Time for a Country Music Thread

A gorgeous song...A Nashville Haiku...thanks dj

As usual...I'm late for the party...but as some of you know, I've been playing country music professionally for a ton of years. I'm saddened by the greed and narcissistic "Modern Nashville" but I still love what the songwriters put out. It is truly "America's Music".
Here's a couple of songs that touch on the way the old guard has been tossed aside:

George Jones's bitter commentary on all the new "Hat" acts: Billy B Bad

Down in Texas near the DFW among the shrubs and patios and barbecues
Was born a suburban boy named Billy B Bad
Had a white bread momma and a rock and roll dad
Didn't have much soul or country roots but he sure looked cute in his cowboy suit
B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad
B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad
B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad
He can spot a trend and he knows a fad he's a country singer named Billy B Bad
[ fiddle ]
He sounds like everybody on the radio he's building up his biceps for the video
The people at the label said we like to start 'em young
We know you're twenty three but we'll say you're twenty one
They played him some Strait they played him some Jones
Now he's got that country music way down in his bones
B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad...
Watch out for your daughters he's gonna drive 'em mad
The country sex symbol called Billy B Bad

Now poor ol' Billy's at the end of the line
He's over the hill cause he's pushing twenty nine
He's not as young and he's not as handsome he just tested positive for brandson
He'll never be that hot again look for his music in the oldies bin
B-B-B-B-Billy Billy B Bad...
What a great career he had say goodbye to Billy B Bad

Alan Jackson had some big "cojones" to put out this song: "Murder On Music Row"

Nobody saw them running
From 16th Avenue
They never found the fingerprints
Or the weapon that was used
But someone killed country music
Cut out its heart and soul
They got away with murder
Down on music row

The almight dollar
And the lust for worldwide fame
Slowly killed tradition
And for that, someone shouldhang ("Ahh, you tell 'em Alan")
They all say "Not Guilty!"
But the evidence will show
That murder was committed
Down on music row

For the steel guitars no longer cry
And the fiddles barely play
But drums and rock 'n' roll guitars
Are mixed up in your face
Ol' Hank wouldn't have a chance
On today's radio
Since they committed murder
Down on music row

They thought no one would miss it
Once it was dead and gone
They said no one would buy them ol'
Drinkin' and cheatin' songs ("Oh, but I still buy 'em")
Well there ain't no justice in it
And the hard facts are cold
Murder's been committed
Down on music row

For the steel guitars no longer cry
And you can't hear fiddles play
With drums and rock 'n' roll guitars
Mixed right up in your face
Why the Hag wouldn't have a chance
On today's radio
Since they committed murder
Down on music row

Why they even tell the Possum
To pack up and go back home
There's been an awful murder
Down on music row

Buck Owens packed it up yesterday...I'll miss you Buck

ALL HAT an no fiddle. Thats what the new crop is characterized as

cepn Brad Paisley , hes funny.

That reminded me of this song -- hope I didn't already post it.

Dixie Chicks (again, can you tell I like them?)
Long Time Gone

Daddy sits on a' front porch swinging
Looking out on a vacant field
Used to be filled with burley t'bacca
Now he knows it never will
My brothers found work in indiana
M' sisters a nurse at the old folks home
Mama still cooking too much for supper
And me I've been a long time gone

[chorus:]
Been a long time gone
No, I ain't hoed a row since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back again

Deliah plays that ol' church pian'a
Sitting out on her daddy's farm
She always thought that we'd be together
Lord I never meant to do her harm
Said she could hear me singin' in the choir
Me, I heard another song
I caught wind and hit the road runnin'
And lord, I've been a long time gone

[chorus:]
Been a long time gone
Lord, I ain't had a prayer since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't comin' back again

[instrumental]

[bridge]
Now me, I went to nashville,
Tryin' to beat the big deal
Playin' down on broadway
Gettin' there the hard way
Living from a tip jar
Sleeping in my car
Hocking my guitar
Yeah I'm gonna be a star

Now, me and deliah singing every sunday
Watching the children and the garden grow
We listen to the radio to hear what's cookin'
But the music ain't got no soul
Now they sound tired but they don't sound haggard
They've got money but they don't have cash
They got junior but they don't have hank
I think, I think, I think

The rest is a long time gone
No, I ain't hit the roof since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back
I said a long time gone
No, I ain't honked the horn since I don't know when
Long time gone
And it ain't coming back again

I said a long time, long time, long time gone
Well it's been a long time

Long time, long time, long time gone
Oh, it's been a long time gone

Long time, long time, long time gone
Yeah yeah

Yeah, and he's one of the most phenomenal guitar players in the world...usually the hat acts hire Brent Mason or another "Twang" genius studio guitarist, but Brad plays all the leads on his records...he's truly awesome.

