The 90s was a prime heyday for misty-eyed country music songs. There were some real weepers released during that decade. The singers who recorded them knew exactly how to extract the last teardrop from a lyric. In case you need reminding, common themes in country music include trains, mommas, God - and romantic heartbreak. So when you get dumped by your gal or guy, trust that there will be a song that really hits you in the gut to listen to while you wallow in woe. Here are a few choice examples. Grab your tissues!
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"Is It Over Yet" by Wynonna Judd
My eyes well up when I read the lyrics to this sorrowful Billy Kirsch-written 1993 song. The narrator is agonizing as she says goodbye to her love, who is ready to walk out the door. Amplifying her misery is a desire to look strong and composed while she is quietly withering inside. Judd has a soaring voice that is so dramatic and lush that she transports you into the recesses of the narrator's shattered psyche. I have always had a soft spot for this beautiful, deeply emotional track. It's sentimental but not saccharine.
"How Do I Live" by LeAnn Rimes
Rimes really knows her way around a song. She proved that in 1996 with her breakout smash, "Blue." Then came "How Do I Live" in 1997, written by the brilliant Diane Warren. Rimes' soulful interpretation is piercing in its directness. For such an extremely youthful artist - 15 years - she demonstrates a degree of sophistication, technique, and nuance that is a marvel. Rimes has power without being pouty when she delivers a heartbreak song like this.
"It Matters to Me" by Faith Hill
No one can sing like Hill. Full stop. She can achieve such intimacy with her lovely voice, and with so much apparent ease. You feel like she is singing to you and you alone. This 1995 gem from the combined pens of Mark D. Sanders and Ed Hill was a perfect choice for her. Hill tries to convince her lover that their faltering relationship matters to her although he seems to have checked out. Who hasn't had an excruciating conversation with a special someone along those lines? And ultimately lost the battle and retreated? Hill nails this stunning heartbreak track.
"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" by Patty Loveless
A 1993 track that tackles the anguish of three kinds of crushing farewells - one to a childhood friend, another to a spouse, and the third to a beloved mother. It's actually Mom who gently tells the narrator, "Time will ease your pain / Life's about changin' / Nothin' ever stays the same...." Truth abounds in country music. And sometimes it cuts like a knife.
