Friday Five: Worst Party Ever

It’s Friday: time to party! Unless you’re one of these singers, in which case “party” is just code for “being dead or wishing you were.” Enjoy!

• 5. “The Party” – Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton
  This couple leaves a party where folks are “drinking, laughing, [and] telling dirty jokes” because Porter’s got a bad feeling. They realize the cause of that bad feeling when they drive up and their house is in flames. Their kids—who wanted to go to church but were forced to stay home thanks to their folks’ partyin’ ways—are both dead. The moral of the story: kids ruin everything.
• 4. “Invitation to Your Party” – Kitty Wells
  Poor Wells gets invited to her ex’s shindig, though she’s not sure if she’s invited because he misses her, or to let all his friends see her broken heart. So while this dude parties it up with his new girl, Wells sits at home with her tearstained invitation and probably a half gallon of Haagen-Dazs.
• 3. “Pity Party” – Dale Watson
  Watson calls his buddies to the bar to “pity the fool” (i.e. Dale) who let the girl of his dreams slip away. Who knew The 9513’s patron saint was friends with Mr. T?
• 2. “Goin’ Away Party” – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
  The marvelous Cindy Walker wrote this song, which has been recorded by Merle Haggard, Jim Ed Brown, and several others. Do you live next door to Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys? “Don’t worry, it won’t be a loud party/Dreams don’t make noise when they die.”
• 1. “Farewell Party” – Gene Watson
  So this farewell party is of the permanent kind, as Watson’s final request is for her to pretend she still loves him. Now I’m no party planner, but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that nothing kills the party mood like having to pretend you love some dead guy. All kidding aside, this is a beautiful song, also covered nicely by Joe Nichols. Country music doesn’t get much better than this.