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!
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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.
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Bob Wills // Dale Watson // Dolly Parton // Gene Watson // Kitty Wells // Porter Wagoner
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8 Comments
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August 28, 2009 at 1:00 pm Permalink
Eddie Murphy’s classic “Party All the Time” makes me want to drop dead every time I hear it…does that count?
August 28, 2009 at 1:06 pm Permalink
But dude, the girl wants to party all the time. ALL the TI-HIME. That doesn’t make you happy?
August 28, 2009 at 1:16 pm Permalink
I just heard that Porter & Dolly song for the first time about a week ago and thought it was the most maudlin, depressing song I’d ever heard. And that is saying quite a lot! It sort of reminded me of that old Dragnet episode where a child drowned in the bathtub while the parents were getting high on weed.
August 28, 2009 at 4:10 pm Permalink
Alan Jackson does a good “Farewell Party”. But it still makes me want to die. :(
August 28, 2009 at 5:12 pm Permalink
Don’t forget Mandy Barnett’s fine cover of the Don Gibson song “Give My Self a Party”. The happy, up tempo nature of the song doesn’t really fit the idea of a party “for just me and the blues” though.
Hey, and since non-country songs are being mentioned, don’t forget Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party”. That could be a bit depressing…(lol)
August 28, 2009 at 5:20 pm Permalink
There is always the party in John Welsey Hardin’s Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Steve Goodman, David Blue and Me. Considering that three of the guests were dead at the time and the host was mocking Bob for playing the harmonica all wrong, that can’t have been good.
August 28, 2009 at 6:05 pm Permalink
Hey, and since non-country songs are being mentioned, don’t forget Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party”.
Seconded. I have to say Rick, you’re the last guy I would’ve picked here as an Oingo Boingo fan.
August 28, 2009 at 6:26 pm Permalink
Steve, a guy I used to work with made up a CD of some of his favorite twisted 80’s rock songs for me to hear what I’d missed. I had given him some country music CD compilations that he hated, so he wanted to show me what “good” music really sounds like! (lol)
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