Samantha Massad, 27
Music has always been used as a form of entertainment and a way to bring people together. Nashville, famously known as “Music City”, is best known for country music, drawing attention from country music lovers and artists. Country songs often have a lot of storytelling built into the lyrics, and they tend to reflect personal experiences and emotions that listeners may find relatable. Have you ever wondered what personal experience inspired the writing process for your favorite country song or what the story is behind the song’s lyrics?
The 1990’s were a transformative 10 years for country music. Many country artists of the time started incorporating modern lyrics but kept the same traditional sound. Artists also began to blend deeper meanings into their music. Garth Brooks’ song “The Dance” (1990), which was a very popular song in the 90’s, is a great example. While on a superficial level, this song might just sound like it's about some guy dancing, it holds a more significant meaning. This song uses the metaphor of a dance to represent life’s journey of ups and downs. It’s about embracing every part of life, the good and the bad, because each part contributes to our growth as people. A lyric that shows the true intent behind the song is when Brooks sings, “I could’ve missed the pain, But I’d had to miss the dance” (The Dance). The underlying message in this lyric, which recurs throughout the song, is that to experience life's joys and highlights, one must first endure its challenges.
In the 2000’s, artists really leaned into human experiences, including moments of joy, loss, and hope. During this time period of country music, listeners appreciated the variety and emotional relatability. Travis Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” (2000) is a perfect example of embedding emotions in song lyrics. Travis Tritt’s song heavily promotes the importance of optimism and appreciating small moments the same as we do. The song also mentions the importance of living in the moment, even when there are challenges in life. A lyric that shows the significance of finding joy in everyday life is when Tritt sings, “It’s a great day to be alive, I know the suns still shinin’ when I close my eyes” (It’s a Great Day to Be Alive). Tritt’s song teaches listeners to enjoy all aspects of life, even something as simple as the sun being out and shining bright.
2010’s country music lyrics often embraced personal and nostalgic themes that invited listeners to relate. Eric Church’s song “Springsteen” (2012) is all about youth, reliving nostalgic times, while also reminding listeners of how people can associate a song with a certain memory. In this song, he vividly captures his memories of his teenage summers. A lyric that captures nostalgia in this song is when Eric Church sings, “Funny how a melody, sounds like a memory, Like a soundtrack to July Saturday night, Springsteen” (Springsteen). For Eric Church, the “melody” was Bruce Springsteen's music, and the “memory” is his youth. Eric Church grew up listening to Bruce Springsteen; he now associates his teenage years with Bruce Springsteen’s music.
The 1990’s through 2010 was a pivotal time for country music development. As time progressed, it became more common to envelope vulnerable and personal storytelling. From the 1990’s onward, it seems that artists got more comfortable sharing emotional, personal stories without the need of metaphors and hidden meanings. In every case, each of these songs is able to connect with listeners below the surface because of the intentional, thought-provoking storytelling techniques.