In my previous post I referenced my disdain for what passes as country music these days. I thought I would let that zinger settle for a while, as I know it’s not wise to alienate and/or anger a fledgling audience, especially one that can be counted on two hands. However, I woke up with a song in my head referenced in the title of this post, so I decided to tackle the subject head on.

When I can’t find anything interesting to listen to on the radio, I’ll sometimes play a little game. I dial up the modern country station on Sirius XM and force myself to listen to it until I hear at least three of the following four motifs – trucks, dirt roads, drinking or tan legs. I don’t think I’ve had to listen for more than 5 minutes – then thankfully back to Lithium or Hair Nation.

One of the last great country songs was Travis Tritt’s 1996 recording of Waylon Jennings 1990 song penned by Roger Murrah and Mark Allen Springer, “Where Corn Don’t Grow.” I had become a fan of Mr. Tritt after his 1991 classic “Drift Off to Dream” perfectly described the hope I had in finding the love of my life. Although we never shared a front porch swing, I guess those swings around the Baylor campus should count. Man, did I ever out kick my coverage with the fulfillment of this song.

“Where Corn Don’t Grow” hit me hard in my mid-20’s one year into my marriage as I was set to conquering life and career in the city where “the weeds are high.” In hearing this song, I was suddenly struck with empathy towards my dad and a better understanding of him. I had grown up longing for a “better” life beyond the dusty fields as a farmer’s son. The song hit me at a pivotal time when I began to appreciate my dad’s wisdom and experience. I recognized and was becoming more comfortable with the idea that longing for my father’s affection was a need in me even as an adult.

As I’ve considered the concept of a child’s longing for their father’s affection, I believe it’s an innate emotion we all share. Sadly, what is lacking in our world today is not the child’s longing, but rather the father’s affection for his child. I believe this lack of affection across generations is at the core of most of our society’s current ills.

To me it speaks to a deeper longing that we all have that Pascal touched on . . .

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.”
– Blaise Pascal, Pensées VII(425)

I never suspected to find my way to a better understanding of the need for Abba Father through a corn field, but He does work in mysterious ways. More on this subject later as well.

Final note to the current country music fan – I know there is probably a lot of good country music out there today. Heck, some young guy named Riley Green covered “Where Corn Don’t Grow” back in ’21. I remember my grandfather railing on the country of the 90’s saying that “this ain’t country music.” I’m sure I’m just trying to continue his legacy to some degree. Enjoy your cliches – I sure enjoyed mine and still do on Hair Nation every day.