No, I never met the man, but that's on my bucket list. I call him a friend because of all that he's done for me. Whenever life seems so dark, so cynical, so jaded, his music has found a way to help me out of my rut. He always ended up being there.
Most younger country fans these days don't really remember him, and I suspect this is because he performed songs that don't match the negativity and harshness of the time. Yet he was my first introduction to real country music, by means of my interest in Irish folk and bluegrass.
In college, I fell in love with a girl who had her sights set on fame and worldly success. If I played this song, she would storm out of the room, yelling back at me that I was a backwards bum, a fellow caught in a hopelessly romantic view of the world.
"Woman You Won't Break Mine"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq7dP3mtc4I
Of course she did break my heart, or more properly, I broke my own.
Well what do you do when you have a broken heart? You find a good country song to go along with it. Dogs and trucks are optional.
"Heartbreak Hurricane"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TMDcatJ3s
When you've gone through all of the lies, and all of the cheating, and all of the pain, can you ever love or trust someone else? Yes, but find someone kind, someone honest, someone who has the same sense of magic about life as you do.
"He Was Onto Somethin' (So He Made You)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDpRXdjaYSI
It doesn't hurt if she also comes from San Antonio.
"San Antonio Rose"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-zlP3P0bL0
As you find that you love her, you also learn that you love her because of who she is, because of her character. Nothing is more attractive than a beautiful soul.
Driving through the countryside in our first car, we would play this song over and over. It was because we had the most important thing in common, a love of God. Everything else falls into place after that.
"Soldier of the Cross"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiOTkDxeVnA
Yes, laugh at us all you like. Ricky Skaggs and I will be quite content with your rejection.
Written in 12/2000
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