Forever and Ever Amen

I've been listening to my "The Very Best of Randy Travis" disk in the car for the past week or two, and after it cycled around for about the fifth time today, I came to a conclusion. It may as well be titled "The Very Best of Country Music."

Sure, he's got that twang that some people can't stand, but if you love the country aesthetic, there is no reason you shouldn't love Randy Travis. He sings with effortless and likely subconscious nuance that just couldn't have been taught. His songs are of consistent quality and style, while still offering a variety of subject matter, tempo, and feel, fit to fall in love to, fall out of love to, or just bop your head along to. The best part, though, is that it's all so timeless. His best known song, "Forever and Ever Amen," became popular in 1987 (I was just a year old) and 21 years later, it is every bit as relevant and enjoyable as it used to be. It's fitting, too, don't you think? "As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men..." I'm gonna love that song, and I'm gonna love Randy Travis, forever and ever amen.

Here's the track list to "The Very Best of..."
I can honestly say that I love every one of these songs. If you don't know them, check them out.

1. Diggin' Up Bones--I'm digging up bones, exhuming things that's better left alone, resurrecting memories of a love that's dead and gone, tonight I'm sitting alone digging up bones...



2. On the Other Hand--but on the other hand there's a golden band, to remind me of someone who would not understand, on one hand I could stay and be your loving man, but the reason I must go is on the other hand...



3. Forever and Ever Amen--I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever amen, as long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men, if you wonder how long I'll be faithful, I'll be happy to tell you again, I'm gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever amen...



4. Too Gone, Too Long--you've been too gone for too long, it's too late to come back now, it's been so long since you walked out my door, now you're just an old song nobody sings anymore...



5. I Told You So--...would you tell me that you love me too, and would we cry together, or would you simply laugh at me and say, I told you so, I told you so, I told you someday you'd come crawling back and asking me to take you in, I told you so but you had to go, and now I found somebody new and you will never break my heart in two again...



6. I Won't Need You Anymore--when you see me walk on water, when the sea don't reach the shore, when the fires of hell freeze over, I won't need you anymore...

7. Honky Tonk Moon--outside the dark is falling, stars are twinkling bright, that old hoot-owl is calling everything's alright, honky tonk moon keeps shining on my baby and me...

8. Deeper Than the Holler--I had to sing a song about all the things I knew, my love is deeper than the holler, longer than the river, higher than the pine trees growing tall upon the hill, my love is purer than the snowflakes, that fall in late december and honest as a robin on a spring time windowsill, and longer than the song of a whippoorwill...



9. Is It Still Over?--is it still over, are we still through? since my phone still ain't ringin', I assume it still ain't you, and I've half a mind to take the time to find somebody new, but I'm not too sure that I'm still over you...

10. Just a Matter of Time--I know, I know, one day you'll wake up and find that my love is a true love, it's just a matter of time...



11. Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart--I keep waiting for you to forgive me, and you keep saying you can't even start, and I feel like a stone you have picked up and thrown to the hard rock bottom of your heart...



12. I Thought He Walked on Water--He said he was a cowboy when he was young, he could handle a rope and he was good with a gun, and my momma's daddy was his oldest son, and I thought he walked on water, if the story was told, only heaven knows, but his hat seemed to me like an old halo, and though his wings they never were seen, I thought he walked on water...



13. Heroes and Friends--your heroes will help you find good in yourself, your friends won't forsake you for somebody else, they'll both stand beside you through think and through thin, that's how it goes with heroes and friends...



14. Forever Together-- forever together, 'til death do we part, forsaking all others I'll give you my heart, through good times and bad times wherever we are, forever together in each others arms...

15. Better Class of Losers--I'm going back to a better class of loser, this city life has really got me down, I need friends who don't pay their bills on home computers (an aside--good luck with that anymore) and buy their coffee beans already ground, you think it's disgraceful that they drink three-dollar wine but a better class of loser suits me fine...



16. I'm Gonna Have a Little Talk--Gonna have a little talk with Jesus when I get home tonight, tell him all about my troubles and I know He'll make them right, then I'll ask him to forgive me for the things that I've done wrong, gonna have a little talk with Jesus tonight when I get home...

17. If I Didn't Have You--If I didn't have you I'd have long ago been left in the dark out in the cold, blowing around from town to town like a feather in the wind, if I didn't have you you know I'd be floundering around like a ship sea, lost in the rain of a hurricane, that's where I'd have been... you know I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you



18. Look Heart, No Hands-- no chains, no strings, no fences, no walls, no net, just you to catch me when I fall, look heart, no hands...



19. Whisper My Name-- I heard music bring a heart of stone to tears, I heard peace ring like an anthem through the years, I heard hatred fall from grace, when I heard you whisper my name, I heard angels rise and praise when I heard you whisper my name...



20. Three Wooden Crosses-- there are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway, why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows, I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go...



And as more proof that Randy Travis is indeed a timeless classic, listen to Carrie Underwood's version of "I Told You So." (yeah... that's Vince Gill on back-up--another timeless legend.)



I had so much fun finding these videos-- especially the old "Nashville Now" footage. Incredible. I hope you enjoy the music.

And if you can find videos for anything I couldn't, let me know and I'll post them.

What's your favorite Randy Travis song? Country song?