Randy Travis - “Dig Two Graves”

Songwriters: Ashley Gorley and Robert Regan

When my grandfather passed away in 1989, my grandmother had her name chiseled into the stone next to his with the date of death left blank and though she went on to live another 17 years and appreciated the time she had with her family, she looked forward to joining him again. After courting for less than a month over 50 years ago, my cousin got married, and they haven’t spent a night apart since. Those are the kind of stories you rarely hear or read about and the kind of love that’s rarely sung about. It’s from those kinds of relationships that I’m able to relate to the sentiment that Randy Travis sings about in his second single, “Dig Two Graves.”

Travis reflects on the day he vowed to spend his life with the woman he loves, noting the change a life together has had on their love and he comes to the realization that they have become one over time. His wife has become his heart and soul and he can’t imagine life without her.

There isn’t anything overly remarkable about the song, nor is there anything noteworthy about the vocal, in fact, “Faith In You” exhibited a marked decline in Travis’ voice–which is apparent in a few instances on the album–but “Dig Two Graves” doesn’t reveal that weakness. The understated vocal is part of the song’s appeal, as it’s not overwrought with emotionalism, but is simply an honest testament of a husband’s love for his wife.

However, the combination of song and Travis’ performance together are an example of what makes country music truly exceptional–it’s ability to take a truth deeper than many of us have experienced or even realized and make it accessible through a song or performance. Both singles from Around The Bend have been love songs from a mature perspective that not many of today’s artists could pull off convincingly. They approach the subject of love in a way that may not be generic enough to have success at radio, but that has no bearing on their quality.

A couple of other songs from Around The Bend might have made for better releases, but other than the occasional anomaly, Travis’ days of radio success are most likely over, despite his ability to still create worthwhile and compelling music.

Listen: Randy Travis - “Dig Two Graves”