This song was originally recorded by the Texas songwriter Don Williams; it was written by his guitarist Danny Flowers. The song is about a guy who leaves Oklahoma for the bright lights of Hollywood, but discovers that he is much happier back home where he can set his watch to "Tulsa Time," where things happen at a much slower pace.

The original version of this song was released earlier in 1978 on Don Williams' album Expressions. Clapton was into American roots music and had recorded Williams' song "We're All the Way" on his 1977 album Slowhand. When it came time to record Backless, he included this song and released it as a single, backed with "Cocaine," a song written by the Tulsa musician J.J. Cale.

The original 1978 single didn't chart, but a live version taken from a show at the Budokhan Temple in Japan was issued in 1980 and made #30 US.

Lyrics

Well I left Oklahoma

Driving in a Pontiac

Just about to lose my mind

I was going to Arizona

Maybe on to California

People all living so fine

My momma called me crazy

My baby said I'm lazy

Gonna show em all this time

Cause you know I ain't no fooling

I don't need no more damn school

Want to just walk the line

Living on Tulsa time

Living on Tulsa time

Gonna set my watch back to it

Cause you know me, I've been through it

Living on Tulsa time

So there I was in Hollywood

Thinking I was doing good

Talking on the telephone line

They don't want me in the movies

Ain't nobody sing my song

Momma says my baby's doing fine

So then I started thinking

And I got to weaken

I really had a flash this time

I had no business leaving

Ain't nobody would be grieving

Seen I'm on Tulsa time

Living on Tulsa time

Living on Tulsa time

Gonna set my watch back to it

Cause you know me, I've been through it

Living on Tulsa time

Songwriters: Daniel W. Flowers

Tulsa Time lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group