If I Had a Boat

Lyle Lovett's deadpan Texas surrealism finds its purest expression in this whimsical acoustic meditation. Pondering the logistical mechanics of taking a horse out on an ocean vessel, Lovett casually reimagines the dynamic between the Lone Ranger and his companion Tonto. The track subverts mid-century television western tropes with dry, gentle absurdity, pointing out that Tonto did all the dirty work for free before buying his own boat. Accompanied by delicate acoustic strumming and cello, Lovett's straight-faced baritone delivers profound comedy through quiet understatement.