What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow?

One of the trade offs of being happily married is that the break up & unrequited love songs just don't have the same sting to them. I've been listening to the George Jones classic A Good Year for the Roses a lot lately, though. What a perfect country song, it paints such a clear picture I can see the table that the ashtray sits on & the baby's room down the hall & the unkempt lawn.
The second verse tells you that a wife is leaving his husband, but the facts of their marriage don't tell nearly as much as the inanimate objects of the first verse. I'm not sure what happened to country music since this song came out, but I wish it would more closely resemble this.

I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick
On the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lyin' cold the way you left 'em
But at least your lips caressed them while you packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee
That you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it
that's so much more than I can say for me

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

After three full years of marriage
It's the first time that you haven't made the bed
I guess the reason we're not talkin'
There's so little left to say we haven't said
While a million thoughts go racin' through my mind
I find I haven't said a word
From the bedroom the familiar sound
Of one baby's cryin' goes unheard

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses



Along the same theme is a song by Wilco, in which the singer tries to tell himself that if he only cleaned the house & did the laundry & kept the small little details of the house going that it would bring back the wife that's left him.

Hate it Here I try to stay busy I do the dishes, I mow the lawn I try to keep myself occupied Even though I know you’re not coming home I try to keep the house nice and neat I make my bed I change the sheets I even learned how to use the washing machine But keeping things clean doesn’t change anything What am I gonna do when I run out of shirts to fold? What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow? What am I gonna do if you never come home? Tell me, what am I gonna do? I hate it I hate it here When you’re gone I caught myself thinking I caught myself thinking once again Have to try to keep my mind out of this Try not to pretend I’ll check the phone I’ll check the mail I’ll check the phone again and I call your mom She says you’re not there and I should take care I hate it here When you’re gone I hate it I hate it here When you’re gone I try to stay busy I take out the trash, I sweep the floor Try to keep myself occupied Cause I know you don’t live here anymore

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Hate it Here-Wilco, Sky Blue Sky

I just read there's a new Wilco album in the works soon!

A Good Year for the Roses-George Jones

If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It's Gonna Be You)-George Clinton & the P Funk All Stars, The Totally Awesome Power of a Fully Operation Mothership

If I Should Fall From Grace With God-The Pogues, If I Should Fall From Grace With God

Bertha-the Grateful Dead

Happy Wednesday, friends...

andrew