Country songs that AREN'T complete trash--inspired by a GD thread.

[Lyric]

Someone posted the lyrics to a song that Peter, Paul and Mary did a cover of. It's actually a modern country song (and was a pretty big hit) but PP&M did a cover, so the OP mistakenly thought that they were the original artists. It's odd to me that everyone loves it when they think it's PP&M, but if they'd known from the beginning that it was a modern country song, would they have felt the same way?

There are quite a few country songs that I wonder the same thing about. Would people like it more if they didn't know it was country?

A few examples:

Pirates of the Mississippi - "Feed Jake"
Significance: The very first mainstream country song to even SUGGEST tolerance for gay people, released back in 1990. Also expresses several other progressive values, namely a recognition of the innate humanity and human value of people that others see as human trash (bums, winos, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t2aL79_2e4

I'm standing at the crossroads in life
And I don't know where to go.
You know you've got my heart babe
But my music's got my soul.
Let me play it one more time
I'll tell the truth and make it rhyme,
And hope they understand me.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I die before I wake, feed Jake
He's been a good dog
My best friend right through it all
If I die before I wake--feed Jake.

They say Broadway's like a sewer
Bums and hookers everywhere.
Wino's passed out on the side walk--
Doesn't anybody care?
Some say he's worthless, just let him be.
I for one would have to disagree.
And so would their mamas.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I die before I wake, feed Jake
He's been a good dog
My best friend right through it all
If I die before I wake--feed Jake.

Now if you get an ear pierced
Some will call you gay
But if you drive a pick-up
They'll say 'No, he must be straight'
What we are and what we ain't
What we can and what we can't,
Does it really matter?

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I die before I wake, feed Jake
He's been a good dog
My best friend right through it all
If I die before I wake--feed Jake.

If I die before I wake--feed Jake.

------------------------------------------------

Another one:

Garth Brooks - "We Shall Be Free"
Significance: Blatantly expresses and promotes MANY progressive values, including social obligations to the poor, equality for all people (including sexual equality), our obligation to protect the environment, opposition to "money as speech", and freedom of religion and speech. Frankly, this is probably one of the most progressive songs I've ever heard, and Garth Brooks used his fame and immense popularity at the time to push these messages. Yes, it's not exactly full of complex lyrics--but consider the intended country-radio audience.

This ain't coming from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'Cause we shall be free

When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this world's big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free
We shall be free

We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, have a little faith

We shall be free

------------------------------------------------

I'm sure there are others, but the point is this: there ARE worthwhile country songs out there. Not ALL country music is right-wing drivel. Consider supporting the handful of country artists who are trying to swim against the current and get progressive messages out there.

[quickesst]

1. Couple of my favorites...

...Yes, I am a C&W fan.

Joe Diffie: Ships That Don't Come In Lyrics
Songwriters: Paul Norris Nelson;David Gibson

Ships That Don't Come In

I could tell he'd had a tough life
By the way he sat and stared
And me, I'd come to push and shove
So I pulled up a chair

We talked of roads untraveled
We talked of love untrue
Of strings that come unraveled
We were kings and kindred fools

And just when I'd hit bottom
That old man raised his glass
And said at least we had our chances
There's those who never have

So here's to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main

To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don't come in

He said it's only life's illusions
That bring us to this bar
To pick up these old crutches
And compare each other's scars

'Cause the things we're calling heartache
Hell, they're hardly worth our time
We bitch about a dollar
When there's those without a dime

And as he ordered one last round
He said I guess we can't complain
God made life a gamble
And we're still in the game

So here's to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main

To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don't come in

And those who wait forever
For ships that don't come in


Hate her if you feel that way, but listen to the song anyway.

Bobby lyrics(reba mcentire, don schlitz)

Bobby
Bobby pleaded guilty to the charges that they read
As they led him from the courtroom, a young voice turned his head
A little boy, dressed in blue, was standing at the rail
He said "i hope they kill you, I hope you go to hell"
They put bobby in a jail with forty other men
They all knew what he had done, they were glad to take him in
They’d all seen the headlines about bobby and his wife
How they loved each other, and how he took her life
Day after day, he sat alone
Night after night, they’d hear him sing his song (he’d sing)

Chorus:
Baby, I’ll take care of you, I’ll never let you down
No harm will ever come to you as long as I’m around
I am not afraid of what people say or do
The only thing I fear is being here...without you

The little boy dressed up in blue grew up to be a man
When he fell in love himself, he came to understand
How it was that bobby took the life they both adored
Cause bobby couldn’t stand to see her suffer anymore
He took out the papers from the trunk beneath his bed
And all the years just disappeared as through his tears he read
The stories of the accident that robbed his mama’s mind
And the man who held her in his arms and chose to cut the line
And the one about the man who sits alone
Year after year, singing his song (he’d sing)

Baby, I’ll take care of you, I’ll never let you down
No harm will ever come to you as long as I’m around
I am not afraid of what people say or do
The only thing I fear is being here...without you

The young man drove his car up, and parked outside the gate
They led him to a cold gray room, the guard told him to wait
When the gaurd brought bobby in, the young man finally knew
He still missed his mama, but he’d missed his daddy too
And when the guard left the two of them alone
He took bobby in his arms, and the young man sang the song

Daddy, I’ll take care of you, I’ll never let you down
No harm will ever come to you as long as I’m around
You have taught me not to fear what people say or do
The only thing I fear is being here...without you

You should listen to them both (chills)Thanks.
quickesst

[Lyric]

9. "Ships That Don't Come In" was one of my Dad's favorite songs.

