James McMurtry fascinates me.

He gives off an old stoic vibe, Gen X American Gothic.

I discovered him a few years back with the brilliant "Choctaw Bingo” — do yourself a favor and YouTube it — and was hooked.

McMurtry is writing about Woody Guthrie's America in the 21st century, but with Townes Van Zandt’s attitude and John Prine’s writing style.

A song-poet with a devoted cult following, McMurtry, 56, writes songs about middle America, the plight of working class, the struggle of Joe Six-Pack. Faulkner-esque slices of life: short story songs and vignettes.

Or maybe he's tapping into the American West his father wrote about. His dad is Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and screenwriter Larry McMurtry, 82, whose novels — including “Lonesome Dove,” “The Last Picture Show” and “Terms of Endearment” — were adapted into films and shows earning 26 Oscar nods, and 18 Emmy nods.

James McMurtry, 56, has long had a cult following, and it seems he's finally getting his due.

Whether you’re just discovering his most recent album “Complicated Game” or you’ve been a fan since “Too Long in the Wasteland” (1989), you can see McMurtry live in Fall River at the Narrows Center Feb. 27.

The longtime Austin-based singer/songwriter is known for his political commentaries, and has given away political singles, such as “We Can’t Make It Here Anymore,” and “Cheney’s Toy” on his Web site.

He’s currently offering a free download of “State of the Union” — which may be today’s “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” but kicked up 10 notches.

It’s a blistering take on American politics and division, and McMurtry comes out swinging.

The narrator’s brother is “a fascist, lives in Palacios." The sister is a Christian “with a cross on her neck and a nine in her purse.” The brother calls the narrator a “snowflake” during a fight at Golden Corral on their mom’s 80th birthday.

The chorus is a play on the state of the country, but also family unions:

“It’s the state of the union, I guess/ It’s always been iffy at best.”

His 2016 politically-fueled “Remembrance” features a cover band on a cruise ship circa 1979. YouTube that, too.

I caught up with McMurtry to talk politics, music and more. He’s fascinating, with a wonderfully self-depreciating sense of humor.

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Daley: What sparked “State of the Union.” What sparked that song?

McMurtry: Having redneck relatives. A lot of families are sort of divided now, and the divisions have grown more stark and hostile.

What’s happened over last few decades, one’s politics has become one’s identity.

It wasn’t always like that. When I was a kid, people joked about people’s politics and religion. But then we all listened to Walter Cronkite, who was right down the middle. With cable news, now we all have our own cheerleading stations.

Daley: Why release the song for free?

McMurtry: It’s not that good of a recording. I didn’t want to charge for it.

Daley: [laughs] You’ve had a few political songs; “We Can’t Make It Here,” was a big one. What will spark a political song?

McMurtry: I come up with a line, and a character who would’ve said it. If the line happens to be political, you get a political song, but that’s not all I do.

For a while, I was supposed to be “the political songwriter.” But I don’t set out to write a political song, because then it becomes a sermon.

Daley: “Remembrance” is amazing — how did you think to set it on cruise ship during that particular time?

McMurtry: “Remembrance,” that is a sermon.

Daley: [laughs] I love it, though.

McMurtry: I was in Spain, a couple years after [dictator Francisco] Franco passed. I was living with the family that wanted him back.

And I did a cruise ship one time — not a ghastly one, like a cover band wearing tuxedos — but I was on board longer than I wanted to be. You’re trapped on that thing.

On the cruise ship, we were near Jesus freaks who snorted coke and talked about God. There were lines I wanted to use. That line: “Cocaine and Cuervo and Jesus go together like peas in a pod.” I might steal that back and use it for another song.

Daley: [laughs] Did you study Spanish? You sound fluent in that song.

McMurtry: Not fluent, but I went to a boarding school and they’d started up a summer overseas program for Spanish credit. I went over there for 7 weeks.

Daley: Have you gotten any backlash from political songs?

McMurtry: I don’t watch my Facebook. I throw stuff out there, but I don’t read the comments, the bots… because I don’t want to think about what they think about.

Daley: I loved "Chocktaw Bingo.” Were you surprised at the success of that song?

McMurtry: I don’t remember it as being all that successful. Stephen King got it on the radio in Maine, and it says a lot about Maine: they’ll try anything up there.

Daley: [laughs]

McMurtry: I’ve been doing this 30 years, “Painting by Numbers,” that one got on the Billboard charts, but not all that far.

The business has changed a lot since then. Back then, we toured to promote record sales, with the thought that we’d make a living off record royalties.

That didn’t work out for many people. But did get me into touring.

Daley: Growing up, your dad was novelist, your mom was an English professor. Were you always drawn to writing in general?

McMurtry: I was drawn to songs. Kris Kristofferson was the first who I identified as a songwriter. Before that, I wanted to be Johnny Cash. I didn’t know where songs came from… Then during a Kristofferson show [as a kid] I was close enough so I could see how much fun they were having. That’s what I wanted to do.

Daley: Who were your influences growing up?

McMurtry: Kristofferson. I went through a Grateful Dead phase. The Stones and Beatles, like anyone else. A good bit of blues, Lightning Hopkins. I liked the way Kristofferson and [John] Prine write real tight.

Daley: Your dad was working with John Mellencamp on a movie, and that sprung your first album.

McMurtry: Mellencamp got me a record deal. I sent him some songs, hoping he’d want to record them. My plan was to go to Nashville and get a staff writing position as a songwriter... John saved me from all that. Good thing he did… He wasn’t interested in singing my songs, but [he wanted produce a record for me.]

Daley: How do you feel you’ve progressed since then?

McMurtry: I can project; I have more range. Back then I smoked two packs a day; I had no air. One guy who worked bass back then, I ran into him in Nashville recently, and he put it nicely: “You had a hell of a learning curve.” [laughs] In other words, “You sucked.”

Daley: [laughs] You started playing guitar at 7.

McMurtry: I wanted to be Johnny Cash. My mother taught me some chords…

We moved to Virginia in ’69. My parents were divorced; I lived with my dad in northern Virginia, he had a couple books out at that point, but they didn’t sell. Then he sold the rights to “Horseman, Pass By” they made that to “Hud” [starring Paul Newman.]

“The Last Picture Show” came along 1970, that didn’t sell, but he got to co-script the movie [in 1971 starring Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd.] But that’s how he made his living up until [1986 Pulitzer Prize winner] “Lonesome Dove.” Screenwriting was a pretty good deal back then.

Daley: You weren’t drawn to the idea of writing novels or screenplays?

McMurtry: He enjoyed it; he loved Hollywood. Screenwriting looked like lot of work to me.

Interview has been edited and condensed.

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer and Spotlight music columnist. Contact her at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/daley.writer She tweets @laurendaley1.