Ten Pound Hammer
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I watched it all on my radio
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 14, 2016 11:47:45 GMT -5
The "too long/didn't read" version? This song contains a hell of a lot of symbolism. It is an absolute treasure trove for critical thinking and literary analysis. I tried to use my above thoughts to draw comparisons between the lyrics in the song and Civil War soldiers, since that is the context surrounding the founding of Decoration Day, but that is only one of many perspectives through which this song can be analyzed. So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre?
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zjames
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Post by zjames on Dec 14, 2016 14:32:30 GMT -5
The "too long/didn't read" version? This song contains a hell of a lot of symbolism. It is an absolute treasure trove for critical thinking and literary analysis. I tried to use my above thoughts to draw comparisons between the lyrics in the song and Civil War soldiers, since that is the context surrounding the founding of Decoration Day, but that is only one of many perspectives through which this song can be analyzed. So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre? While I do think some of Sturgill's song some lyrics that require full attention and critical thinking, a lot of Sturgill's songs are fairly straightforward. "Keep It Between the Lines" is a list of advice from Sturgill to his son. "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)" is just Sturgill encouraging his son to live life to the fullest. "All Around You" and "Call To Arms" are other fairly straightforward songs. He has some more challenging songs obviously; "Turtles All The Way Down," "In Bloom," and "It Ain't All Flowers" come to mind. But there's nothing in his discography that I find hard to understand after a few listens. And some of his songs can be interpreted differently, not meant to be completely understood one way or the other.
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Dec 14, 2016 14:47:20 GMT -5
The "too long/didn't read" version? This song contains a hell of a lot of symbolism. It is an absolute treasure trove for critical thinking and literary analysis. I tried to use my above thoughts to draw comparisons between the lyrics in the song and Civil War soldiers, since that is the context surrounding the founding of Decoration Day, but that is only one of many perspectives through which this song can be analyzed. So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre?Seriously? To be honest, you're probably in luck because if you turn on country radio right now, you'll hear plenty of that if this is what you're truly seeking out of the genre.
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Ten Pound Hammer
9x Platinum Member
Banned
I watched it all on my radio
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 9,595
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 14, 2016 14:49:39 GMT -5
So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre?Seriously? To be honest, you're probably in luck because if you turn on country radio right now, you'll hear plenty of that if this is what you're truly seeking out of the genre. I meant in relation to the songs that are well praised and outside the mainstream like this. Everyone talks up artists like this as being gods among men, but so far, their lyrics just seem like gibberish to me.
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Andy
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Joined: November 2013
Posts: 2,061
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Post by Andy on Dec 14, 2016 18:27:35 GMT -5
The "too long/didn't read" version? This song contains a hell of a lot of symbolism. It is an absolute treasure trove for critical thinking and literary analysis. I tried to use my above thoughts to draw comparisons between the lyrics in the song and Civil War soldiers, since that is the context surrounding the founding of Decoration Day, but that is only one of many perspectives through which this song can be analyzed. So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre? Is it your position that every country song has to have literal, unambiguous lyrics? Why can't there be variety?
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Ten Pound Hammer
9x Platinum Member
Banned
I watched it all on my radio
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 9,595
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 14, 2016 19:47:56 GMT -5
So just like Sturgill Simpson, you have to have an IQ of 300 just to know what it's even about. Whatever happened to country music being a plainspoken, straightforward genre? Is it your position that every country song has to have literal, unambiguous lyrics? Why can't there be variety? They don't have to be literal or unambiguous, just freaking understandable.
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Dec 14, 2016 20:10:59 GMT -5
Is it your position that every country song has to have literal, unambiguous lyrics? Why can't there be variety? They don't have to be literal or unambiguous, just freaking understandable. Do Sturgill's lyrics require more thought and analysis than your average, say, Clay Walker song? Sure, but other than maybe one or two exceptions, I don't find his lyrics that impenetrable. Can I give you a concrete meaning of every single word or line? No, but it's usually easy to understand the overall story or emotion being expressed. Sturgill is quite popular; if his music was as confounding and inaccessible as you claim, I don't think that would be possible. But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree here.
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Ten Pound Hammer
9x Platinum Member
Banned
I watched it all on my radio
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 9,595
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 14, 2016 21:06:51 GMT -5
No, but it's usually easy to understand the overall story or emotion being expressed. And I can't even get that far. On any of his songs that I've listened to (except the High Top Mountain stuff, where he just sounds like a severely watered-down Jamey Johnson instead). Or that Decoration Day song. Or much of anything outside the mainstream. Again, all of it is just gibberish to me, expressing stories or emotions that I can't figure out how ANYone can pick up on because they're so freaking convoluted and obtuse.