I have the mp3, but I can't make myself listen to it anymore. Every time I hear it, I hear *him* singing along with it, and that's just too painful. :(

But yes, those are both fantastic songs.

[lukasahero]

2. Both of those songs are on my iPod playlist :)

We Shall Be Free is an awesome workout song!

I listen to all types of music and listen to a good amount of country music. Just like all genres, there's some good and some bad.

[Lyric]

11. I like all types of music, too. :)

But I listen to country, alt rock/industrial, and old-school goth more than anything--weird combo, huh? lol

[cemaphonic]

3. Our local college radio just did a long set of old Wobbly and other pro-union stuff.

There used to be a strong lefty populist strain in country music. It's only since the rise of Nashville as a slick corporate music machine in the 60s, and the roughly contemporaneous faux-populist heartland shtick of the Republicans that country music has been a commercial for the right-wing.

And even post-Nashville there's always folks like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and plenty of others.

[Lyric]

12. Very true. But there is merit to be found even in the slick Nashville scene.

It's as rare as diamonds in a pigsty, but it's there. What kills me about most modern country music is that it's too shallow and too easy. You're a new artist and you want a hit? Record a sappy song about Jesus and right-wing radio listeners will fall all over themselves buying your record, even if it stinks, because you're on "their" side. The bullshit social politics have ruined good, thoughtful, country music. If Loretta Lynn recorded "The Pill" in today's world, she'd probably be stoned to death. :(

[Bake]

4. Anything by George Jones. Or Merle Haggard. Or Willie Nelson.

He Stopped Loving Her Today. One of the all-time great country songs, complete with the recitation in the middle!

Bake

[RebelOne]

5. The only country singer worth listening to was Johnny Cash. n/t

[meegbear]

10. +1

[Lyric]

13. I disagree. I love Johnny Cash, but he's not the only one who was worth a damn.

YMMV.

:shrug:

[RebelOne]

20. Yes, he was, because I do not like county music.

I even went to a Johnny Cash concert in South Florida in the '80s and I hated country music then, but loved Johnny Cash. I didn't go willingly. My sisters talked me into it.

[TZ]

6. Almost anything the Dixie Chicks have done is well worth listening to

There seems to be a lot of songs that seem to wink wink nod at hurting cheating women (Garth Brooks, Poppa loves Momma is sort of like that) and in response to that they wrote Goodbye Earl:
Dixie Chicks
Fly (1999)
Goodbye Earl

Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends
All through their high school days
Both members of the 4H Club
Both active in the FFA
After graduation Mary Anne went out lookin'
for a bright new world
Wanda looked all around this town
and all she found was Earl

Well it wasn't two weeks
after she got married that
Wanda started gettin' abused
She put on dark glasses and long sleeved blouses
And make-up to cover a bruise
Well she finally got the nerve to file for divorce
She let the law take it from there
But Earl walked right through that restraining order
And put her in intensive care

Right away Mary Anne flew in from Atalnta
On a red eye midnight flight
She held Wanda's hand as they
worked out a plan
And it didn't take long to decided

That Earl had to die
Goodbye Earl
Those black-eyed peas
They tasted all right to me Earl
You're feeling weak
Why don't you lay down
and sleep Earl
Ain't it dark
Wrapped up in that tarp Earl

The cops came to bring Earl in
They searched the house
high and low
Then they tipped their hats
and said 'Thank You ladies
if you hear from him let us know'

Well the weeks went by and
Spring turned to Summer
And Summer faded into Fall
And it turns out he was a missing person
who nobody missed al all

So the girls bouth some land
and a roadside stand
Out on Highway 109
They sell Tennessee ham
and strawberry jame
And they don't
lose any sleep at night 'cause

Earl had to die
Goodbye Earl
We need a break
Let's go out to the lake Earl
We'll pack a lunch
And stuff you in the trunk Earl
Well is that all right
Good Let's go for a ride
Earl hey

Interesting musically too..a very chipper happy sound contrasts with the very grim lyrics. Probably one of the more interesting songs to ever get air play..and it did.

[Lyric]

14. Yep, I love that song and most of their other ones.

Loretta Lynn was country's first real feminist, though.

