Variations on a theme


Continuing with the theme (see below), I remember the late Steve Goodman's attempt to write a song that included all the necessary ingredients of the "perfect country western song" (back when it was called "Country and Western") - it was an added verse to a song he had already written - at the suggestion ("mention Mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or gettin' drunk"), of David Allan Coe.

The lyrics go something like this:
"Well I was drunk the day my Momma got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
My Momma, she got run over by a damned old train."

Well, that got us thinking - can those requirements be updated a bit? The Dixie Chicks come to mind, but their Suite: Sweet Revenge anti-war anthem NRTMN(tho' an apt choice considering the current mood of the country, circa early May 2007), IS missing a few key elements as described above. No, we think the most likely candidate for that mantle is Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood (American Idol, she!) - including some of the time-honored elements present in Goodman's piece (trucks, drinkin'), other generally agreed upon themes like two-timing cheats, white trash, whiskey, pool, and "righteous revenge of the heart" (how 'bout that, Alanis?) and finally, a reference Goodman would be particularly interested in - mention of a "Louisville Slugger")

Introductory verses to the song:
"Right now he's probably slow dancing with a bleached-blond tramp,
and she's probably getting frisky.
Right now he's probably buying her some fruity little drink
cause she can't shoot whiskey.
Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick,
showing her how to shoot a combo
and he don't know . . .

"I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up 4-wheel drive,
carved my name into his leather seats.
I took a louisville slugger to both head lights,
slashed a hole in all 4 tires.
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats."

Plus, it has fiddles! And, in the video, there are fireworks and a smashing up of a vehicle - as we head into the summer months, how American is that!

(What's a cowgirl to do . . . )