Album: Latest Greatest Straitest Hits (2000)

License This Song 

• Nobody saw him running from sixteenth avenue
  They never found a fingerprint or the weapon that was used
  But someone killed country music, cut out its heart and soul
  They got away with murder down on music row
  
  The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame
  Slowly killed tradition and for that someone should hang
  (Oh, you tell them Alan)
  They all say not guilty, but the evidence will show
  That murder was committed down on music row
  
  For the steel guitars no longer cry and fiddles barely play
  But drums and rock 'n roll guitars are mixed up in your face
  Old Hank wouldn't have a chance on today's radio
  Since they committed murder down on music row
  
  They thought no one would miss it, once it was dead and gone
  They said no one would buy them old drinking and cheating songs (I'll still buy'em)
  Well there ain't no justice in it and the hard facts are cold
  Murder's been committed down on music row
  
  Oh, the steel guitars no longer cry and you can't hear fiddles play
  With drums and rock 'n roll guitars mixed right up in your face
  Why, the Hag, he wouldn't have a chance on today's radio
  Since they've committed murder down on music row
  Why, they'd even tell the Possum to pack up and go back home
  There's been an awful murder down on music row Writer/s: Larry Cordle, Larry Shell
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, MDI MUSIC ADMIN & CONSULTATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, The Administration MP, Inc., TuneCore Inc.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Beau from Phoenix, AzLucas: Actually, Garth Brooks wouldn't have started recording music if it weren't for George Strait and Keith Whitley. Yes, he does have rock influences as well, but George Strait is Garth's biggest influence.
• Lucas from Spartanburg, ScI think this song is about Garth Brooks. The man that murdered country music.
• Dan from Kingston, CanadaBig & Rich, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and all the country wannabes- country music is in big trouble with all the "mammy and pappy, neon jukeboxes in the back of good ole boy pickup trucks" lyrics - they all talk about Merle, George Jones, Elvis, etc. in their songs but couldn't hold a candle to any of them
• Brian from Birmingham, AlAmen to this song, Nashville's talent poole has dried up.Id' listen to adult contemporary or top 40, If I wanted to hear that kind of so called country they try to cram down our throat and still slap a "country" label on it.
  Brian,Pelham,Al.
• Randall from Chattanooga, TnHaving been a professional musician for over 35 years, I must say that this song is spot on. There are a handful of people who, by whatever means possible, attempt, usually successfully, to control what songs make the charts and what songs don't. In Nashville, it's not about ability but about marketability. They can take horrible singers and make them sound good in a studio and then promote them exclusively. The record companies are losing thei power a little at a time die to online music. It's about time the real talent got a chance to shine.
• Terry L. Kiser, Sr from Tifton, IdThe songwriter had it nailed on the head no doubt. The song points out the downward spiral of today's music. Sex is the big seller now. And I applaud Strait and Jackson for speaking out like they did. Country music has certainly taken a dive with bands like Big and Rich (who haven't done a decent song yet) and wannabe's like Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.

More Songfacts:

Life Is A HighwayTom Cochrane

Tom Cochrane wrote "Life Is A Highway" to pull himself out of a funk following an exhausting humanitarian trip to Africa.

ProblemAriana Grande

Ariana Grande's hit "Problem" started off as a track written by One Direction songwriter Savan Kotecha. He gave it the working title of "The Whisper Song," after a 2005 Ying Yang Twins hit.

BadMichael Jackson

Wesley Snipes played the rival gang leader in Michael Jackson's "Bad" video.

Hash PipeWeezer

MTV wanted Weezer to record a version of their song "Hash Pipe" as "Half Pipe" to appeal to the skateboarding crowd. The band refused, and MTV listed the song as "H*** Pipe."

Dixie ChickenLittle Feat

The Dixie Chicks got their name from the Little Feat song "Dixie Chicken." In 2020 they became "The Chicks" because Dixie refers to the American South in times of slavery.

CruiseFlorida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" spent 24 weeks on top of the Country chart - the most ever until Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" was #1 for 34 weeks. The record was previously held by Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (1947-48), Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" (1950-51) and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" (1955), which each led for 21 weeks.

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."