Typical Country Song Titles

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 11:47 AM

"Looks Like I Can't Afford to Let You Go" (by David Grusin, for the movie, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter; all their friends are getting divorced, but he's too poor to be able to pay for a divorce so they'll have to stay together)

Steve Goodman's "You Never Even Call Me By My Name," the last verse of which contains all the essential thematic elements of a country-western song:
Well, I was drunk the day my Mom got outta prison.
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But, before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a damned old train.
chorus:
So I'll hang around as long as you will let me
And I never minded standin' in the rain.
You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
You never even call me by my name.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST,Ronald McDonald
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 09:49 AM

Thanks so much for the information!

Ron

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 09:06 AM

Take back your heart; I ordered liver."

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: blinddrunkal
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 09:02 AM

how about ; "She's got a drinking problem - and it's me" by Gary Stewart, Lyle Lovett's "I married her just because she looks like you", "Can't seem to remember to forget" by Charlie Feathers, Kinky Friedman's "They ain't making Jews like Jesus anymore", "Never went to bed with an ugly woman (but I've sure woken up with a few)" Tom T. Hall, Troy Hess's "Please don't go topless mother", or the ultimate "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than have to have a frontal lobotomy" Dr. Demento!

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 05:30 AM

I heard a new one called "Thank you, Dear Jesus, for the Victory in Korea"...

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 09:00 AM

"I've Been Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart"

- Phil

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 03:40 AM

"It's hard to kiss the lips at night (that chew your ass out all day long)"

- Phil

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 12:20 AM

That's a good question, Country Fan.   You say "Dropkick Me, Jesus" was in fact meant to be taken seriously.   I've wondered about that for quite a while.    Do you know anybody who does take it seriously? Do you, for instance?

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST,ACcountryFan
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 12:28 PM

"If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" is a country music classic from The Bellamy Brothers. Quite a few of these quirky song titles are actually serious ballads whose titles are meant to be catchy. "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke" is another country music classic among the honky-tonk category. It's really a ballad about a woman who prefers the wild, party life instead of having a grounded, married life. "Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth" is a song often sang for fun but it's a real song. The line was later incorporated into a Ray Stevens recording called "I'm Kissing You Goodbye". Ray Stevens, incidentally, never recorded "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" as it was erroneously reported on here. The actual artist was Elmo Shropshire and his ex-wife, Patsy. The two recorded as Elmo and Patsy. "Dropkick Me Jesus" was written by Paul Craft, the same man who wrote "It's Me Again, Margaret". "Dropkick me Jesus" is a serious ballad whose title simply uses football metaphors. The song was recorded by Bobby Bare. "It's Me Again, Margaret" was recorded by Ray Stevens. I think Paul Craft recorded those two songs as well...but didn't have the most popular recordings. "Your The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" was recorded by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn in 1978. In spite of it's title the song actually is well-written and performed. "Frog Kissing" was written by long-time songwriter/associate of Ray Stevens, Buddy Kalb. Chet Atkins actually sang the song while Ray Stevens played piano and did harmony on the recording.

"She's Acting Single" was a big hit for the late Gary Stewart. "When Your Phone Don't Ring, It'll Be Me" was recorded by a lot of country singers. I have a version by George Jones. The song's actually an up-tempo recording about a man telling a woman, in song, not to wait up for any phone calls from him because he's through with her and he won't be calling her up anytime soon and so, as he says: "when your phone don't ring, it'll be me...".

The song "Happy Tracks" is a sing-a-long song, sort of in the inspirational vein, by the late Kenny Price. He's more known for his 12 years on HEE-HAW but he had a legitimate recording career before joining the show...his biggest hit was the novelty "Sheriff of Boone County". "Blackboard of My Heart" is actually a love ballad made famous by the late Hank Thompson. He had several hits with serious recordings featuring offbeat titles: "Humpty Dumpty Heart", "Smoky the Bar", "Rub a Dub Dub", "On Tap, In the Can, or In the Bottle", and "Driving Nails in My Coffin" which Bluegrass acts often perform even today.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ernest
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 11:49 AM

here`s a Dan Hicks version...

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ernest
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 11:47 AM

Thanks, John in Kansas - found a version of How can I miss you....

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 11:30 AM

I'VE GOT TEARS IN MY EARS (FROM LYIN' ON MY BACK IN MY BED WHILE I CRY OVER YOU) (Harold Barlow)

I've got tears in my ears from lyin' on my back
in my bed while I cry over you.
And the tears in my ears, they're off the beaten track
Since you said "It's goodbye, we are through"
So if I should get water on the brain
You will know you're the one who is to blame.
I've got tears in my ears from lyin' on my back
In my bed while I cry over you.