The Pill

You wined me and dined me
When I was your girl
Told me if I'd be your wife
You'd show me the world
But all I've seen of this old world
Is a bed and a doctor bill
I'm tearin' down your brooder house
'Cause now I've got the pill

All these years I've stayed at home
While you had all your fun
And every years that's gone by
Another baby's come
There's gonna be some changes made
Right here on nursery hill
You've set this chicken your last time
'Cause now I've got the pill

This old maternity dress I've got
Is going in the garbage
The clothes I'm wearing from now on
Won't take up so much yardage
Miniskirts, hot pants, and a few little fancy frills
Yeah I'm making up for all those years
Since I've got the pill

I'm tired of all your crowing
How you and your hens play
While holding a couple in my arms
Another's on the way
This chicken's done tore up her nest
And I'm ready to make a deal
And you can't afford to turn it down
'Cause you know I've got the pill

This incubator is overused
Because you've kept it filled
The feeling good time's easy now
Since I've got the pill
It's gettin' dark, it's roostin' time
And that's too good to be real
Oh daddy don't you worry now
'Cause momma's got the pill
Oh daddy don't you worry now
'Cause momma's got the pill

[Flaxbee]

7. Dolly Parton is a gem

I don't know all of her material, to my shame, but I love her :)

[stuntcat]

24. totally, +1

Dolly is great, in so many ways, I love her too!!

[sakabatou]

8. Dixie Chicks - Traveling Soldier

[Lyric]

15. That one kills me.

I cried my eyes out the first time I heard it.

[retread]

16. Steve Earle, James McMurtry, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris

Lucinda Williams, Iris Dement, Wanda Jackson, Shelby Lynne.

I could go on. But Garth Brooks???

[Lyric]

17. Garth Brooks is not the artist that his forebears were, but quality of art

is not the point I was making. NOBODY today is as good as Emmylou Harris or Johnny Cash in terms of artistic merit. Frankly, no modern rock singers are as good as their forebears, but that's not the point either. The point is that not all country singers are right-wing morons, like some people seem to think. And if someone as wealthy and beloved-by-country-radio as Garth Brooks wants to use that fame and money to push a progressive message, I'm all for supporting that.

[hifiguy]

18. Emmylou Harris

singing damned near anything. But that's about as far as I go into country tunes.

[TZ]

19. Some country songs are pretty funny and entertaining

I for one always thought this Tracey Byrd song, The Truth About Men is pretty amusingly accurate:
We don't like to go out shoppin',
We don't care what's on sale.
We just want to sit with a bag full of chips,
Watchin' the NFL.
When you come over at half-time,
An' say: "Does this dress fit too tight?"
We just look you in the eye with a big fat lie,
An say:"Uh, uh: Looks just right."

Well, that's the truth about men.
Yeah, that's the truth about us.
We like to hunt and golf on our days off,
Scratch, an' spit, an cuss.
It don't matter what line we hand you,
When we come draggin' in.
We ain't wrong; we ain't sorry,
An' it's probably gonna happen again.

We hate watchin' "Steel Magnolias".
We like "Rambo" an' "Die Hard 4".
Jump up and down like fools when we see the new tools,
At the Home Depot store.
We don't really wanna take you to dinner,
At some fancy restaurant.
The only reason we do is 'cause we know it leads to,
The one thing that we all want.

Well, that's the truth about men.
Yeah, that's the truth about guys.
We'd rather play guitars and work on cars,
Than work on the problems in our lives.
An' though we might say it to you,
Every now and then,
We ain't wrong; we ain't sorry,
An' it's probably gonna happen again.

Well, if you want to know what we're all thinkin',
It's nothing too complex.
It's just somethin' cold for drinkin',
And a whole lot of s-e......

Yes, that's the truth about men.
Yeah, that's the truth about us.
We like to hunt and golf an' drive around, lost,
Scratch, an' spit, an' a whole lot of other disgustin' stuff.
It don't matter what line we hand you,
When we come a-crawlin' in.
We ain't wrong; we ain't sorry,
An' it's probably gonna happen again.

We ain't wrong; we ain't sorry,
An' it's probably gonna happen;
Sure, it's gonna happen;
You know it's gonna happen again.
An' that's the truth about men.

You know it, son.

[Arugula Latte]

21. I have a hard time listening to any song with a twang

I grew up listening to this stuff, and for me it was familiarity breeding contempt. Johnny Cash is among the few tolerable country singers.

I wish I felt differently; it's just about the only genre I really dislike (well, heavy metal ain't my favorite, either).

[greendog]

22. "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" and "Flowers On The Wall"

Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YP3pIPp8P8&feature=related

Flowers On The Wall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s8nRL2bPCU

[Lyric]

27. Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo!

:hi:

[KamaAina]

23. Anything by Hank Williams (Sr.) or Patsy Cline

:thumbsup:

[derby378]

25. RUN IT THROUGH - The Hope Trust

So you gave
It all comes down to what you give
And it changed
It won't take much to change it back
Run it through
Throwing daggers in my back
I withdrew
Drawing pictures all in black

You don't even know what you're doing to me
I don't even know how to tell it to you

You sold the truth
You would rather die than give it to me
And that's the truth
And it's okay, I soon will see
You let me bleed
With the knife still in my back
On my knees
Begging just to have you back

You don't even know what you're doing to me
I don't even know how to tell it to you

You don't even know what you're doing to me
I don't even know how to tell it to you

So I won't
A running joke's no fun to kill
So I don't
I would rather die than do that to you

http://www.thesixtyone.com/s/H7xlohJiXS6/

[redwitch]

26. I posted a youtube video in the lounge -Eastbound Jesus

song is "Ghost Town" Very enjoyable, give it a watch/listen.