Country Music

It’s Friday night, and I’m alone, writing, and listening to music. An accusation is ringing in my head:

“You are alone because that’s what you want, you want to feel sorry for yourself, listen to sad country songs. You LOVE misery, you are a lone wolf.”

Ouch. Is it true? Would it hurt if it wasn’t? Should I defend myself? I feel I have lots of evidence to refute this accusation. I want to explain how every time I felt I really found happiness in relationship terms, it was snatched from me, or I realized what I was feeling wasn’t shared. Sounds like more self pity, the very thing I’m accused of.

So, no defence. No plea besides guilty. I DO really like sad country songs. Let me introduce you to a few of my faves!

He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones

This is a classic song about unrequited love. It has a happy ending though, she comes to see him at his funeral. I hope she donated funds to the local animal shelter in lieu of flowers like the memory card may have suggested.

Chiseled in Stone – Vern Gosdin

In this lovely jingle some poor bastard angrily leaves a tiff with his wife, only to end up on a barstool next to some poor soul who informs him things could be worse; the wife he left could be laying under a rock with her name and best before date chiseled on it. Realizing his folly, he goes home and buys her flowers while she’s still fresh. Sounds like a happy ending to me.

Goodbye Time – Conway Twitty

Ok this is just a damn sad song. If you have ever walked out on, or watched someone walk out on you, this song hits ya. However, I have an antidote if you buy this man’s masterful performance. Immediately after you listen to Goodbye, check out You’ve Never Been This Far Before. You’ll be glad the old dog said goodbye. If the #Metoo movement was in the 70s we’d have to rename it #Whowasn’t, thanks to Conway. That man would love to lay you down and softly whisper pretty love words in your ear, touch you as you tremble with a slow hand. Not a 2020 kind of guy.

How Can I Help You Say Goodbye- Patty Loveless

Listen to this song, and you’ll wish you were a duck, the ocean, whiskey. There’d be no need to swim to the bottom, you’d drink your way down till you hit sand. At this point you’d order another Ocean:

“Can I get some ice this time? Ya, the Arctic is fine.”

I’m Over You – Keith Whitley

Pretty much the best Country song ever written. It kinda goes like this:

You heard I’m drinking?- Pffft – I look like shit?- Pfft – You see tears? – not over you.

Never let the bastards get you down.

I Can Still Make Cheyenne – George Strait

This man makes the classic mistake of chasing money. Likely to provide for his family. But while he was riding cows his wife was riding something that presumably didn’t last 8 seconds. The good news was since she got straight to the point, he had enough time to get to his next cow riding. While I don’t question this mans courage, his choice of rides is questionable.

There’s many more. But I got my two favourite Georges in there, Keith, Vern, Patty and Conway. It’s a good starter pack for broken hearts, and loss. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, if you don’t already.

Does it always matter how you feel, as long as you feel? Just don’t feel like Conway. You’ll get arrested.

If you read this far, thank you, Tris