Country · Family · Tribute

"Hill Country Smile"

A song for someone who lights up a room.

▶ Press play Country · Warm
Best with the volume up.

Written for Carla — the kind of friend who walks into a room and changes the temperature, who's been at every kitchen table that mattered, who makes Texas Hill Country feel like home.

Some people you don't write a card for. You write a song.

The lyrics

Read along.

She came up from Channelview With Houston in the rearview light Blue eyes like the Guadalupe When the sun hits it just right Had a little shop in New Braunfels Dresses hangin' by the door And a picture of George by her truck Made that whole place worth more Now she's out where the live oaks lean With a porch swing, boots, and grace Steve still looks at Carla Like he won the whole dang place Carla's got that Hill Country smile Blue eyes cuttin' through the Texas sky A two-step heart and Sunday kind of soul Pretty as a prayer and twice as bright From Kerrville down to New Braunfels town Everybody knows she's got style Steve's whole world turns every time he sees Carla's Hill Country smile Instrumental Turnaround — fiddle and steel answer the vocal Steve's chased golf balls at Pebble Walked Augusta in the spring Played the old links over in Scotland Where the cold rain starts to sing He kept the people side of Zachry Standin' strong and runnin' right But his favorite round is comin' home To Carla every night They've got thirty-some acres Rock, cedar, deer, and sky A love that keeps on holdin' Like a Texas fence line Carla's got that Hill Country smile Blue eyes cuttin' through the Texas sky A two-step heart and Sunday kind of soul Pretty as a prayer and twice as bright From Gibson's to the H-E-B Everybody knows she's got style Steve's whole world turns every time he sees Carla's Hill Country smile Fiddle Solo — hot twin fiddle break, dancehall energy, pedal steel fills Chase and Kristen bring the girls around Addison and Caroline Little camo boots and fishin' poles Castin' dreams across the line High-fence country, whitetail mornings Catfish, crickets, stars above They're raisin' up those grandgirls right On faith, fresh air, and love Carla's got that Hill Country smile Blue eyes cuttin' through the Texas sky A two-step heart and Sunday kind of soul Pretty as a prayer and twice as bright With Lindy laughin', Chad right there And Steve still proud as a mile The whole Hill Country lights up when it sees Carla's Hill Country smile Outro — fiddle and steel Yeah, the whole Hill Country lights up when it sees Carla's Hill Country smile

A note from Chad —

Glad you listened. If somebody you love is in your head right now — best friend, the mom who held everything together, the grandparent you don't want to forget, the wife you've been writing it for in your head for years — I write these custom for other folks too. Forty-eight hours, fully made to order. Three tiers depending on how big you want to go. Code CARLA takes $50 off any of them.

— Chad

Custom songs by Chad Colter

For your wedding, your anniversary, your moment.
Pick a package and tell me their story.

The Song
$399
Original song · 48hr delivery · MP3 + lyrics
Order →
Best value
The Keepsake
$599
Adds WAV + cover art + framed lyric print + 2 revisions
Order →
The Production
$1,199
Adds vinyl 7" + acoustic + karaoke + making-of video
Order →

Use code CARLA at checkout — $50 off any tier.

Or email me directly: chad@csj-us.com

More songs by Chad

If this isn't your situation but you know someone whose is — pass it on.

"The Covenant"
Christian wedding
"Class of '08"
USAFA reunion
"Class of '72"
A&M reunion
"Bubba"
Pet memorial