Alabama – If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (Live at Farm Aid 1986)

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Alabama performs "If You're Gonna Play In Texas" live at the Farm Aid concert in Austin, Texas on July 4, 1986. Farm Aid was started by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985 to keep family farmers on the land and has worked since then to make sure everyone has access to good food from family farmers. Dave Matthews joined Farm Aid's board of directors in 2001.

For more information about Farm Aid, visit:

Farm Aid's performances are donated by the artists in order to raise funds and raise awareness for family farmers. They've raised their voices to help — what can you do?

46 thoughts on “Alabama – If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (Live at Farm Aid 1986)”

  1. I love me a good fiddle! 😀 I’m not a country music fan, but there’s just sumthin about Alabama!! They’re AWESOME! I grew up listening to and loving them.

    1. Jason Stallworth

      Some of the stuff he’s playing sounds like sweep arpeggios on guitar…this dude is awesome!

  2. I’m 42 years old, I’ve loved Alabama since I was a kid, there sort of Country/Rock, they really are legends!!!

  3. I’ve always loved country, I grew up with it. Although I am not from a real “country loving country”. Few months ago on my 20th birthday I discovered “The essential… country” album, and this song was on it. amazing track!

  4. I love this song. One of the old classics as far as I’m concerned. Great job performing it live too.

  5. I love this song. One of the old classics as far as I’m concerned. Great job performing it live too.

    1. Rhonda Boncutter

      @Corius Farin, Primarch of the Second Legion It’s a fiddle never a violin!!!! Country is a fiddle!

  6. skinnyguy 32

    Im not big on country music. But, these guys are some of the best musicians ever. Id bet money that if someone said, if you’re gonna play in L.A. you better have a dj in the band. They’d be like ok, watch this!

  7. Rhonda Boncutter

    I have loved Alabama since I was a teen! I am gonna be 67 in 2 weeks! Have seen them in concert 3 times! Love them so much!

    1. Rhonda Boncutter

      @Vickie Taylor Vickie, with the way things are may not have to wait too long! I am ready!

    2. Rhonda Boncutter

      Don’t count yourself out! I have a 10 year old Granddaughter, hope and pray to see her graduate! Set a goal, aim for it! Make sure to make it! God Bless you!

  8. Tem MCcollum

    I saw them live at Manor Downs in Austin 1986 at Farm Aid II . Saw the whole concert greatest time for me in 63 yrs

  9. Chris Heffernan

    I seen Alabama the other night for the first time. They are old now, but Randy can still sing. What a shame Jeff Cook could not be present because of his disease.

    1. Troy Dixzon

      A 4 piece band that had a sound of a orcastra well kinda the reason for that it was simple music kinda like the acdc of country music but Jeff was the reason he was versilital in every catagory and really willing to take a backseat to randy Owen that owned that award I don’t even know why they just didn’t eliminate the band of the year award

    2. tyler wilson

      Heck i seen them in October and randy was all over the stage like he was still a young man.

  10. Suzanne Smith

    Alabama is my favorite group. And I’ve been listening to Alabama ever since the mid 90’s and I’m 55 now and I have seen them three times in concert. And I’ll continue listening to them.

  11. I love Alabama the first time that my uncle showed me Alabama I fell in love with the songs Alabama is the best song maker ever

  12. M. F. & S. K.Elliott

    I’m forty four years old! Been listening to Alabama ever since I was ten!

    Alabama still the best country band!

  13. HOUSE JONES

    My heart was broken today to hear of the passing of Jeff Cook what a great guitar and Fiddle player I so miss Alabama live shows their music will live on forever

  14. Matthew Kilgore

    R.I.P. to one of the all time great fiddle players. Whether in Texas or Heaven, Noone can saw a fiddle like Jeff Cook!!

    1. Marcelo Bidoia

      Amem. I loved this band when I was a boy and lived in Missouri. Great times, miss so much. God bless America. Greettings from Brazil.

    2. tyler wilson

      Seem alabama live this year in Wichita Kansas and the girl who played fiddle for them was great but definitely wasn’t the same show without Jeff

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