Those guys were favorites among men for drankin songs, but we can't leave the women out of this equation. The old female crooners like Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Kitty Wells, and a whole host of others have sung the drankin songs with which country music lovin women identify. Think about it, how many inebriated women have caught themselves wearing out their copies of "You ain't woman enough to take my man," "Stand by your man," or, "Crazy" until the early hours of morning?
For the men it's, "He stopped loving her today," "If you're gonna do me wrong, do it right," "Linda on my mind," and I could list title after title and still miss someone's favorite drankin song. Drankin songs have a tendency to change due to the content of alcohol consumed.
All those who appreciate the older country songs for their emotional content have a favorite drankin song whether they drink or not. I emphasize the older country songs because after you get past "Whiskey Lullabye" you might have a real tough time finding any of the newer artists with enough emotion in their voice, or enough of a story in their song to be rated as a "Sanger of drankin songs."
The reason for this deluge of trivia is to put you in the frame of mind it takes to identify with the situation and the sangers to follow, or maybe you have.
In order to obtain many of my news stories I often accompany the Perry County Sheriff's Deputies to complaints where arrests are made. You can see the results by reading the paper and looking at the pictures.
Most of the time I spend with Deputy Joey Sparkman. Sparkman is a more than competent law enforcement person who is dedicated to his job, but he sometimes likes to mix pleasure with work. That pleasure is Elvis, and country music drankin songs. Conway Twitty is one of his favorites. Before you start trying to imagine what it must be like, I need to explain further. Joey likes to share his music with everyone, especially those who are, for whatever reason, in the back seat of the car on their way to jail.
The real concerts occur when a person who also loves those country music drankin songs is arrested in an intoxicated state. That is when the stage call from Sparkman is made. On the way to the Perry Detention Center the prisoner, if he or she has been peaceful, can expect to hear the Deputy crank up the CD player and say, "Let's Sing."
This is not exactly what you would expect to hear if you were on your way to jail, but in the vehicle of Deputy Sparkman it is exactly what you will hear. Either Elvis, Conway Twitty, or in extreme cases, Ozzie Osborn. (Not everyone likes country drankin songs, go figure.) Back to the concert.
One night last week Joey had to pick up a fare on Lost Creek for a ride to the Detention Center on an FTA warrant. It just so happened that the chap in question seemed to be feeling real good when he was arrested. On the trip to the jail, Joey fired up the CD with the Best of Conway Twitty, put the selection on, "Linda on my mind' and called out for the prisoner by saying, "Let's sing."
The prisoner, also willing to oblige the officer, immediately started doing his best to sing the song. He was a little off key, but most importantly, he knew the words. In fact, he knew them so well that he felt it proper to add an occasional, "Yee hi" to the song between the phrases. Every time his voice would drop too low to be heard through the cage the deputy would remind him to sing louder.
Trust me, he didn't have to be reminded to sing louder but one time. After that he was coming through loud and closer to being on key. He sang the words with emotion only available to those who have had years of experience sangin drankin songs.
The music usually calms those who are upset with their situation, and sometimes makes them almost happy to be where they are at the time. It's almost like the party didn't end even though it did. Hey, if it works.
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