Introduction:
Released in 2000 on George Strait’s compilation album, Latest Greatest Straitest Hits, “Murder on Music Row” is a poignant duet between the King of Country, George Strait, and another country music titan, Alan Jackson. While not an official single, the song’s powerful message and star power resonated with listeners, reaching number 38 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart thanks to unsolicited airplay. This unexpected success stemmed from the song’s thematic core: a lament for the perceived decline of traditional country music in the face of a growing pop influence.
Composed by songwriting duo Larry Cordle and Larry Shell, “Murder on Music Row” takes its title from the nickname for Nashville, Tennessee’s Music Row, the heart of the country music industry. The lyrics paint a picture of a bygone era, where steel guitars wept and fiddles sang. This imagery stands in stark contrast to the modern sounds the song critiques, characterized by drums and a rock and roll influence.
“Murder on Music Row” is a prime example of a subgenre within country music known as countrypolitan, a style that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. It aimed to broaden country music’s appeal by incorporating elements of pop music, resulting in a more polished and commercially-friendly sound. While commercially successful, countrypolitan also faced criticism for diluting the genre’s core identity, a sentiment echoed in “Murder on Music Row”.
The song’s impact transcended chart positions. “Murder on Music Row” was awarded the Country Music Association’s Vocal Event of the Year in 2000, a testament to the powerful pairing of Strait and Jackson. Additionally, the original version by bluegrass group Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time received the Song of the Year award at the 2000 International Bluegrass Music Awards, highlighting the song’s resonance within the broader country music landscape.
“Murder on Music Row” serves as a time capsule, capturing a moment of tension within the genre. While some saw the evolution of country music as a natural progression, others, like Strait and Jackson, viewed it with a sense of loss. The song continues to spark debate among fans, prompting discussions about the balance between tradition and progress in country music.
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Lyrics:
Nobody saw him running from sixteenth avenue.They never found the 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 fameSlowly killed tradition and for that someone should hang(oh, you tell them Alan).They all say not guilty, but the evidence will showThat 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 radioSince they committed murder down on music row.
They thought no one would miss it, once it was dead and goneThey 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 coldMurder’s been committed down on music row.
Oh, the steel guitars no longer cry and you can’t hear fiddles playWith drums and rock ‘n roll guitars mixed right up in your faceWhy, the Hag, he wouldn’t have a chance on today’s radioSince they committed murder down on music rowWhy, they even tell the Possum to pack up and go back homeThere’s been an awful murder down on music row.