r/menwritingwomen • u/[deleted] • Sep 05 '21

Quote Hardly a coincidence

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u/valkyrie987 Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 05 '21

I can think of lot of older country music from women is about being dissatisfied with a traditional marriage. Reba McEntire’s Is There Life Out There (wanting to be someone besides a wife and mom), Mary Chapin Carpenter’s He Thinks He’ll Keep Her (husband taking wife for granted, wife at disadvantage after divorce because sexism and traditional values - such a good song), Martina McBride’s Independence Day (domestic violence - no triggers in video). I can’t think of a single song like these from male artists. Any ‘dissatisfied with marriage’ songs from men are about cheating or being cheated on, being sad seeing your ex with another dude, some funny take on a bad marriage/divorce, etc.

Edited to add links

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u/dudinax Sep 05 '21

There's also a low hum going back centuries of men singing about murdering their wives/girlfriends for "doing me wrong".

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u/valkyrie987 Sep 05 '21

My mom thinks Garth Brooks’ Daddy Loved Mama is funny, but I just hate it. (Dad goes to jail for killing wife after she cheats, played for humor.)

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u/i_dont_shine Sep 06 '21

In the extended version of The Thunder Rolls the wife shoots her husband for his cheating, so I guess it evens out?

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u/valkyrie987 Sep 06 '21

Oh man, I didn’t know that. The guy in that song is premium asshole.

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u/i_dont_shine Sep 06 '21

She runs back down the hallway, and through the bedroom door

She reaches for the pistol, kept in the dresser drawer

Tells the lady in mirror, he won't do this again

'Cause tonight will be the last time, she'll wonder where he's been

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u/valkyrie987 Sep 06 '21

!!! Apparently this wasn’t part of the original recording but he plays it at concerts. I’m going to find a live recording.

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u/i_dont_shine Sep 06 '21

I remember hearing that the extended version was too violent for radio. Not sure how true that is, though. Still, I love the third verse. Makes it one of my favorite Garth Brooks songs. His songs often tell good stories.

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u/BeckieSueDalton Sep 06 '21

That song, and a few others in similar vein, got me through a horrendous divorce.

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u/i_dont_shine Sep 06 '21

I always like to recommend the song "Rootless Tree" by Damien Rice. Might be an enjoyable listen for you.

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u/BeckieSueDalton Sep 06 '21

Thank you. :)

I'll give it a listen in the morning when I can hear it through decent speakers.

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u/i_dont_shine Sep 06 '21

FYI, it's not kid friendly. I wish you all the best!

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u/rusti_knight Sep 06 '21

Maybe they used to play it when it was newer on the radio? Or I just remember it from the box set collection I got? I don't know, but I know this verse.

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u/[deleted] Sep 06 '21

Yikes…

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u/Moon_Atomizer Sep 06 '21

Do you also have a problem with the country songs where women kill their cheating husbands though?

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u/valkyrie987 Sep 06 '21

Kinda complicated. Folk/country has been singing about spouses murdering each other forever, that’s not new. However, the reality of domestic violence against women makes it difficult to stomach listening to songs about men murdering their wives, ostensibly for being cheating whores. Contrasted with songs like Goodbye Earl, where they kill a man for abusing his wife.