Hi Lonesome E.J, hopefully, i can put into words what that line means to me and you will not find it grotesque.

"first time i´d seen him smile in years...." has always seemed grotesque to me, considering the circumstances.

He´s lived a life of regrets. the man telling the story, knows of his pain, he´s watched this man his whole life, he loves this man, maybe his a son, maybe his just a friend, but at last he´s seen him at peace with himself. as if this man has found dignity in death, and the man telling that story has taken something from that. i think it´s beautiful. But then again thats the power of an amazing song like that, it means different things to different people, but you cant deny, it stops you in your tracks and makes you think everytime you hear it.

Second to "He stopped loving her Today" has to be another George Jones number " Good Year for the roses"..... again, From the bedroom the familiar sound of our new born baby's cryin' goes unheard..

Sheer poetry