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Dec 14, 2016 23:34:45 GMT -5
No, but it's usually easy to understand the overall story or emotion being expressed. And I can't even get that far. On any of his songs that I've listened to (except the High Top Mountain stuff, where he just sounds like a severely watered-down Jamey Johnson instead). Or that Decoration Day song. Or much of anything outside the mainstream. Again, all of it is just gibberish to me, expressing stories or emotions that I can't figure out how ANYone can pick up on because they're so freaking convoluted and obtuse. I think it's really just a matter of practicing listening to unfamiliar stuff. The more you hear, the easier it will be to understand things. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you've heard very little outside the mainstream so far. Most popular non-mainstream country is not significantly more complex than, say, the best written '90s mainstream country. A good deal of it is actually simpler. Sturgill is admittedly somewhat out there, but there's an enormous amount of artists that are nothing like him. Edit: I made an excessively lengthy post earlier, but realized I rambled on way too much and could effectively say the same thing in just a few sentences
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2016 23:46:53 GMT -5
Here's a new one
"You're making me weep, wake me up nights and I can't sleep, are you gonna be the death of me?"
The Secret Sisters "Rattle My Bones"
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Kanenrá:ke
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she left her briquettes out in typical heaux fashion.
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Dec 15, 2016 15:39:17 GMT -5
Here's a new one "You're making me weep, wake me up nights and I can't sleep, are you gonna be the death of me?" The Secret Sisters "Rattle My Bones" Ooh I love "Rattle My Bones"! I've been loving the lyrics to Deana Carter's "Michaelangelo Sky" this week which you can see under my avatar. :)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2016 15:58:58 GMT -5
Here's a new one "You're making me weep, wake me up nights and I can't sleep, are you gonna be the death of me?" The Secret Sisters "Rattle My Bones" Ooh I love "Rattle My Bones"! I've been loving the lyrics to Deana Carter's "Michaelangelo Sky" this week which you can see under my avatar. :) So I'm not the only one who loves these girls! Outside of maybe Maddie & Tae. Those girls are my favorite duo of music. Another one from that gem "I could take it way too far, but I could never win your heart"
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Kanenrá:ke
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she left her briquettes out in typical heaux fashion.
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Post by Kanenrá:ke on Dec 15, 2016 16:24:06 GMT -5
Ooh I love "Rattle My Bones"! I've been loving the lyrics to Deana Carter's "Michaelangelo Sky" this week which you can see under my avatar. :) So I'm not the only one who loves these girls! Outside of maybe Maddie & Tae. Those girls are my favorite duo of music. Another one from that gem "I could take it way too far, but I could never win your heart" Oh yes I love both their albums! In particular "Iuka" from their second album is amazing!
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sabre14
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Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
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Post by sabre14 on Dec 23, 2016 1:03:20 GMT -5
"I bet the grass is three feet high And the mailbox is full of bills Hundred messages I need to check and when I get the chance I will But right now I'm busy, taking it easy Can't worry 'bout stuff like that My only concern is a left or a right turn somewhere on a map"
"Well there ain't no telling where I'm bound The big city or the country, a little beach town But you won't find me, 'cause I can't be found I'm on a mission, to be missing I'll be back some day, I just don't know when Till then I'll be a feather floatin', in the wind So don't you go missing me 'Cause sometimes missing is my favorite place to be"
I love those locations where nobody knows my name How long I'll be stayin' is always subject to change"
William Michael Morgan - "Missing" (written by Rhett Akins and Marv Green)
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robenglund
Gold Member
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Post by robenglund on Dec 24, 2016 0:26:30 GMT -5
"If I were a painter I wouldn’t change ya, I’d just paint you bright"
Keith Urban - "Blue Ain't Your Color"
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someguy
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Posts: 16,038
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Post by someguy on Dec 30, 2016 8:01:13 GMT -5
"We Should Be Friends" by Miranda Lambert has some really good ones. I could really put the whole thing in this thread, but I think that my absolute favourites are:
I don't know you well but I know that look And I can judge the cover 'cause I read the book On losing sleep and gaining weight On pain and shame and crazy trains
(And I love how it changes to 'wrote the book' the second time around)
If you use alcohol as a sedative And bless your heart as a negative
If your mind's as cluttered as your kitchen sink
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 23:09:18 GMT -5
"Blame the fight on the bouncer who couldn't take a joke"
Brothers Osborne "It Ain't My Fault"
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Post by tim on Jan 2, 2017 4:31:24 GMT -5
"The look in your eyes like a window, the taste of your kiss soaked in wine" Carly Pierce - "Every Little Thing"
