Country artists are gluttons for melancholia. Singers in this genre can’t help but meander down dark roads in their minds. Take a look at any list of country love songs and you’ll surely find a helping of tear jerking tunes. The three songs below fall into this category. Though love is the main topic of these tracks, there are darker twists hiding in the subtext.
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“They’re Hanging Me Tonight” (Marty Robbins)
Marty Robbins was no stranger to a murder ballad. He routinely delivered songs that were equal parts confessions of love and dark tales of death. Take “They’re Hanging Me Tonight” for example. Robbins’ character finds himself in an unrequited relationship. At first, he lets his love leave. Later, he tracks her and her new man down. I told her how I loved her, and I begged her not to go / But another man had changed her mind, so I said goodbye to Flo, Robbins sings, revealing that this particular goodbye was extremely final. He shoots “Flo” and her partner down, only to regret it while locked in a jail cell. The sentiment might be similar, but it’s certainly no “I Will Always Love You”, that’s for sure…
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” (George Jones)
George Jones‘ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is one of the most famous country songs of all time. Moreover, it’s generally regarded as one of the best written songs ever, regardless of genre. In this somber tale, Jones tells the story of a faithful man who just can’t seem to get over a relationship. No one has ever taken “Til death do us part” quite as seriously. At the end of this somber tune, the man finally escapes his love-sickness on his death bed. Soon they’ll carry him away / He stopped loving her today, the final, haunting lyrics read.
“Funny How Time Slips Away” (Willie Nelson)
While the other songs on this list are explicitly dark, Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away” is more of a dull ache. While running into an old love, Nelson’s character can’t help but remember all the good times–and how quickly they were resigned to memories. When you start to take stock of your life, and realize time can only move forward, a depressive cloud can roll in. Time waits for no man. That fact has been the curse of many with deep regrets. Though Nelson’s tender vocals do something to soothe us, it’s hard to not think of your own missed opportunities while listening to this dark country song.
(Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
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