The Lyrics to New Country Music From Top Artists

 

The lyrics to new country music songs have remained true to the standard formula exhibited since the genre’s inception in the 1920’s. Originally stemming from folk music, the lyrics to country and western seem to follow the same story telling quality of many old folk songs. Generally speaking, most country songs are a straight narrative, usually in the first person, telling a story often centered on love, financial strain and ordinary working class people trying to get by. The lyrics to new country music exhibit this same pattern while discussing culturally relative events and concerns of today’s modern world.

 

Country music is such an American phenomenon that many of its hit songs affect pop culture in a way that can be felt by those people who never even listen to the genre. The lyrics to new country music illustrate this point. For instance, Carrie Underwood’s breakthrough hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” has become a catch phrase deeply ingrained in the lexicon of Christian Middle Americans. Meanwhile, Shania Twain’s hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” immediately became popular among women as a way to cut loose from the work week.. It is this resonating quality of the lyrics to new country music that first made the genre so popular to listeners in the first place.

 

Although very similar in formula, there are some notable differences between the lyrics to new country music and some of their country music predecessors. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson both belong to a subset of the genre termed “Outlaw” country and sang about running from the police, gambling and bar room fights. These songs sought to tell a story about experiences most of us will never have firsthand. The lyrics to new country music however, seem to center on everyday life and are very familiar to a large audience who experience many of the same things their favorite country artists are singing about.