation. He also personally tried two cases-the first having to do with the murder of American aviators shot down over Germany in 1944 and the second involving the doctors and staff of a German sanatorium where Polish and Russian prisoners were put to death. Jaworski had risen to the rank of colonel by the time he returned to civilian life in October 1945. He later wrote about his wartime experiences in After Fifteen Years (1961). Jaworski successfully represented Lyndon B. Johnson in the case that allowed Johnson to run for both the Senate and the vice presidency in 1960. After Johnson became president in 1963 he appointed Jaworski to important positions on the President's Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and the Permanent International Court of Arbitration. Jaworski's most widely remembered public service occurred in 1973 and 1974 when he headed the Watergate special prosecution force charged with uncovering the facts surrounding the Republican break-in at the national Democratic party headquarters during the presidential campaign of 1972. In July 1974 he argued the case of United States v. Nixon before the United States Supreme Court and won a unanimous decision ordering President Richard Nixon to turn over to the district court magnetic audio tapes that implicated him and members of his staff in a conspiracy to obstruct justice. Shortly thereafter, President Nixon resigned from office. Jaworski published his account of the Watergate prosecution as The Right and the Power (1976). In 1977 Jaworski was called back to Washington to serve as special counsel to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. In what the press referred to as "Koreagate," he developed cases of misconduct in an influence-buying scandal that resulted in disciplinary action against six members of Congress and two private citizens. Jaworski became a trustee of the M. D. Anderson Foundation in 1957 and was later on the boards of the Texas Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine . He was the president of the Houston Chamber of Commerce in 1960 and a director of the Bank of the Southwest; Anderson, Clayton, and Company; Southwest Bancshares; and Coastal States Gas Producing Corporation.

Tsha Handbook →

Jesse Washington Lynching

1916

Of the 492 lynchings that occurred in Texas between 1882 and 1930, the incident that perhaps received the greatest notoriety, both statewide and nationally, was the mutilation and burning of an illiterate seventeen-year-old Black farmhand named Jesse Washington by a White mob in Waco, Texas, on May 15, 1916-an event sometimes dubbed the "Waco Horror." Washington was arrested on May 8, 1916, and charged with bludgeoning to death fifty-three-year-old Lucy Fryer, the wife of a White farmer in Robinson, a small community seven miles south of Waco. After confessing that he had both raped and murdered Mrs. Fryer, Washington was transferred to the Dallas County Jail by McLennan county sheriff Samuel S. Fleming, who hoped to prevent mob action at least until the accused could have his day in court. Washington's trial began in Waco on May 15, in the Fifty-fourth District Court, with Judge Richard I. Munroe presiding over a courtroom filled to capacity. After hearing the evidence, a jury of twelve White men deliberated for only four minutes before returning a guilty verdict against the defendant and assessing the death penalty. Before law officers could remove Washington from the courtroom, a group of White spectators surged forward and seized the convicted youth. They hurried him down the stairs at the rear of the courthouse, where a crowd of about 400 persons waited in the alley. A chain was thrown around Washington's neck, and he was dragged toward the City Hall, where another group of vigilantes had gathered to build a bonfire. Upon reaching the city hall grounds, the leaders of the mob threw their victim onto a pile of dry-goods boxes under a tree and poured coal oil over his body. The chain around Washington's neck was thrown over a limb of the tree, and several men joined to jerk him into the air before lowering his body onto the pile of combustibles and igniting a fire. Two hours later several men placed the burned corpse in a cloth bag and pulled the bundle behind an automobile to Robinson, where they hung the sack from a pole in front of a blacksmith's shop for public viewing. Later that afternoon constable Les Stegall retrieved the remains and turned them over to a Waco undertaker for burial. Though lynching violated Texas law, no members of the Waco mob were prosecuted. However, the foreman of the jury that convicted Washington criticized local law officers for failing to prevent the lynching, and a special committee of Baylor University faculty passed resolutions denouncing the mob. A Black journalist, A. T. Smith, editor of the Paul Quinn Weekly , was arrested and convicted of criminal libel after he printed allegations that Lucy Fryer's husband had committed the murder. Other Blacks in the Waco area condemned the Fryer killing and remained conciliatory toward the White population. Although the Nation , the New Republic , and the New York Times severely condemned the lynching, only a few Texas newspapers denounced the Waco mob. The Houston Post , Houston Express , Austin American , and San Antonio Express printed critical editorials, but the Dallas newspapers made few comments. The Waco Morning News expressed regret for the incident but resented the "wholesale denunciation of the South and of the people of Waco" by the national press. The most important demonstration of outrage emanated from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People , which launched a full-scale investigation of the affair and employed the incident as a cause célèbre in the organization's crusade for a federal antilynching bill. A photographer's pictures of the lynching strengthened the argument. Although the American entrance into World War I delayed the NAACP campaign until 1919, the "Waco Horror" remained a vivid indication that though the frequency of lynchings had begun to decline in the United States after 1900, those incidents that still occurred often were characterized by extreme barbarity.

