Spectacular Records #3
From the opening piano, stumbling gently down the stairs of time like a sad old barfly… “Funny How Time Slips Away”, the George Jones 2005 masterpiece encapsulates everything signature about the old, authentic Nashville.
This Willie Nelson penned track is a little drunk on all counts, and sounds to me intentionally so.
“Well hello there, my it’s been a long, long time” is sung as if his old flame came and tapped Mr. Jones on the shoulder at a dim lit barroom in the middle of a bender. In fact, the whole song feels like it was recorded here.
Though he sounds a bit older and wiser (he was 74) his delivery is masterful and as good as anything he ever did.
“How’m I doin’? Oh I guess that I’m doing fine
It’s been so long now
And it seems that it was only yesterday
Gee ain’t it funny
How time slips away”
Any singer might interpret these words with different style. Willie Nelson’s was brilliant in it’s own way of course, and signature Willie… but for my ears this one is heart wrenching. In his voice is a world you don’t see, but feel every ounce of pain along with a shot of whiskey and soda back. Much like seasoned blues singers i.e., Freddie King or Etta James, country music (classic country i should say) takes a very similar kind of soul to pull off. It ain’t about the chords.
The notion and trend of the last few decades that you have to be a songwriter to be a real artist is nonsense.
George Jones almost never wrote his songs, and Meryl Streep didn’t write Deer Hunter or Silkwood either.
I doubt anyone could sing it better.
The album and song was produced by Keith Stegall (George Strait, Alan Jackson) and comes as close to the genius of Nasvhille legend Billy Sherrill as anything I’ve heard. Keith knew the setting before he cast the players, then in detail captured what needed to be caught like a great film director.
“How’s your new love
I hope that he’s doin’ fine
Heard you told him
That you’d love him till the end of time
Now that’s the same thing that you told me
And it seems like just the other day
Gee ain’t it funny how time slips away”
This is a light southern scolding, pain, surrender, regret and a shot of bitters all wrapped up in one simple verse with no fancy words. That’s the Nashville of old. The years of Willie, George & Tammy, Bobby Bare and Merle were never spent trying to impress anybody or be smarter than their audience. Most had their own issues and treaded lightly on high-hatting anyone, even an old love. It was also the southern way. Not Netflix’s beer-belly pedo version, but the real southern gentle-person.
The piano is played by Harris Melvin Robbins (January 18, 1938 – January 30, 2022), or ‘Pig’ as they affectionately referred to him, and is kind of the lead instrument in the first half of the track. Brent Mason, one of the most hired Telecaster guns in Nasvhille leads the latter. Paul Franklin’s pedal steel is throughout, and maybe the drunkest of them all. So sensitive to the plot is he that you understand why he’s king of the hill of Nashville steel players. All three ebb and flow beautifully in and out of the vocal.
To be honest at first I thought the piano solo was an odd choice. It seemed clunky and interrupted the lazy hammock swing of the track, but now, years later I’ve changed my mind about that. It’s actually a devil-may-care solo the song needed to finish out that barroom scene. One can almost see ‘Pig’ with drink in left hand, nonchalantly working his way across a flurry of notes with his right as if to say “hell, she’s ain’t worth puttin’ down my drink, I’ll play it with one hand”.
The solo is taken over by pedal steel to perfection and sets up the last verse:
“Gotta go now
I guess I’ll see you around
I don’t know when though
Never know when I’ll be back in town
But just remember what I tell you
That in time you’re gonna pay
And it’s surprising how time slips away”
You’re gonna hurt like I do one day, and time moves faster than you think.
Spectacular!
Rest in Peace George Jones- greatest of all time.
Cheers,
Jude
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“She’s not worth putting a drink down for” made me laugh. You paint such a vivid picture Jude that God forbid Etta James did go blind she’d still have had a sweet cackle over this review. Thankyou for sharing. Just add music journalist to your plethora of appreciated skills. I know what I shall be listening to later this afternoon.
Such a cool little essay to encourage those of us unfamiliar with the song and the performance to seek it out and experience it. Mission accomplished. Thanks, Jude!
Wonderful song, and great work from you, Jude, for leading others to something they may never otherwise listen to! Every word is true! ❤️
Although I’ve played all kinds of music & got paid, country wasn’t at the top of my list of preferences .. until I got older & “grew up” not only to like it but to revere it. I saw Willie a looong time ago at the Mississippi Valley Fair & recently saw Vince Gill WITH Paul Franklin at the Adler in Davenport. Best show I’ve seen & heard in years! I went straight out & bought a Telecaster after that concert & realized I should have done it about 20 years ago. Your color commentary overview of this single iconic country classic, written through the lens of which only you could do is beyond refreshing Jude. If I may, your word skills paint sound pictures even a casual reader can truly appreciate for music & a song they didn’t know they could like.
I remember when we you showed me how to appreciate Earth Wind & Fire in your basement in Carbon Cliff. I didn’t share that with my rocker friends because they wouldn’t understand. You were 15 & showed me ever since you’ve had the vision (& ear) to see & hear beyond the category boundaries most listeners & a lot of players miss.
Great call on yet another journalistic mini masterpiece .. be well my brother. Joe Soliz Iowa 🙂