I don't know if the "Chicks" have been blacklisted ...but they have disappeared from the radio. I didn't realise how good the play until I saw them in concert

They were for a while but I don't know if they still are. I have yet to find a song of theirs that I don't like.

I downloaded a show they di with James Taylor...pure heaven.

Now THAT sounds interesting. I'll have to look for it.

Ya gotta listen for this new song by Jake Owens...the way he says yeehaw 6 different ways...

It's five o'clock, just got paid:
I'll be off the next two days.
No more workin' like dogs,
No more leash, no more boss.
I've got a weekend of nothin' to do at all:
Yee Haw!

I know a place down the road,
The girls are hot, the beer is cold.
It's two-for-one, yeah, that's right:
Not just drinks; it's girls to guys.
I hear the twins are back in town from Saginaw:
Yee Haw!

You take your all-right; you take your can't-wait.
A lotta of bring-it-on an' some damn straight,
An' mix it all up with some down home southern drawl, y'all:
You got your yee haw!

The place is packed, the line is long;
The band know every Haggard song.
I'm gettin' loose, I've had a few.
She wants to dance; I do too.
But her boyfriend's mad, I, I think he wants to brawl:
All right, yee haw!



I'm talkin big time, I mean saddle up an' hold on tight,
An' if you know what I'm talkin' about, y'all, yeah:
How about a yee haw, ha, ha.
Yep, bow wow, y-e-e-h-a-w: yee haw.

Jack Greene

Statue Of A Fool


Somewhere there should be for all the world to see a statue of a fool made of stone
An image of a man who let love slip through his hands
And then just let him stand there all alone
And there on his face a gold tear should be placed
To honor the million tears he's cried
And the hurt in his eyes would show so everyone would know
Concealed is a broken heart inside
So build a statue and oh build it high so that all can see
Then inscribe the World's Greatest Fool and name it after me

Gene Watson - Farewell Party

When the last, breath of life
Is gone from, my body
And my lips, are as cold as the sea
When my friends gather 'round
For my farewell party
Won't you, pretend you love me

There will be flowers from those
Who cry, when I'm gone
And leave you in this, world alone
I know you'll have fun
At my farewell party
I know, you'll be glad, when I'm gone

Don't be mad at me, for wanting to keep you
Till my life on this old world is through
You'll be free at the end of my farewell party
But I'll go away loving you

There will be flowers from those
Who cry, when I'm gone
And leave you in this, world alone
I know you'll have fun
At my farewell party
I know, you'll be glad, when I'm gone

Oh, I know you'll be glad when I'm gone

DON GIBSON - Blue Blue Day


It's been a blue, blue day
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from it all

My love has been untrue
She's found somebody new
It's been a blue, blue day for me

I feel like cryin', dying'
What can I do
Fell like praying', sayin'
I'm glad we're through

It's been a blue, blue day
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from the blues

I cannot make believe
That I don't sit and grieve
It's been a blue, blue day for me

I can't pretend and say
That I don't love her anyway
It's been a blue, blue day for me

I feel like cryin', dying'
What can I do
Fell like praying', sayin'
I'm glad we're through

It's been a blue, blue day
I feel like runnin' away
I feel like runnin' away from the blues

Great song...we're doing this one every night now. A couple of good versions out now. One by Alan Jackson and one by Joe Nichols

Watson really gets vocal by the end. I could listen to it all day long.

I used to have an album by Bob Wills called "For The Last Time" where Merle Haggard sang it...just a dynamite song

Middle Aged Crazy - Jerry Lee Lewis

Today he traded his big 98 Oldsmobile
He got a heck of a deal
On a new Porsche car

He ain't wearing his usual grey business suit
He's got jeans and high boots
With an embroidered star

And today he's forty years old going on twenty
Don't look for the grey in his hair
'Cause he ain't got any
He's got a young thing beside him
That just melts in his hand
He's middle aged crazy
Trying to prove he still can

He's gotta a woman he's loved for a long long time at home
Ah but the thrill is all gone
When they cut down the lights

They've got a business that they spent a while comming by
been a long uphill climb
But now the profits are high

But today he's forty years old going on twenty
And he hears of sordid affairs and he aint had any
And the young thing beside him
You know she understands
That he's middle aged crazy
Trying to prove he still can

Hank Jr's got a new one out-"That's How They Do It In Dixie"

Watermelon lip-gloss, kiss beneath the swamp moss,
On a moonlit night.
Bubble gum perfume, well placed tattoo,
Above her hiney, high.
(Oh my.)

Belly button danglin', a twenty minute tan.
You know, I'll go to Jerry Springer if you hit on my man.
That girl will throw a hissy.
That's how they do it in Dixie.

Haven't heard it, but it's very Hank.