Part of my (frankly quite miserable) childhood was spent living in an (equally miserable) mining town in northern Manitoba. Surrounded by the dregs of society, no culture, no beauty, mosquitos the size of sparrows and clouds of blackflies during the short summer, waist-high snowfalls and cruel sub-zero temps all through the long dark winter… and to top it all off, nothing but bloody country & western music on the radio. I was 9 years old! I wanted to listen to the Beatles and, okay I admit it, the Monkees. To say I hated this time of my life, and all that went with it, would be quite accurate. Except…
Later on when I was 18, and back living in Winnipeg by this time (ran away from home at 15), I got a job at a coffin factory. You know, as you do. I’d just finished putting myself through highschool and really had no idea what else to do with myself, but had rent to pay and this job came up. At first I thought I’d been sent straight back to mining town misery as the women who worked at the factory had the local country music station playing all day long. But then I found myself actually liking some of the music I heard and thus began my education in the difference between Country and Country & Western music. But then I also founded myself actually liking some of the C&W tunes from my youth, which included good ol’ George Jones who died this week.
As the always insightful Nag on the Lake put it on Twitter the other day… “When I learned that George Jones lived to be 81 I felt less compelled to adopt healthy habits”.
An example to us all. And I LOVE this song. Listen to the lyrics – they are terrific.
RIP George. And thanks for the helping with the memories.
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While it makes me sad to think about how miserable your childhood was, I am fascinated to read these bits about your past, az. A coffin factory! How remarkable that your time working there led to an appreciation of Country music. (I admit that my own tolerance of Country music is low. There are some exceptions, though.)
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It was miserable to me as a nine-year-old. Later it was just what happened. I think you missed the point about there being a huge difference between Country and Country & Western music, though I also came to appreciate the latter after awhile. Country music is often awesome and amazing, very rich and layered. C&W is more like the fashion industry – you could never parody it as it is already a parody of itself.
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No, I didn’t miss the point, as in I didn’t miss reading your point that there are huge differences between Country and C & W. However, I maintain that my *own* tolerance of Country is low. (Yes, even for this song that you love. There are certain aspects of the music that I can appreciate, but the Country vocal style isn’t one that appeals to me.) Perhaps if I were immersed in it, I might learn to like it. Maybe if I were to get myself a job in a coffin factory…
For that matter, it’s likely that I like music genres that you don’t. Should we explore?
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Well, I meant you “missed the point” because you focused on the sad childhood bit first, lovely mother-hen that you are. And no, I do not recommend a job in a coffin factory (!!!), but having no choice but to listen to both Country and C&W for 8 hours a day was a real musical education for me. It’s where I “discovered” Larry Adler and Chet Atkins. Yes indeed! Let’s explore our musical preferences. Sure we both love things the other has never even heard of.
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I am a big fan of country music, even before marrying a man from Tennessee (& Kentucky & Texas), and yes, the difference between country and C&W is huge. Currently am watching the series ‘Nashville’, frothy and a bit glossed, but good story lines and great music!
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My first record ever was Walkin’ the Floor over You by Ernest Tubb. I was about 8 and my dad bought it for me on 78 along with an old used record player. I was in heaven.
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That was great Steve – thanks!
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Trying to point out to people who “LOVE Country music” what they mean is they love the “Spandex Country music” (my own definition) that “passes” for Country music, not “Country Music” or explaining to people who “hate Country Music” that what they probably hate is “Spandex Country music” is a lifelong struggle. I thought that I “hated country music” until I met my friends in the band who showed me the error of my ways by introducing me to Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Russell, Ian Tyson, and all the olde timey Country and Country and Western musicians.
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