He Stopped Loving Her Today

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 10 Oct 2005 12:05 pm

There's another song that wasn't as big of a hit as "He Stopped Loving Her Today", or "Farwell Party", but I think it surpasses them in morbidity. It's Merle Haggard's "Wake Up (don't just lay there)". It doesn't leave a lot of the picture unpainted.

(I'm going from memory, perhaps the song wasn't actually written by Merle but I think it's on his "The Way I Am" album.)

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HagFan

PS: "Wake Up" lyrics are here[This message was edited by Ron Page on 10 October 2005 at 01:10 PM.][This message was edited by Ron Page on 10 October 2005 at 01:12 PM.][This message was edited by Ron Page on 10 October 2005 at 01:18 PM.]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 10 Oct 2005 12:12 pm

Ron, I just googled up the lyrics to that one and all I can say is: Eeeuuuuw! Creepy!

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 11 Oct 2005 4:50 am

Ron you must have one of those perfect marriages. To me Wake Up sounds more like the wife that turns over and refuses to talk to the husband no matter what he says. I have been there and it is just like the song says. She is like cold granite stone. If you have one of those kissy.kissy. marriages where you never fight then you have probably never experienced it. I on the other hand, have. It is just like it says. Anyway that must be why we are left to draw our own conclusions. All the songs mentioned in this thread are that way. They are true country songs, and to me a lot better than some of the stuff I hear these days. They are songs to listen to when you are down and your heart is broke and the Jim Beam bottle is almost empty.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 11 Oct 2005 6:55 am

In "Wake Up", it never occurred to me that she was dead and he was looking at her saying, Wake up! That is creepy!

I agree with Craig, I think it was about his wife laying there like he wasn't there. Actually, I think he may have written it about Leona.

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 11 Oct 2005 7:04 am

"Wake up, Irene, you've slept too long.

Wake up, Irene or folks will think you're dead."

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 11 Oct 2005 7:30 am

I only ever looked at "Wake Up" as a lament about a sweetheart lying in wake (of death). I took the lines like "...you've closed the final door" and "...gone away for good" quite literally, although I see now one wouldn't have to.

I think the literal interpretation makes the song more unique. Otherwise, it's like "Is It Cold In Here (or is it just you)" or "Shelly's Winter Love".

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 11 October 2005 at 08:32 AM.]

Kenny Burford · Post by **Kenny Burford** » 12 Oct 2005 10:13 am

Bobby Braddock’s and Curly Putman's song, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a testament to these two great songwriter’s outstanding writing ability. Couple that with the outstanding singing ability of George Jones, plus the session’s musicians Pete Drake on steel guitar, Phil Baugh on lead guitar, Jerry Carrigan on drums, Henry Sztrleke on bass, Ray Edenton on rhythm, Pig Robbins on piano, and my source thinks it was Buddy Spicher on fiddle, and you have just formulated a song good enough to be only one of two songs ever to be selected Song of the Year by the CMA.

The melody to “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” is so simple that it’s great, the chord progress is 1, 4, 5 and its only change is a half step modulation. The first verse sets up the story, the second tells of hope, the third details that hope and verse four provides closure. Wrapping thirty years of the main character’s life into four verses and the fifth verse dedicated to the story teller, yet the song is not wordy and provided sufficient room for a melodic fills by a lead instrument. Plus, the tempo made it a perfect “Belly Rubber,” which can make for a big turn out on the dance floor. The song was simple to learn, so it was covered by a lot of local bands who added it to their play list and when you put all of those things together you have a song that last, and last, and last.

I am curious, how many Top 40 Songs on country music radio in the past year can match Braddock’s and Putman’s song “He Stopped Loving Her Today?”

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 12 Oct 2005 11:24 am

Great post, Kenny, thanks for that!

Kind Regards, Walter

www.lloydgreentribute.com
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 13 Oct 2005 9:50 am

Adult Music With Adult Themes. That's country music.

Robbie Bossert

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 13 Oct 2005 11:01 am

Graet post Kenny.I've been sitting here thinking how to say something and you nailed it!How can anyone look history in the face and say "it ain't so" or "it didn't happen" or something similar.The music this past few years is definately not my choice.Garth,Clint,Tim,and so many others have yet to do one I like.Yet for me to say that it is no good would be a stupid remark.All one has to do is look at statistics.Sales,performances,movies,books etc and etc. "Somebodies" surely must like them even if I don't.I also have several friends that are recording on these sessions so I would not tell them I didn't appreciate their efforts.She Stopped was a very good song!The stats have already been named.
As for "Wake Up" thats another darn good song.I find nothing in that song that resembles her being dead.Am I missing something? Regards, Fred

Lem Smith · Post by **Lem Smith** » 13 Oct 2005 9:27 pm

He stopped livin' here today,
she threw his rear right out the door.
Soon the law will carry him away,
He stopped livin' here today.

Donny, you aren't the only writer here!

Lem[This message was edited by Lem Smith on 13 October 2005 at 10:28 PM.]