For decades I have been on a quest to become the Perfect Husband, the Ultimate Man, the Guy My Wife Dreams Of. Unfortunately, she’s still dreaming. I’ve read all the self-help books, seen all the relationship movies, and studied every “this is what a real man should be” talk ever given by anyone with Elder or President in front of their name. I have worked hard to become kind, sensitive, gallant, chivalrous, spiritual, inspiring, dedicated, romantic, and strong. With practice, I’ve even gotten better at crying (women seem to like that, as long as it’s not when you’re supposed to be saving them).
No matter what I do however, I come in conflict with my inner frontiersman. I seem to find alluring those bygone days when chivalry and honor still meant something.
The Classic Inner Conflict
When we first moved to our little horse ranch I discovered what all residents here have in common — our famous Eagle Mountain mud. It’s so bad in the wet season, each morning I look out the window and count the horse’s ears that are still sticking out of the ground to make sure they’re all there.
Back then, I brought out the first load of hay in my Ford F350 one-ton, full-size-bed diesel pickup truck and promptly sank up to the axles on the dirt road to my barn, even with four wheel drive. The homes here are spread out so far, there was no one around to help. Finally after a while, along came a nice lady driving another pickup. She stopped and said sweetly:
“Need some help?”
I could see she was holding back a snicker under her breath.
“Yes, Ma’am.” I mumbled.
Being prepared for most things, I had 40 feet of steel tow chain in my truck box, which was about how far off the main road I was. She swung around, and told me to hook up to her trailer hitch. Staying on the asphalt, she easily yanked my heavily loaded truck back on the road like it was nothing. They make real women out here.
But here’s my point: I didn’t know whether to be more embarrassed about being saved by a woman, or by the fact that she was driving a Dodge Ram.
Gender Role Confusion
This confusion about what an ideal man should be is more pervasive these days than we men let on. That’s because men don’t talk about stuff like that. So, I will talk about it, because I’m still working on becoming a Highly Sensitive but Manly Guy.
For example, I’ve learned from my many years in the music business that good values and much wisdom can still be found in the lyrics of country music. It is an acquired taste to be sure, but since I’ve sunk so deeply into the ooze of frontier living, I’ve found out that it’s the White Man’s soul music. I still remember my shock when I first discovered that musicians, who are supposedly great artists, belong to the same union as dock workers and truckers. Kind of takes the stuffing out of a fellow’s shirt.
All the great Everyman themes are there in country music: songs about being a good husband, a good father, love, freedom, honesty and respecting your elders. About knowing who you are, and having a good family, a good wife and gratitude for God’s blessings.
Country music has its share of redneck and drinking songs, but overall there are more values-based songs than in any other genre. Though not an official survey, I think I know; there are very few kinds of music I haven’t written, produced and arranged these past twenty five years. So naturally, I turn to music to solve the world’s problems both now and forever. (It should be pointed out here that to my knowledge, only three careers are mentioned scripturally in the next life with any certainty: missionary, musician, and teacher.)
Having built on that solidly unstable authoritative foundation, we get to the real message of this article: how country songs can make your marriage better. Here’s an example:
Memorizing Song Lyrics
Before becoming the Highly Improved Guy I am today, I would come home after a long day in the recording studio ready to de-stress and download — my full ration of words completely used up for the day. My wife would want to talk, but I just wanted the remote.
Now, because I have memorized so many country songs on the way home, I always have the right thing to say, even when my head is empty. This has the effect of making me seem wise and romantic, preventing that annoying Empty Head Syndrome.
When she tells me about what troubles went on that day, I quote the appropriate country lyrics. When she’s upset, for example, I say:
“Well, honey, loving you is what I do. It’s the one thing I’ve found I can put my heart into.
It’s who I am, I’m a lucky man, living this life I choose. ‘Cause loving you is what I do.” (1)
It helps that she doesn’t know any of these country songs.
If she mentions how frustratingly stubborn I am, I say:
“All of that stubbornness melts away when I lay with your head on my shoulder, and I know I’ve got to love you until my life is through. What else can I do? Oh, I love you! (2)
When she tells me she’s glad I’m home, I say;
“Well, the view I love the most is from my front porch looking in.” (3)
Then when the kids tell me all the good things they accomplished, I say:
“Well, that’s something to be proud of. That’s a life you can hang your hat on.” (4)
Other Important Applications
Songs also help me remember to get my wife flowers sometimes on the way home.
“Every now and then on my way home, I stop by a place where the wildflowers grow and I pick a few, ‘cause she don’t tell me to.” (5)
Or when she says I’m lost and won’t ask directions, I say:
“God bless the broken road that led me straight to you.” (6)
Sometimes a little Zane Grey helps when she’s figuratively got a burr under her saddle:
“Even though I’m a fire-eatin’ gunslinger, who’s gone out to meet the worst of men and come back, why, I tremble at your step and I see your face in the clouds and I hear your voice in the wind. Don’t miss that, my lady.” (7)
It Must Be Done Properly
Since lawyers are so much a part of life these days, I will add this disclaimer: improper use of country lyrics in relationships can be dangerous. You must use the right song for the proper application. This became painfully clear when my friend Spencer decided to try out my new marital relationship country lyrics cure-all.
He went home, ready to watch the game on TV, but his wife wanted to talk. So he quoted Alison Krauss singing:
“You say it best, when you say nothing at all.” (8)
Spencer has never fully recovered.
Footnotes:
(1) Loving You is What I Do, sung by Billy Dean
(2), (5), She Don’t Tell Me To, sung by Montgomery Gentry
(3) Front Porch Looking In, sung by Lonestar
(4) Something To Be Proud Of, sung by Montgomery Gentry
(6) God Bless the Broken Road, sung by Rascall Flatts
(7) Grey, Zane. Riders of Spanish Peaks. Grosset & Dunlap. 1938
(8) You Say It Best WhenYou Say Nothing At All, sung by Alison Krauss
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