Tsha Handbook →

The Waco Siege, Mount Carmel Center — Elk, Texas, 1993

1993

Eleven miles east of Waco, on a flat stretch of land off a two-lane road, stood the Mount Carmel Center — home of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect led by David Koresh. On February twenty-eighth, nineteen ninety-three, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to serve a search warrant. Four agents were killed in the initial raid. A fifty-one-day standoff began. On Ap…

Curated → · 4.3 mi away

Things to Do in Waco

food 17.8 mi away
The Czech Stop

In 1983 Bill Polk opened a little convenience store off I-35 in West Texas and started selling kolaches he bought from a nearby bakery. The pastries moved so…
historical 22.7 mi away
When the New York Giants Called Marlin Home

From 1908 to 1918 manager John McGraw brought the New York Giants all the way down to tiny Marlin Texas for spring training. It was the first permanent spring…
food
Magnolia Market at the Silos

Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper empire. Shopping food trucks and shiplap everything.
historical 22.6 mi away
The 147-Degree Gusher That Built a City

In 1892 the folks in Marlin drilled a well hoping for drinking water. What they got was a 75-foot geyser of scalding 147-degree sulfur water shooting out of…
historical 22.6 mi away
When 80000 Pilgrims Sought the Healing Waters

By the 1930s word had spread so far that 80000 visitors a year were pouring into Marlin to soak in the hot mineral springs. Bathhouses lined the downtown…
historical 22.7 mi away
Conrad Hiltons Eighth Hotel and Its Secret Tunnel

In 1929 Conrad Hilton was still building his hotel empire one town at a time. He chose tiny Marlin for his eighth property — an eight-story tower with 110…
historical 22.7 mi away
The Morgan Massacre of 1839

On New Years Day 1839 a band of Anadarko raiders descended on the Morgan cabin near present-day Marlin. Young Isaac Marlin arrived to find his mother and the…
historical 0.9 mi away
Waco, Texas - 1953 Tornado Aftermath

Sports in Waco

🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 4A · Football · 2018

La Vega Pirates — 2018 UIL 4A Division 1 Football State Champions

Most recent: 35-21 over Liberty Hill · 2018 4A Division 1 final

Waco, Texas, is home to La Vega High School, a Class 4A football program with a significant achievement in state competition. The Pirates have demonstrated their skill on the field, bringing pride to their community through their athletic endeavors.

La Vega has also seen some of its own go on to higher levels of competition. Notable alumni Beasley Reece and Dax Swanson have continued their football careers beyond high school, representing the talent fostered within the program.

State titles
2018
Most recent
2018, 35-21
Class
4A
Key Players
  • Beasley Reece — , former NFL football player
  • Dax Swanson — , NFL football player
The moment

La Vega secured a state championship in 2018, defeating Liberty Hill 35-21 in the 4A Division 1 title game.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
⭐ HOMETOWN LEGENDS Class 5A · Football

University Trojans — University — a college & pro athletic pipeline

3 alumni who reached major-college or pro sports

Waco's University High School, a Class 5A institution, has a proud history of sending its athletes to the highest levels of competition. The Trojans' athletic programs have been a springboard for several individuals who went on to major college and professional sports. These athletes represent the dedication and talent cultivated within the halls and on the fields of University High.

