Song for the Life
Encyclopedia
"Song for the Life" is the title of a country music
song written by American singer Rodney Crowell
. Crowell first recorded the song in 1977 on his debut album Ain't Living Long Like This
, and since then, the song has been covered by several other artists. One version, recorded by Alan Jackson
, was released as a single in 1995, and was a Top Ten country hit for him that year.
on their 1976 album The New Seldom Scene Album
, with John Starling singing the lead. The following year Rodney Crowell
put it on his 1977 debut album Ain't Living Long Like This
, with backing vocals from Willie Nelson
, Emmylou Harris
and Nicolette Larson
. Jerry Jeff Walker
covered the song on his 1977 album Man Must Carry On, as did Johnny Cash
on his 1978 album Gone Girl
, John Denver
on his 1980 album Autograph, Waylon Jennings on his 1982 album Black on Black
, Kathy Mattea
on her 1986 album Walk the Way the Wind Blows
. Mattea's version of the song was the b-side to her 1987 single "You're the Power
".
Alan Jackson
recorded it for his 1994 album Who I Am
. Jackson was the only artist to release his rendition as a single, doing so in early 1995 and reaching Top Ten on the country charts with it.
and piano
, with electric guitar
and pedal steel guitar
solos preceding the final chorus. His rendition was given favorable reviews: Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News called it "the quintessential Alan Jackson ballad", and Thom Jurek of Allmusic said, "in a version that rivals Crowell's own, Jackson's balladry in three-forths time is heartbreakingly beautiful." Ron Young of the San Antonio Express-News said that although it "pales next to Jerry Jeff Walker's, it's a good attempt and an excellent choice."
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts dated for February 11, 1995. It peaked at number 6 on the week of May 6.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by American singer Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
. Crowell first recorded the song in 1977 on his debut album Ain't Living Long Like This
Ain't Living Long Like This
Ain't Living Long Like This is the title of the first album of American country music artist Rodney Crowell. It was released in 1978 by Warner Bros. Records. It failed to enter the Top Country Albums chart...
, and since then, the song has been covered by several other artists. One version, recorded by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
, was released as a single in 1995, and was a Top Ten country hit for him that year.
Recording history
The first version of "Song for the Life" was recorded by The Seldom SceneThe Seldom Scene
The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland.-Early history:The band formed out of the weekly jam sessions in the basement of banjo player Ben Eldridge. These sessions included John Starling on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone...
on their 1976 album The New Seldom Scene Album
The New Seldom Scene Album
The New Seldom Scene Album is an album by the progressive bluegrass Maryland band The Seldom Scene..- Track listing :# Big Rig 03:44# If That's the Way You Feel 02:59...
, with John Starling singing the lead. The following year Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
put it on his 1977 debut album Ain't Living Long Like This
Ain't Living Long Like This
Ain't Living Long Like This is the title of the first album of American country music artist Rodney Crowell. It was released in 1978 by Warner Bros. Records. It failed to enter the Top Country Albums chart...
, with backing vocals from Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
and Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson
Nicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...
. Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
covered the song on his 1977 album Man Must Carry On, as did Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
on his 1978 album Gone Girl
Gone Girl
Gone Girl is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1978. It features The Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet song "No Expectations", the original "It Comes and Goes" and Rodney Crowell's "A Song for the Life", as well as a version of Kenny Rogers' famous...
, John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
on his 1980 album Autograph, Waylon Jennings on his 1982 album Black on Black
Black on Black
Black on Black is an album by Waylon Jennings, released on RCA Victor in 1982. The second Jennings record, after 1977's Ol' Waylon, to be produced by Chips Moman, who had collaborated with Willie Nelson on Always on My Mind, Nelson's most successful album, Black on Black features a different sound...
, Kathy Mattea
Kathy Mattea
Kathleen Alice "Kathy" Mattea is an American country music and bluegrass performer who often brings folk, Celtic and traditional country sounds to her music. Active since 1983 as a recording artist, she has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot...
on her 1986 album Walk the Way the Wind Blows
Walk the Way the Wind Blows
Walk the Way the Wind Blows is the third album released by American country music singer Kathy Mattea. It was released in 1986 on Mercury Records. This album produced Mattea's first Top Ten country hit in "Love at the Five and Dime", which reached #3 on the Billboard country charts...
. Mattea's version of the song was the b-side to her 1987 single "You're the Power
You're the Power
"You're the Power" is a single by American country music artist Kathy Mattea. Released in 1987, it was the third single from the album Walk the Way the Wind Blows. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart....
".
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
recorded it for his 1994 album Who I Am
Who I Am (Alan Jackson album)
Who I Am is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Alan Jackson. The album was released on June 28, 1994 via Arista Records...
. Jackson was the only artist to release his rendition as a single, doing so in early 1995 and reaching Top Ten on the country charts with it.
Critical reception
Jackson's rendition of the song is mainly backed by steel-string acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, with electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
solos preceding the final chorus. His rendition was given favorable reviews: Mario Tarradell of the Dallas Morning News called it "the quintessential Alan Jackson ballad", and Thom Jurek of Allmusic said, "in a version that rivals Crowell's own, Jackson's balladry in three-forths time is heartbreakingly beautiful." Ron Young of the San Antonio Express-News said that although it "pales next to Jerry Jeff Walker's, it's a good attempt and an excellent choice."
Chart performance
Jackson's rendition debuted at number 73 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts dated for February 11, 1995. It peaked at number 6 on the week of May 6.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| Canada RPM Top Country Tracks | 11 |