In the rural South of my childhood, social gatherings of near 'bout every stripe from candidate speakin's to buryin's were accompanied by music - Country Music. This is perhaps due to the collective Scots-Irish heritage of our community, and in fact much of the rural upland South from Appalachia to the Ozarks. Anyone who's ever gone to a concert down at the VFW or a sangin' on the court square or listened to the band down at the volunteer fire department's fish-fry fund-raiser has certainly heard a little Gospel in their Country. A true Country concert isn't complete without at least one obligatory shout-out to God often in the form of the Southern Baptist National Anthem, also known as Amazing Grace.
To one lacking an understanding of the culture of rural America, especially the rural upland South, it would likely be confusing to hear performers go from singing, and sounding like she meant every word of it, Stand By Your Man as Tammy Wynette did only to turn around and belt out D-I-V-O-R-C-E. Poor little J-O-E.
And of course ya cain't have a true conversation about Country Music without talkin-bout Hank Williams, though it's purty easy to have a conversation about the Gospel and never think twice about ol' Hank. However, this is Country Music where outlaws like Hank have always played by their own rules if by any at all. Hank could sing "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" without missing a beat.
Then, to stir it up are two of my favorites: Bobby Bare's Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through the Goal Post of Life). . . straight through the heart of them righteous uprights and Jeannie C. Riley's come-to-Jesus meeting when she wore her mini-skirt into the room of the Harper Valley PTA after it had been reported that she had been a-drinkin' and runnin' 'round with men and goin' wild.
Perhaps as obligatory to mention as Hank Williams in any conversation about Country Music would be the Carter Family and the famous Man in Black who joined them. The Carter Family's Will the Circle Be Unbroken is perhaps one of the most classic Country Music songs of all time and is lyrically both haunting and hopeful.
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by Lord, by and by,
There's a better home a-waitin'
In the sky Lord, in the sky.
Whoever invented Country Music must have had Johnny Cash in mind as his paradoxical life could have come straight out of the Old Testament, King James Version of course and thank you very much. Anyone who has read about him, heard his songs, or has seen the movie knows that Cash knew as well as anyone that there are two kingdoms in this old world. Johnny knew the Devil on a first-name basis, but along came Billy Graham and June Carter and he started to Walk the Line.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
From Tammy Wynette's troubled love-life to Riley and Bare's firing back at the ever-present self-righteous among us to Johnny Cash's decades long struggle with addictions, Country Music, like the Gospel, is about life. Country Music is nothing if not honest. Sure you'll hear some honky-tonk-badonkadonk and plenty of songs about tractors and even about how beer is good and God is great and people are crazy, but you listen long enough and you'll feel like you heard the 20th Century Version of David's Psalms set to twin fiddles and steel guitars accompanied by some good ol' Southern country twang.
Like Brooks and Dunn, I Believe. . .that When I Get Where I'm Going. . . I'll Thank God for Unanswered Prayers. . .
Bless Your Heart and Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
