Jamey Johnson's "In Color'

[cameron]

I don't know how many of you writing country music have heard this song, but I heard it on the radio the other day and was struck by how well-crafted it is. It's a perfect song for the current country market. Great imagery, a story that draws you in, strong rhyme structure and good verse/chorus differentiation. I thought I'd just throw it out there as an example of what we should be striving for.Here are the lyrics:In ColorI said, Grandpa what’s this picture hereIt’s all black and white and ain’t real clearIs that you there, he said, yeah I was elevenTimes were tough back in thirty-fiveThat’s me and Uncle Joe just tryin’ to surviveA cotton farm in the Great DepressionAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorThis one here was taken overseasIn the middle of hell in nineteen forty-threeIn the winter time you can almost see my breathThat was my tail gunner ole’ Johnny McGeeHe was a high school teacher from New OrleansAnd he had my back right through the day we leftAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorA picture’s worth a thousand wordsBut you can’t see what those shades of gray keep coveredYou should have seen it in colorThis one is my favorite oneIt’s me and grandma in the summer sunAll dressed up the day we said our vowsYou can’t tell it here but it was hot that JuneThat rose was red and her eyes were blueAnd just look at that smile I was so proudThat’s the story of my lifeRight there in black and whiteAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorA picture’s worth a thousand wordsBut you can’t see what those shades of gray keep coveredYou should have seen it in colorYou should have seen it in color

[claire]

yep, that's a good country song. it's been out for a few months, I guess. that's a great example of finding an interesting title that's not too clever, a title that makes you want to hear what the song is about, a chorus that works for all the vignettes, and a lyric that shows the story and doesn't just tell it.

[jchitty]

Oct 6, 2008, 8:45pm, cameron wrote:I don't know how many of you writing country music have heard this song, but I heard it on the radio the other day and was struck by how well-crafted it is. It's a perfect song for the current country market. Great imagery, a story that draws you in, strong rhyme structure and good verse/chorus differentiation. I thought I'd just throw it out there as an example of what we should be striving for.Here are the lyrics:In ColorI said, Grandpa what’s this picture hereIt’s all black and white and ain’t real clearIs that you there, he said, yeah I was elevenTimes were tough back in thirty-fiveThat’s me and Uncle Joe just tryin’ to surviveA cotton farm in the Great DepressionAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorThis one here was taken overseasIn the middle of hell in nineteen forty-threeIn the winter time you can almost see my breathThat was my tail gunner ole’ Johnny McGeeHe was a high school teacher from New OrleansAnd he had my back right through the day we leftAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorA picture’s worth a thousand wordsBut you can’t see what those shades of gray keep coveredYou should have seen it in colorThis one is my favorite oneIt’s me and grandma in the summer sunAll dressed up the day we said our vowsYou can’t tell it here but it was hot that JuneThat rose was red and her eyes were blueAnd just look at that smile I was so proudThat’s the story of my lifeRight there in black and whiteAnd if it looks like we were scared to deathLike a couple of kids just trying to save each otherYou should have seen it in colorA picture’s worth a thousand wordsBut you can’t see what those shades of gray keep coveredYou should have seen it in colorYou should have seen it in colorIt's a really good song as you say, very well crafted. I heard "In Color" last week on CMT. The country song I'm most in love with lately is Darius Rucker's "Don't Think I Don't Think About It." Mainly 'coz here's a guy who was light-alternative, and he had the versatility to cross over into country. Plus, it's just a great song.

[claire]

Yep, another good one. I like "Waiting on a Woman" also.

[putter232000]

The video of "Waiting on a Woman" has Andy Griffith in it, and it is great! Can't help but bring a tear to the eyes at the end.Andy

[matthoggard]

Jamey Johnson is my new favorite artist.CHeck out that whole album. "That lonesome song".Its a harkening back to the great days of outlaw and traditional country music. He has such a great writing style.He reminds me of Waylon Jennings and infact has a song called "Between Jennigs and Jones".Buy the album. Well worth it.M~

[claire]

Will do. There's so much more to country music than what's on the radio.

[jay10music]

Jamie still plays writers nights around town. He's a real fun dude. Just about as country a guy as I have ever chatted with hehe.

[matthoggard]

Hey Jimi next time you see Jamey, Tell him ive got his next 2 hits right here ready to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! M~

[jay10music]

Problem is he writes all of his own material or cowrites it with his circle of writers... He writes for EMI Nashville.