• What about The Gambler?

  Unfortunately, The Gambler is disqualified based on the Treacle Clause.  Kenny Rogers sang several stellar songs, such as The Gambler, Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town and Lucille.  However none of those songs qualify for inclusion on the list because he also sang treacle like like You Decorated My Life and Lady.  If an artist has ever had a song included on a CD that is available "only through this special TV offer," and that CD is titled something like "Beautiful Songs for Romance Tonight"... no way is that artist getting a song on this list.

• Haven't you ever heard of Patsy Cline?

  Yes, but are several reasons none of Ms. Cline's songs were included.  First, Ms. Cline has such an "in tune" singing voice that it is hard for other people to sing along with her songs without feeling inadequate.  Second, most (if not all) of her songs deal with despair over losing a boy or happiness upon having regained the boy she lost.  Not that there's not a place for those songs (where would country music be without them?), but the creator of this list prefers songs that are a little more happiness oriented and/or more victory-over-the-Germans oriented.

   

• How come Stand By Your Man got on the list?  Doesn't it send the wrong message to women?  It's not exactly a feminist anthem.

  It's all in the interpretation... just imagine that the word "man" was replaced with the word "partner".  Obviously, there are times you should not stand by your man/partner.  But, the song could also be interpreted as saying you've got to be there for your partner and support him/her through good times and bad.   Also, it's just a cool song, and relatively easy to sing along to.

   

• What about Loretta Lynn?

  Ms. Lynn's songs simply fell victim to the fact that there are only five places on the list.  If the list were expanded to 10 songs, You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man or Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' On Your Mind) would probably be able to grab a spot.

   

• Why Sink the Bismarck when Johnny Horton has several other good "historical drama" songs, like Battle of New Orleans and Johnny Reb?

  Let's take them one at a time.  STB deals with a well-known war and a semi-well-known battle, and the "good guys" end up winning.  BONO is about a battle during the War of 1812 (not a well-known war).  Let's all just admit that the only reason anyone knows when the war of 1812 took place is because the date is in its name.  And, JR glorifies a young Confederate soldier in the War of Southern Aggression.  Obviously, a Yankee (such as the creator of this list) cannot choose a song that glorifies such a person.

• I love the song When You Say Nothing At All.  How could you leave it off the list?

  WYSNAA is certainly a great song, and it would be a strong contender for a spot on a top 10 list.  However, it was left out of the top 5 for two reasons:  1)  Both Alison Krauss and Keith Whitley have recorded this song - and recorded it well.  So, the creator of this list would ask, which version do you choose?  This created enough brain lock that the creator (with a small "c") got around the question by leaving it off the list.  2)  Paul Overstreet, the song's writer, already has a song in the top 5 (Forever and Ever, Amen).  It seemed more fair to spread the wealth around, instead of letting one songwriter run away with two-fifths of the top 5.

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