Before I met my wife almost four years ago, I was one of the many people who would have said, “I like just about all music – except country.” I’m sure there are people on the Bloggernacle who are thinking that right now.
Well, my wife’s response was, “if you spend time with me, you’ll be listening to country.” And she was right. And, I am a convert. Now, I love (some) country. Let me point out that I still severely dislike about half of the country songs, the Hill Billy or Honky Tonk songs that celebrate life in a bar and getting rowdy and drunk. I just can’t stand those songs.
But the ballads that celebrate family and life and our relationship with God – I love those songs and I could listen to them all day long.
The best way to listen to country is to listen carefully to the lyrics. I have to admit I am not a big lyric person. It took my about 15 years of listening and dancing to the Rolling Stones’ “When the Whip Comes Down” to actually figure out it was one of the most offensive songs ever made. So, one of the reasons I never liked Country music was that I never listened to the lyrics. But, by the end of this post, I’m hoping I can convince you to like (at least some) country songs.
How about this simple celebration of a man’s relationship with God (also completely in line with LDS doctrine, by the way):
Josh Turner – Me And God Lyrics
There ain’t nothing that can’t be done
By me and God
Ain’t nobody come in between me and God
One day we’ll live together
Where the angels trod
Me and GodEarly in the morning talking it over
Me and God
Late at night talking it over
Me and God
You could say we’re like two peas in a pod
Me and GodHe’s my Father
He’s my friend
The beginning
And the end
He rules the world
With a staff and rod
We’re a team
Me and GodI am weak and he is strong
Me and God
He forgives me when I’m wrong
Me and God
He’s the one I lean on
When life gets hard
Me and GodHe’s my Father
He’s my friend
The beginning
And the end
He rules the world
With a staff and rod
We’re a team
Me and GodHe rules the world
With a staff and rod
We’re a team
Me and GodWe’re a team
Me and God
Now, one of the big themes of country music is that we are all sinners who have made horrible mistakes in our lives. As the great John Newton once said, “”I know I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” And the great thing about country music is the singers, even the macho ones, are willing to admit their mistakes. Check out this song:
Title : Alcohol
Artist : Brad Paisley
I can make anybody pretty.
I can make you believe any lie.
I can make you pick a fight with somebody twice your size.
Well, I’ve been known to cause a few break-ups,
An’ I’ve been known to cause a few births.
Well, I can make you new friends, or get you fired from work.And since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg an’ Bordeaux, France,
Been making the bars lots of big money,
An’ helpin’ white people dance.
I got you in trouble in High School,
But College, now that was a ball.
You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me:
Alcohol; Alcohol.I got blamed at your wedding reception,
For your best man’s embarrassing speech.
And also for those naked pictures of you at the beach.
I’ve influenced Kings and world leaders,
I helped Hemingway write like he did.
And I’ll bet you a drink or two, that I can make you put that lampshade on your head.‘Cause since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg and Bordeaux, France,
I been making a fool out of folks just like you,
An’ helping white people dance.
I am medicine and I am poison,
I can help you up or make you fall.
You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me:
Alcohol.Yeah, since the day I left Milwaukee,
Lynchburg an’ Bordeaux, France,
Been making the bars lots of big money,
(Helpin’ white people dance.)
Yeah, I got you in trouble in High School,
But College, now that was a ball.
You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me:
Alcohol; Alcohol.(Alcohol.)
(Alcohol.)
The following Kenny Chesney song still makes me weep every time I hear it. Any man who has had a child and thought he might have been making a mistake has to listen to this song and thank the Lord for the incredible gift of being a parent.
Tile :Kenny Chesney – There Goes My Life
All he could think about was I’m too young for this.
Got my whole life ahead.
Hell I’m just a kid myself.
How’m I gonna raise one.All he could see were his dreams goin’ up in smoke.
So much for ditchin’ this town and hangin’ out on the coast.
Oh well, those plans are long gone.[Chorus:]
And he said,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
Might as well kiss it all good-bye.
There goes my life…….A couple years of up all night and a few thousand diapers later.
That mistake he thought he made covers up the refrigerator.
Oh yeah……….he loves that little girl.Momma’s waiting to tuck her in,
As she fumbles up those stairs.
She smiles back at him dragging that teddy bear.
Sleep tight, blue eyes and bouncin’ curls.[Chorus:]
He smiles…..
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you, daddy good-night.
There goes my life.She had that Honda loaded down.
With Abercrombie clothes and 15 pairs of shoes and his American Express.
He checked the oil and slammed the hood, said you’re good to go.
She hugged them both and headed off to the West Coast.[Chorus:]
And he cried,
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you.
Baby good-bye.There goes my life.
There goes my life.
Baby good-bye.
So, do you still hate country now? There is a lot of good there, and a lot of the Spirit of the Lord.