This song.... Billy Joe Shaver

Garland ,  That's a great song, in so many ways.

First, the guy sounds like an old Johnny Cash.  That's amazing.  Loved that.  Actually thought it might be mis-titled at first cuz of how much he sounds like older Johnny in the beginning of the song.

Second, the way the acoustic was recorded in this song.  Again, it sounds amazing.  Not sure how they did that, but the particular stereo and alternating panning effect they got on the acoustic sounded fantastic.

Thirdly, and best of all, the whole song is about God's gift of salvation through the Gospel (which means "good news of Jesus Christ").  It's also about what true love is, the love of God vs what the world understands what love is.  It's an extremely happy, encouraging and hope-filled song.

I understand your disconnect I think.  If one doesn't understand the meaning of the song as a whole, one might think the first half of the song is about sex or some sort of shallow, romantic night between two people.  But what it's actually about is a man trying to show a woman what real love is vs the empty shallow, worldly love that she's trying to find happiness in.  He starts with his own journey from his brokenness to his restoration with God though.

The second half of the song he is trying to further explain by his example of the Bible story he's telling, the results of seeking true love in God vs the shallow or physical love of the world.  He's describing how it will be after we die and go to heaven if we have sought God's love which includes the forgiveness of all our sins.  

He's using lots of metaphors, but basically, this "almost" falls into the category of a Gospel song.

Thanks for sharing.  I listened to it 3 times cuz this is a great song.  I'm actually going to download it and add it to my song memory stick in the car.    Great song.

TonyKgull, Derick, I get that- but, I just can't find the emotion from the first part to the second- I like both parts, btw- I think they could be 2 separate songs if either was expanded on-

oh, TonyKgull, good thing he's no longer with us- I don't think he'd like being compared to Johnny Cash- he was his own man in every respect and one of the most under rated writers Trashville ever crapped on- he was the epitome of "outlaw" in his music... and by some counts, life. He did things his way- he threatened to whup Waylon once, in the hall way of RCA? records if he wouldn't record one of his songs- his antics around Waco, where he was from were nearly legendary- he wrote the song, Honky Tonk Heroes based on time he spent in a bar there- he was a character, to say the least.

I'm a fan of Billy Joe, but have never heard that song. Thanks Garland .
Two songs I do like to play are:

Jim, my favorite of his in my repertoire