check yes or no

I'm sitting here watching the "George Strait All-Star Tribute" on TV and I'm completely in my element because no one loves country music more than this kid right here.  It's the one genre of music that people have a preconceived notion of what the audience demographic should look like...umm, did I mention I also still love cowboy boots?  Anyway, I'm not talking about the 'new stuff' like Montgomery-whatever-their-called, Carrie Underwood or even Shania Twain (in fact, Keith Urban & Tim McGraw might be my only exceptions to this rule). I'm talking about Waylon, Willie, Johnny, Charlie, Garth, Kenny, Dolly, Hank and George.  The stuff dad and I listened to growing up.  Sure they get a bad reputation for singing about simple things like trucks, booze and cheatin', but hells isn't that what life (and I mean real life) is all about?  Regardless, the thing I love about country music and the notion of the Grand Ole Opry is that there is something so very real and pure in the music and the lyrics.  Further proof of this for me, is the endless number of times dad has called me on the phone to say, "Cheryl, have you heard the new song and really listened to the lyrics of (insert country song here) - they're so true and beautiful".   And, he was always right.

Basically, the old stuff is not overproduced, over marketed or fabricated. I started thinking about this tonight when listening to one of my sweet favs of George's - a more recent song, "Check yes or no". 

It started way back in third grade
I used to sit beside Emmy Lou Hayes
A pink dress, a matching bow in her ponytail
She kissed me on the school bus, but told me not to tell
Next day I chased her around the playground
Across the monkey bars to the merry-go-round
And Emmy Lou got caught passing me a note, before the teacher took it, I read what she wrote:

Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?
And if you do, well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand, if you want to.
I think this is how love goes, check yes or no

Now we're grown up and she's my wife
Still like two kids with stars in our eyes
Ain't much changed I still chase Emmy Lou
Up and down the hall, around the bed in our room
Last night I took her out in a white limousine
Twenty years together she still gets to me
Can't believe it's been that long ago
When we got started with just a little note

Isn't it incredible to know this is how we're introduced to love for the first time, and ideally wouldn't it be so quaint if it always remained, for all of us, this way: simple, honest and forthcoming.

ps - George might have the most adorable smile in the music biz.