Clint Taylor on Country for Conservatives
Clint Taylor looks at country songs for conservatives.
I am not a big fan of country music, unless it has a rock edge. My music collection includes Gram Parsons, the Long Ryders, the Eagles, Blue Rodeo, Uncle Tupelo, and Son Volt, all of which have been significantly influenced by country music. I think the only CDs I own that are considered strict “country” music are by Foster and Lloyd and the Desert Rose Band.
Anyway, Clint’s piece is fun no matter what kind of music you like.
Excellent list. I’ve always said that while country music celebrates drinkin’ and cheatin’, you’ll never find so many “Honey, I’d marry you all over again and I love our kids” songs anywhere else, as well. And I don’t recall a single rock & roll song supporting our troops.
sharon (fecb65) — 2/24/2006 @ 8:29 amIf you want to try the real McCoy, get yourself some Hank Williams. The 2 CD Gold set has most of his greats.
Black Jack (d8da01) — 2/24/2006 @ 10:02 amCall me crazy P., but if someone could get the rights (big $$$), I’ve always thought someone could do a collection of Beatles songs from a conservative point of view:
1. Taxman (from Revolver)
2. Revolution (single version; listen to the actual words, not what people have said is there)
3. Rocky Raccoon (from the White Album)
4. Two Of Us (from Let It Be)
5. Savoy Truffle (also from the White Album)
6. Mean Mr. Mustard (from Abbey Road)
7. Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/The End (also from Abbey Road)
8. Drive My Car (from Rubber Soul; take that, Al Gore!)
9. Run For Your Life (from Rubber Soul; to add as a joke really, as I know real conservatives don’t advocate the honor killing of unfaithful girlfriends)
…and I’m sure there are others, to say nothing of ‘My Sweet Lord’ by George Harrison or even Paul McCartney’s 9/11 song, ‘Freedom’…
Great blog BTW.
Steve in Lakewood CA (883223) — 2/24/2006 @ 2:32 pmThe best patriotic-themed Country song I’ve ever heard is “The Flag” [?] with Johhny Cash, George Jones, Tom T. Hall, and Waylon Jennings:
Brother, they tell me that you burned your Flag and you’re Flagless,
And you didn’t like Merle Haggard’s songs, so I guess you’re Hagless
Well I’m not too sure that burning a cloth is a crime,
Oh, I know you burned your flag but I’m sure glad you couldn’t burn mine
My Flag flies in my heart and it flies in my mind,
It’s not just a rag that came off an assembly line,
Each man must think what he thinks and must live in his time,
Oh, I know you burned your Flag, but I’m sure glad you couldn’t burn mine.
The American Flag is a symbol of freedom of choice,
Raising the Flag is the same thing as raising your voice,
A Freak or a Preacher, we all have the right to be heard
Oh, you can’t burn my song cause a song is just music and words….
etc., with a tremendous threatening finish by George Jones.
Another terrific, melodious song concerned with Conservative values vs Relativism = “Grandpa” by The Judds:
Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like this World’s gone crazy
And, Grandpa, take me back to yesterday, when the line between right and wrong didn’t seem so hazy
Lovers really fall in love to stay,
and stand beside each other come what may
With promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say then forget
Families really bowed their heads to pray
Daddies really never go away
Oh Oh Oh Oh, Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days…..
Kitty Wells had some good sleepers re: war and values = “Thou Shall Not Steal” and “Searching For a Soldier’s Grave”
Lacy J. Dalton has one of the greatest songs ever on anything, sung to perfection = “Unsatisfied”. Snips:
There’s a river of sorrow that mankind has cried,
And runs like a torrent and blends with the tide
But I am not content with the peace that’s prophesied
For, alas, I am one of the unsatisfied…[]
And we walk among our brothers with a strange and faraway look in our eyes….[]
Now the North Wind is my lover, he’s always at my side
And the Hawk’s my little sister, screaming at the sky
Afraid of God and naked, stripped of all our pride
‘Til we’re one with the Spirit, we’re unsatisfied
Thank you for your indulgence. I had a hard time stopping.
J. Peden (585ead) — 2/25/2006 @ 12:59 amAmerican Soldier by Toby Keith sort of says it all for me.
Harry Arthur (073160) — 2/25/2006 @ 11:00 amWell, Becky was a beauty from south Alabama.
Her Daddy had a heart like a nine pound hammer.
Think he even did a little time in the slammer.
What was I thinkin’?
She snuck out one night an’ met me by the front gate,
Her Daddy came out a-wavin’ that 12-guage
We tore out the drive, he peppered my tailgate.
What was I thinkin’?
Oh, I knew there’d be hell to pay.
But that crossed my mind a little too late.
‘Cause I was thinkin’ ’bout a little white tank top,
Sittin’ right there in the middle by me.
An’ I was thinkin’ ’bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin’, where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin’,
But what was I thinkin’?
What was I thinkin’?
By the County line, the cops were nippin’ on our heels,
Pulled off the road an’ kicked it in four-wheel.
Shut off the lights an’ tore through a cornfield.
What was I thinkin’?
At the other side, she was hollerin’: “Faster.”
Took a dirt road, had the radio blastin’.
Hit the honky-tonk for a little close dancin’.
What was I thinkin’?
Oh, I knew there’d be hell to pay.
But that crossed my mind a little too late.
‘Cause I was thinkin’ ’bout a little white tank top,
Sittin’ right there in the middle by me.
An’ I was thinkin’ ’bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin’, where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin’,
But what was I thinkin’?
What was I thinkin’?
When a mountain of a man with a “Born To Kill” tattoo,
Tried to cut in, I knocked out his front tooth.
We ran outside, hood slidin’ like Bo Duke.
What was I thinkin’?
I finally got her home at a half past two, later.
Daddy’s in a long chair sittin’ on the driveway,
Put it in park as he started my way.
What was I thinkin’?
Oh, what was I thinkin’?
Oh, what was I thinkin’?
Then she gave a “Come an’ get me grin.”
An’ like a bullet, we were gone again.
‘Cause I was thinkin’ ’bout a little white tank top,
Sittin’ right there in the middle by me.
An’ I was thinkin’ ’bout a long kiss,
Man, just gotta get goin’ where the night might lead.
I know what I was feelin’,
But what was I thinkin’?
What was I thinkin’?
I know what I was feelin’, but what was I thinkin’?
Dana (71415b) — 2/25/2006 @ 2:57 pmThe Gin Blossoms have a song that both sounds very country and has a classic country-style title: “You Can’t Call It Cheatin’ — She Reminds Me of You.”
Patterico (8ccd07) — 2/26/2006 @ 2:26 amDon’t tell me: the Gin Blossoms are the house band for the Jerry Springer Show! 🙂
Dana (a90377) — 2/26/2006 @ 6:36 am