In these following songs, I have included embedded Youtube videos, an analysis of the song as I feel it relates to my topic, and key lyrics that I found connect with the religious themes that I feel are in the songs.
Author's Note:
As I was doing my research, I realized that , as so many authors stated, what I am looking at is a relatively new topic that academia has not looked at in much depth. In the articles that I did find directly pertaining to this topic, There were a few general statements about the religious content of country songs as I will explain here.-D.P. |
Lyrics in country music are used to reflect the everyday troubles of a working class life in an intimate light. (McKee, 164) These song lyrics are used to share a short story in a song, in an attempt to give a musical epiphany, where the listener finally understands the religious meaning in the song. These short stories are usually seen to be focusing on one of these three conflicts:
1) Individual versus society
2) Social freedom versus restraint
3) rural past versus urban present
(Grimshaw, 96-97)
As seen in the background on country music, this third conflict has been an internal fight for many country music artists since the early days of country music. In addition to these three conflicts, there are many common themes in religious country songs. They include: home, family, love, death, everyday life experiences and emotions of the working class, suffering, strife and the potential for redemption. (Grossman, 86) These themes go hand in hand as well. For example, it would not be uncommon for a song to have the thematic elements of death (or near death) and the potential for redemption. Salvific love is also very common, but it is not always related with the sacrifice that Jesus made. It is also seen between family members and salvation is sometimes only found once a connection is made with someone. This salvation can be seen through empathy or by realizing how much someone gave for them. It should be noted that salvation will only occur if there has been some sort of sacrifice made on the part of the receiver too. (Grossman, 88-89)
One final stylistic point that I will make is that in the Grossman article, a format is described for the layout of the stories that are being told in these songs. In the traditional 3 verse, 2-3 chorus songs that country music is typically made up of, the first verse is normally seen setting up a scene for the audience, the second verse is spent expanding on the story and the third verse would reinterpret the story. The choruses are used to enforce the message of the story, and usually in the last instance that the listener hears the chorus, slight changes will be made to the wording to give a bigger clue to the meaning of the song or answer a question in the story. Finally, the third verse of the song can usually be seen taking place in a religious or secularized place, be it a church, graveyard, or hospital room with someone on their deathbed. This scene can also take place in an idealized place such as in a dream or in heaven. (Grossman, 93-95)
As we go further in depth with other songs, I will show, with evidence from other articles, where religious undertones can be found in country music.
1) Individual versus society
2) Social freedom versus restraint
3) rural past versus urban present
(Grimshaw, 96-97)
As seen in the background on country music, this third conflict has been an internal fight for many country music artists since the early days of country music. In addition to these three conflicts, there are many common themes in religious country songs. They include: home, family, love, death, everyday life experiences and emotions of the working class, suffering, strife and the potential for redemption. (Grossman, 86) These themes go hand in hand as well. For example, it would not be uncommon for a song to have the thematic elements of death (or near death) and the potential for redemption. Salvific love is also very common, but it is not always related with the sacrifice that Jesus made. It is also seen between family members and salvation is sometimes only found once a connection is made with someone. This salvation can be seen through empathy or by realizing how much someone gave for them. It should be noted that salvation will only occur if there has been some sort of sacrifice made on the part of the receiver too. (Grossman, 88-89)
One final stylistic point that I will make is that in the Grossman article, a format is described for the layout of the stories that are being told in these songs. In the traditional 3 verse, 2-3 chorus songs that country music is typically made up of, the first verse is normally seen setting up a scene for the audience, the second verse is spent expanding on the story and the third verse would reinterpret the story. The choruses are used to enforce the message of the story, and usually in the last instance that the listener hears the chorus, slight changes will be made to the wording to give a bigger clue to the meaning of the song or answer a question in the story. Finally, the third verse of the song can usually be seen taking place in a religious or secularized place, be it a church, graveyard, or hospital room with someone on their deathbed. This scene can also take place in an idealized place such as in a dream or in heaven. (Grossman, 93-95)
As we go further in depth with other songs, I will show, with evidence from other articles, where religious undertones can be found in country music.