This is another large section, and rightly so, because it constitutes what I would consider the real tasty bit of the article. This is the thing that I think I like most about this genre, its great strength as a set of tools. These are the songs that exist to tell a short story, beginning to end. The sound and staples of country and folk make them exceptionally well suited to this type of poetic fiction. Indeed, this is one of the category’s finest traditions. Quite a few of the songs on the list up until now have also been strong candidate to represent this phenomenon, but these are some pretty pure examples.
A strange, supernatural gothic of a short tale. I have fond memories of this one because it was on a Best of Cash collection I listened to in the 90s, but it is more properly attributed to the The Highwaymen supergroup. This consisted of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Krisofferson. These guys were all giants individually, and produced some tremendous collaborations. The four members were kind of the core members of the Outlaw Country movement that started in the 60s, with a sound that went against the mainstream grain of the time. For a more reality-based story by the supergroup, try The Road Goes On Forever. If the supernatural vibe here is more your jam, try Ghost Riders in the Sky for a straight up ghost story—the Cash version is linked because the vocals are a little clearer than the supergroup recordings available on YouTube.
.
A hitchhiker has a strange experience. To someone familiar with country music, the phantom is quickly recognizable as the ghost of Hank Williams, also known as Old Hank (as opposed to Young Hank, his son, also a musician). Old Hank is remembered as one of the greats, but he was rejected by the Nashville establishment during his lifetime. The lesson he imparts to the narrator is one he would know all too well.
Gary Gentry, who wrote the song, says that he summoned, saw, and spoke to Old Hank himself while writing it. The ghost appeared, shirtless, sitting on Gentry’s couch. I have no idea if that actually happened, but it’s an insane story either way.
.
Maybe just because it was almost Halloween when I made the list, but I seemed to be gravitating toward spooky songs in this segment. That is a pretty fair reflection of what I’m into either way. How to describe this one…? Okay, I’ll put it like this: do you believe in fate? No hints this time– listen all the way through, the last line lands hard.
.
Fancy by Reba McEntire (but really Bobbie Gentry)
Solidly a Southern Gothic, this is another song where the later cover is more well known than the original. McEntire made it her own, and so we’re back into that late 80s-early 90s sound. This one is chilling as well, but not for any supernatural cause. The horror here is all too firmly grounded in reality.
.
Breakfast In Hell by Slaid Cleaves
Another ghost story, this one a little mellower. And Canadian. The background vocals in the back half give this dong a delightfully campfire-ish feeling, with the distant shouts coming in at the spots where you would be leaning into the fire as the tension rises.
.
Silver Ghost by the Wildwood Valley Boys (but really Merle Haggard)
I swear to god this was not a conscious decision, I just really enjoy ghost stuff. Merle Haggard is one of the old school greats. Honestly though, if you are not a habitual consumer of country, you are probably going to have a better time with the cover. Merle gives it a very simple, direct delivery, the Boys have a more modern folk sound with more instrumental work and additional vocals. I feel like that makes it a slightly easier listen. I feel like ghost trains are an American Staple, but I cannot for the life of me think of any other specific cases. Fortunately, The Silver Ghost gets the point across very neatly.
.
Little Red Rodeo by Collin Raye
Finally, this one isn’t a ghost story. This one was on the radio when I was about three or four, and I don’t remember enough to say it takes me back, but it does carry for me the feeling of a more innocent time. You never find out if the narrator catches up with his True Love, but something about it just feels like everything is going to turn out just fine. Now, if you instead want to cry to a Collin Raye song, give Love, Me a listen—this is perhaps a little sappy, but sad grandparent stuff always gets to me. The end of a lifelong love that only the inevitable could break apart, and even that only to an extent, pulls a lot of emotional weight.
.
A long-ago memory of a summer affair with a much older woman. Poignant, but I can’t quite decide if this is wholly a fond memory. I’m not sure the narrator can either.
NEXT TIME: Story time continues, but we talk about Doing Crime specifically.
Dramatic Pause 
One thought on “Country Music For People Who Hate Country Music Part 5: Story Time!”