Country music is full of dark songs like “Knoxville Girl,” “Whiskey Lullaby,” “They’re Hanging Me Today,” and many more. However, not every song in the genre with a dark meaning is quite so obvious. Some songs only reveal how dark they are upon a closer listen. At the same time, many fans of the genre may hear a song and enjoy it without realizing there’s more to the song lurking just beneath the surface.
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Today, we’re going to look at four country songs that stood the test of time but have some surprisingly twisted lyrics. Some may even be surprised to find how dark a couple of classic country songs truly are.
[RELATED: 4 of the Most Heartbreaking Lyrics in Country Music History]
1. “Red-Headed Stranger” by Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson released his critically acclaimed concept album Red Headed Stranger in 1975. The album tells the story of an outlaw who is on the run after killing his wife and her lover. However, many fans forget that the title track is about the titular stranger shooting a woman for touching his late wife’s horse.
While Nelson didn’t release the song as a single, it remains among his most popular tracks. Still, many fans may forget or overlook the dark turn the song takes in its third and fourth verses.
2. “You Are My Sunshine” by Gene Autry
“You Are My Sunshine” has become a standard and a lullaby. It’s common to hear parents sing the song’s chorus to their children at bedtime or when trying to calm them. However, those who listen to the whole song know that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Instead, it’s a song from the perspective of a heartbroken man who misses his lover. There’s even a bit of a threat in the lyrics.
Most don’t realize how dark this classic country song is because they only know the chorus. On the other hand, some modern recordings remove entire verses. However, Gene Autry released a complete version of the song in 1940 and took it to the top of the country chart.
Lines like I’ll always love you and make you happy / If you will only say the same. / But if you leave me to love another / You’ll regret it all someday land it on this list with other surprisingly dark country songs.
3. “Church Bells” by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood had a major hit with “Church Bells” in 2016. Released as the third single from her album Storyteller, it went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart. Many remember this hit country song but forget how dark it is.
In the song, Underwood tells the story of an abusive marriage that ends when the wife slips an undetectable poison into her abuser’s drink.
4. “Fancy” by Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire released her cover of this Bobbie Gentry song as a single from her album Rumor Has It in 1991. It went to No. 8 on the country chart and spawned an iconic music video. Decades later, “Fancy” is still one of McEntire’s signature songs. It seems like an empowering banger unless you listen a little more closely.
While the protagonist’s life seems to turn out great, the story starts with Fancy’s mother talking her into sex work. If there was any question as to what the mother was preparing her for, McEntire answers it later when she sings about the self-righteous hypocrites who would criticize her mother for “turning [her] out.”
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