Among the notable alumni are Perrish Cox, who played as a cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, and LaDainian Tomlinson, a TCU football star and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Juliana Yendork, who attended as a freshman, became an Olympic Long Jumper. These former Trojans have certainly made their mark in the world of sports.

Pro/D1 alumni
3
Class
5A
Founded
1946
Key Players
  • Perrish Cox — , cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks
  • LaDainian Tomlinson — , TCU football star, NFL single-season touchdown record-holder, Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Juliana Yendork — , attended as a freshman. Olympic Long Jumper, later National High School Record holder in
The moment

LaDainian Tomlinson holds the NFL single-season touchdown record.

Sources: Wikipedia · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 4A · Girls Basketball · 2023–2024

La Vega Pirates — UIL 4A Girls Basketball State Champions — 2 titles

Most recent: 2024 4A

La Vega High School in Waco, Texas, has established itself as a formidable force in Class 4A girls basketball. The Lady Pirates have secured back-to-back UIL State Championships, a testament to their consistent performance on the court. Their recent titles were earned in 2023 and 2024, showcasing a sustained period of excellence for the program.

The community in Waco takes pride in the achievements of La Vega High School's girls basketball team. These state championships highlight the dedication and hard work of the athletes and coaching staff within the Class 4A division. The success of the Lady Pirates brings a vibrant energy to local sports.

State titles
2 (2023–2024)
Most recent
2024
Class
4A
The moment

The 2024 Class 4A State Championship marked another significant achievement for La Vega High School.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 6A · Baseball · 2025

Midway Panthers — 2025 UIL 6A Division 1 Baseball State Champions

Most recent: 2025 6A Division 1

Midway High School, nestled in the heart of Waco, Texas, boasts a proud baseball tradition, competing at the Class 6A level. The Panthers have reached the pinnacle of Texas high school baseball, securing a UIL 6A Division 1 State Championship in 2025. This achievement highlights a consistent commitment to excellence on the diamond.

The program has also been a springboard for numerous athletes to advance to professional and major collegiate baseball. Notable alumni include Andy Hawkins, Brian Barkley, Zach Duke, Casey Fossum, Kramer Robertson, and Aaron Wilkerson. Their journeys underscore the foundational development and competitive environment fostered within the Midway baseball program, reflecting well on the community's support for its student-athletes.

State titles
2025
Most recent
2025
Class
6A
Key Players
  • Andy Hawkins — (class of 1978) — baseball pitcher, MLB
  • Brian Barkley — baseball pitcher, MLB
  • Zach Duke — (class of 2001) — baseball pitcher, MLB
  • Casey Fossum — (class of 96) — baseball pitcher, MLB
The moment

The 2025 UIL 6A Division 1 State Championship represents a landmark achievement for Midway High School baseball.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 6A · Softball · 2025

Midway Panthers — 2025 UIL 6A Division 1 Softball State Champions

Most recent: 2025 6A Division 1

Midway High School in Waco, Texas, stands as a proud Class 6A institution with a notable achievement in softball. The Panthers secured a UIL State Championship in 2025 in the 6A Division 1 conference. This accomplishment reflects the dedication and hard work within the program, bringing state-level recognition to the Waco community.

The school's athletic programs are a source of local pride, contributing to the vibrant sports scene in Central Texas. While specific alumni who have gone on to professional or major-college careers are not listed, the focus remains on the collective success and competitive spirit fostered at Midway High School.

State titles
2025
Most recent
2025
Class
6A
The moment

The 2025 6A Division 1 UIL State Championship stands as a high point for Midway High School softball.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)

Everything Near Waco

390 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

Explore Waco on the Map
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