Ah, buckle up, partners, because we’re about to delve into a swamp stompin’, gut-bustin’ anthem of blue-collar grit – David Allan Coe’s 1977 masterpiece, “If That Ain’t Country”. Now, Coe ain’t your typical Nashville sunshine and sweet tea kind of country crooner. This outlaw singer, with a voice as rough as sandpaper and a past wilder than a rodeo bull, carved his own path in the genre.
Released on his album “Rides Again”, this song became an instant classic, a middle finger raised high to the commercialization creeping into country music. Coe, a man who’d seen the harsh realities of life – prison stints, hard labor, the struggles of the working class – wasn’t about to sugarcoat it for some rhinestone-studded audience.
Produced by Billy Sherrill, a country music giant known for his polished sound with artists like Tammy Wynette and George Jones, “If That Ain’t Country” might seem like an odd fit at first glance. But Sherrill, bless his heart, knew a good song when he heard it. He lets Coe’s raw vocals and the band’s twangy, down-home instrumentation take center stage. There’s no fancy studio trickery here, folks. This is pure, unadulterated country music, straight from the heartland.
The song paints a vivid picture of a life far removed from the polished veneer of Music City. We meet an old man, weathered and worn, covered in tattoos that tell stories of hard times and bad decisions. He lives a simple life – chopping firewood, raising chickens, fending off the occasional stranger with a mean ol’ dog. There’s hardship here, for sure, but also a fierce independence and a deep connection to the land. It’s a life fueled by Pearl beer, Jack Daniels, and the sweat of honest labor.
Now, the title itself, “If That Ain’t Country”, is a bit of a challenge. Is Coe asking a question? Issuing a dare? The beauty lies in its ambiguity. He throws down the gauntlet, inviting the listener to decide for themselves what constitutes real country music. Are the rhinestone suits and polished pop melodies taking over the genre? Coe seems to suggest that the true essence of country lies in the struggles, the resilience, and the unvarnished reality of everyday life for the working class.
“If That Ain’t Country” wasn’t a chart-topping hit, but it resonated deeply with a segment of the country music audience hungry for something more authentic. It became an anthem for those who felt their way of life was being forgotten, a battle cry for the forgotten men and women of rural America. It’s a song that’s as relevant today as it was in 1977, a reminder that country music, at its core, is about the stories of real people, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. So, put on your boots, grab a cold beer, and get ready for a dose of country music the way David Allan Coe intended – raw, honest, and unapologetically real.
Tam Le