I've got tears in my ears from lyin'on my back
In my bed while I cry over you.
I've been cryin' these tears and soakin' in my sack
Since the day I found you were untrue
And if I don't get up pretty soon
I'll turn into a sleepy lagoon.
I've got tears in my ears from lyin' on my back In my bed while I cry over you.


I've got tears in my ears from lyin' on my back
in my bed while I cry over you.
It's been so many years, my sacroiliac feels
as though it's been soaked through and through
Oh, you lied when you said we'd take the plunge,
Now I know how it feels to be a sponge!
I've got tears in my ears from lyin' on my back
In my bed while I cry over you.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ron Davies
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 09:35 AM

"You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" is just a great fun song.   If I can get Jan to find a little time to learn it, we'll definitely do it.   I bought it off i-Tunes months ago.

I don't do Money, Marbles, and Chalk.   As I recall it's a bit serious--I really like the ones it's hard to take seriously--especially the duets where the couple argues or at least has a conversation.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: frogprince
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 09:09 AM

Not a title, but I was mildly surprised to find that the country stations have been allowing the line "gonna get a little piece on earth" in Keith Anderson's "Picking Wildflowers". I figured the printed lyric would be "peace", but I just googled and found it as "piece".

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:25 AM

If I had it to do all over again, I'd do it all over you.

She won't get under me 'til I get over you.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:22 AM

Here is the book where the writers of "Kissing You Goodbye" got inspired from...

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:13 AM

VT - a couple of those are a bit mangled, but all pretty close.

Similar to your #25: "I Got In at 2 With a 10 and Woke Up at 10 With a 2" done by Willie.

"I Gave Her The Ring, She Gave Me The Finger" ("Crow" Carroll)

On the slightly rude side:

"I Hate Every Bone In Your Body (But Mine)" (Darryl Rhoades)

Not so rude(?):

"If You Don't Leave Me Alone (I'll Find Someone Else Who Will)" (Jim Belushi)

"If You Can't Bite Don't Growl" or
"If You Can't Fight (Wear A Big Hat)"

"If You Can't Get The Stopper Out, Break Off The Neck" (a real oldie)

"If You Don't Believe I Love You (Ask My Wife)"

"If I Can't Live Without Her, How Come I Ain't Dead?"

"I Can Walk The Line (If It Ain't Too Straight)" (Joe Diffie)

"He's In A Hurry To Get Home (To My Wife)" (Johnny Paycheck)

Of course "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" by Ray Stevens had to answered with "Grandpa Got Runned Over By A John Deere" by Cledus T. Judd

I think someone already mentioned "Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye)" (Ray Stevens) but not "Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed" by Kinky Friedman.

On the slightly ridiculous side:

"From The Indies To The Andes In His Undies" done by the Hoosier Hot Shots, or

"The Frozen 400 Pound Fair-To-Middlin Cotton Picker" that Johnny Cash actually is rumored to have done.

And although it sounds a little strange, "Frog Kissin'" written by Buddy Kalb(?) and done by Chet Atkins and by Ray Stevens is a really sweet morality fairy tale tale (and a favorite of one of our 'catters who does a great job with it).

An occasionally heard parody is Ray Stevens' "The Flies of Texas Are Upon You," but it's been a while since I've heard it.

"Family Tree Must'a Fell On Me" is possibly too old for any here to remember(?).

More recent?

"Every Time You Throw A Little Dirt (You Lose A Little Ground)" (George Strait).

John

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:12 AM

"You Done Stomped on My Heart (and You Mashed That Sucker Flat)" is a song by Mason Williams.

And there are actually three songs under the title of "Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth (Because I'm Kissing You Goodbye)", one by Waylon Jennings, one by John Denver, and one by Ray Stevens.

As for "If You Think You've Reached the Bottom Just Look Down", John Denver mentioned it in concerts throughout his career, but it's not a real song.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 02:52 AM

google turned up these


1. Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth Cause I'm Kissing You Good-bye.

2. I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself or Go Bowling.

3. If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You.

4. I Sold A Car To A Guy Who Stole My Girl,
But It Don't Run So We're Even.

5. Mama Get A Hammer (There's A Fly On Daddy's Head).

6. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me.

7. She's Actin' Single and I'm Drinkin' Doubles.

8. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away.

9. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You.

10. I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well.

11. I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better.

12. I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win.

13. I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight.

14. I'm So Miserable Without You; It's Like Having You Here.

15. I've Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Back Cryin' Over You.

16. If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now.

17. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love You.

18. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him.

19. Please Bypass My Heart.

20. She Got The Ring and I Got The Finger.

21. You Done Tore Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat.

22. You're the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly.

23. Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure.

24. She's Looking Better After Every Beer.

25. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With An Ugly Woman, But I Sure Woke Up With a Few.



I remember hearing number 15 on radio.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 02:38 AM

"How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away" appears to be a Dan Hicks classic. Sorry, but I couldn't find a YouTube by Hicks of it, although music & tab seems to be easily available.

