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