"What I lost in Lubbock Texas I look for in all the rest, but I guess no one taught me how to stay" Miranda Lambert - "Runnin' Just in Case"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 22:30:35 GMT -5
"We spread the blame for the parts that we couldn't change"
Sugarland "Already Gone"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 22:39:30 GMT -5
"Blame my lack of knowing better on Public Education"
Brothers Osborne "It Ain't My Fault"
"Six months of missing home for three minutes on the radio"
Lauren Alaina "Three"
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phil1996
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Post by phil1996 on Jan 30, 2017 23:25:58 GMT -5
Nobody's lookin' up to care about a drone All too busy lookin' down at our phone Our ego's begging for a food like a dog from a feed Refreshing obsessively until our eyes start to bleed They serve up distractions and we eat them with fries Until the bombs fall out of our f***** skies
- Sturgill Simpson: "Call To Arms"
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Jan 30, 2017 23:33:28 GMT -5
"Six months of missing home for three minutes on the radio" Lauren Conrad "Three"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2017 23:38:45 GMT -5
"Six months of missing home for three minutes on the radio" Lauren Conrad "Three" Fixed! It's the dumb thing on my phone. Everytime I type Lauren, there's always two options and I accidentally clicked on the other one this time. (pissed at myself that I ruined a good post of a great song, because I adore "Three" to pieces)
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Jan 30, 2017 23:54:02 GMT -5
raylatch98 I love the hook of "Three" as well. It paints an exceptional visual. Some of my favorite lyrics from Lauren Alaina's new album: Daddy got sober, momma got his best friend I've cut down crying to every other weekend- "Doin' Fine" With all these works of art, I bet I could start a gallery I make 'em in the dark from my broken heart's memories Every night you fall from my eyes right next to me I bet you'd be surprised that your goodbye made a masterpiece- "Painting Pillows" I could conquer the world with just one hand As long as you're holding the other- "Holding the Other" All the other girls are thinner So you skip another dinner
Them high heels won't get you higher- "Pretty"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 0:01:48 GMT -5
.indulgecountry quit taking all the Lauren Alaina ones I'm the bigger fan here (jk) "I'm doing fine enough to know that everyone's a little broken" "Doin Fine" "Little girl with a dream, and that girl was me" "Three" "There's so much more to life than living like his wind up toy" "Think Outside the Boy" I can go on and on (I can not wait til I get a physical copy) Lauren Alaina is just perfection in my opinion!
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sabre14
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Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
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Post by sabre14 on Jan 31, 2017 2:45:55 GMT -5
"If heaven was a town it would be my town On a summer day in 1985 And everything i wanted was out there waitin And everyone i loved was still alive
don't cry a tear for me now baby There comes a time we all must say goodbye And if that's what heavens made of You know what I ain't afraid to die"
Andy Griggs - "If Heaven" (written Gretchen Peters)
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sabre14
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Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 26,919
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Post by sabre14 on Feb 10, 2017 0:32:19 GMT -5
"Every night I venture out into those neon arms that hold me tight I'm living for the night"
George Strait - "Living For The Night" (written by George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon)
"What if I was made for you? and you were made for me? what if this is it? what if it's meant to be? what if I ain't one of them fools, just playing some game? what if I just pull you close? what if I lean in? and the stars line up? and it's our last first kiss? what if one of these days, baby I go and change your name? what if I loved all these what ifs away?"
Kane Brown (feat. Lauren Alaina) - "What Ifs" (written by Kane Brown, Matthew McGinn, Jordan Schmidt)
I know, I know, it's Kane Brown...but it's one of the extremely few times I'll look past the over-production and live with the mediocre vocals because the lyrics are just too damn good.
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sabre14
Diamond Member
Vince Gill & the Muppets make everything better
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Posts: 26,919
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Post by sabre14 on Feb 12, 2017 23:56:08 GMT -5
"They keep on talkin', drawing conclusions They call it a problem I call it a solution"
Midland - "Drinkin' Problem" (written by Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach and Jess Carson)
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Feb 13, 2017 0:00:30 GMT -5
Good at diggin' holes, don't even need a shovel - Reba McEntire, "Angel on My Shoulder"
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Feb 13, 2017 2:44:30 GMT -5
Damn Reba... These are probably the most socially-relevant lyrics I have ever heard.
The Devil said, "We'll use their pride. We'll attack them from inside. Fill their hearts with vanity, 'Til their differences are all they see. Black and white, rich and poor, To justify their holy war."
Reba McEntire - "Meanwhile Back At The Cross" (A bonus track on her new album)
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