One of the longest - and still - running classics is "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" (Brooks & Dunn?). It still plays every couple of weeks on our local CW station.

John

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 02:27 AM

From the first listing:

How Can I Miss You If You Won't Leave scans properly in the original "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away."

and wrong sequencing on

If I Hadn't Shot Her When I Met Her I'd Be out of Jail by Now which is "If I'd Shot Her When I Met Her I'd Be Out of Jail by Now."

(It's about being trapped in an unhappy relationship.)

A really fun one that never made the big time charts was the simple "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly."

You almost have to know the song to appreciate the title, but a real classic is Thank God And Greyhound

(For the unaware, Greyhound is a transcontinental bus line in the US.)

John

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Melissa
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 02:03 AM

most of the songs in the OP can be found on youtube.

Ron Davies,
Do you sing 'Money, Marbles and Chalk'?

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 01:57 AM

Referring to the OP, the song Dim Lights Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Music absolutely exists. It's been recorded many times; even the Grateful Dead had a go at it.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ron Davies
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 09:30 PM

There's no such thing as "typical" country song titles.

But they sure can be creative.

One of my current favorites is "My Tears Have Washed 'I Love You' From the Blackboard of My Heart".   I'm going to sing it with a bluegrass/ country band at my mother and step-father's retirement community on 13 Jan.   There are usually about 200 in the audience for these events--every two months. I'll probably squeeze it in by saying it's in honor of the new school semester.

Country songs do a lot of extended metaphors--which is great with me since I collect them.

Another one I have on tape and will probably learn and sing soon is "Waiting in the Lobby of Your Heart"--another terrible predicament, I'm sure.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 06:06 PM

I Know You're Over Me Now You're Under Him...
The Last Word in Lonesome is Me...
(think about it!)

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Reinhard
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 05:30 PM

You can't get more typical than with Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: Lyr Add: /Tune Req Faux Gospel song in Good Omens

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 05:02 PM

What I've had for awhile now is a couple of lines of "typical country" lyric, that just need a title and the rest of the song:

    Dixie walked out on me in Omaha this morning;
    I wish I was in Dixie, tonight.

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 04:31 PM

We've done this idea a few times before, which is no reason not to have fun with it again.
I particularly like: "Drop kick me Jesus through the goalposts of life" and "It's been lonesome in the saddle since my horse died".

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 04:31 PM

There's "He's got a way with women, and he got away with mine!" and Hank's "You're just in time, to be too late".

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Ernest
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 04:10 PM

That title "How can I miss you when you don`t go away" have I heard cited before (by Ben Sands, if I remember right). Can you tell me who sang it? And the others as well while you`re at it....

Subject: RE: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 02:01 PM

My favourite is by Pam Tillis:-

"They Call me Cleopatra, 'cos I'm the Queen of de-Nile"

Subject: RE: Review: Typical Country Song Titles
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 07:37 AM

I can vouch for the reality of "You Done Stomped on my Heart..." as I know the second line is "you just sorta...Stomped on my Aorta!"

We should give a credit to the truly delightful parody "We was so poor our dog had no legs..." soulfully sung by Mike Harding IIRC

Subject: RE: Review: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 07:14 AM

What about this: "Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days Are Stones"
And, maybe: "Rose, Rose, I Love You With an Aching Heart"

Subject: RE: Review: Typical Country Song Titles
From: Treacle Bolly
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 06:01 AM

I remember one called Loving You Is Dirty Work But Someone's Got to Do It.

Subject: Review: Typical Country Song Titles
From: GUEST,Ronald McDonald
Date: 04 Jan 11 - 03:35 AM

I remember hearing somebody saying that country songs have titles like no others in the world... Then the thing turned out to be very interesting. He made some examples for typical country song titles that I'll never forget:

I Got Tears in My Ears from Lying on My Silent Bed, Crying All Night Over You
If You Think You've Reached the Bottom, Just Look Down
Leave a Lot of Happy Tracks as You Walk Along Life's Road
You Done Stomped on My Heart and You Mashed that Sucker Flat
How Come My Dog Don't Bark When You Come Around
How Can I Miss You If You Won't Leave
Take These Words, Cover Them With Chocolates, Make Them Nice and Sweet - Those are the Words I'm Gonna Have to Eat
Get Your Tongue out of My Mouth for I'm Kissing You Goodbye
Dim Light, Thick Smoke, and Loud Loud Music
If I Hadn't Shot Her When I Met Her I'd Be out of Jail by Now

OK, that's all there is. The titles seem to be really typical for country songs, but I don't believe if these songs really exist!

This thread is made just for fun, so I'd really appreciate if somebody could give us more "typical" country song titles for our delight... And I'd be really grateful if somebody could conclude all the features of typical country song titles - except for the unusual length they have!