{"id":5503,"date":"2015-10-10T07:00:10","date_gmt":"2015-10-10T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?p=5503"},"modified":"2015-10-05T13:58:27","modified_gmt":"2015-10-05T18:58:27","slug":"making-the-most-of-everything-country-music-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2015\/10\/10\/making-the-most-of-everything-country-music-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Most of Everything: Country Music Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For every nostalgic song produced by country music, there is one that reflects on the opposite message. Living in the moment is important for everyone, especially in a time where little distractions are so common. In order to have no regrets, you have to make the most of every minute, which is a hard task. Country music always cuts to the heart of a matter, and this topic is no different. As someone in college who is trying to make the most of these four years, these songs will always have a special place. Here are five of the greatest \u2018living in the moment\u2019 country songs:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Hope You Dance\u201d \u2013 Lee Ann Womack<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RV-Z1YwaOiw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This country pop song came out in March 2000, and won multiple awards. Lee Ann Womack reminds me of Carrie Underwood in some ways. This song is filled with hope about the future and emphasizes not letting any time go by without making the most of it. It\u2019s hard not to feel inspired!<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cTime is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along, \/ Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t Blink\u201d \u2013 Kenny Chesney<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Kenny Chesney - Don&#039;t Blink (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4f0p5KqdU9U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a fan of Kenny Chesney, then you know that this song is one of his all-time greats. It veers away from his traditional carefree, relaxed beach vacation songs. (Beer in Mexico will always be a classic!) It is fitting that the 2007 album was titled <em>Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates.<\/em> He tries to figure out the secret to life, and it\u2019s pretty simple, just live! It seems like just yesterday when I first came to UT, so I definitely relate to this song.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cTrust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think\u2026So don&#8217;t blink\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI Saw God Today\u201d \u2013 George Strait<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Wfe8Ik5vU2Y<\/p>\n<p>You wouldn\u2019t think that a song about new baby would really be relatable to most college students, but it\u2019s the general idea that any major life event creates some reflection and a desire to not let things go by so fast. George Strait released this song on his album <em>Troubadour <\/em>in 2008- considered one of the finest in his long career.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cHis fingerprints are everywhere \/ I just slowed down to stop and stare \/ Opened my eyes and man I swear, I saw God today\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re Gonna Miss This\u201d \u2013 Trace Adkins<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Trace Adkins - You&#039;re Gonna Miss This (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lBDN8yWyNYU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>A dad who is watching his daughter grow up narrates this song. Each stage of her life brings struggles but also blessings, something everyone can relate to. When the times get too trying, it\u2019s easy to wish you get over the hump and be past it, but there\u2019s so much good you could miss with that kind of outlook. He stresses to her to enjoy every stage of life, because there\u2019s always a part of it she\u2019s going to miss.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cYou\u2019re gonna miss this \/ You\u2019re gonna want this back \/ You\u2019re gonna wish these days hadn\u2019t gone by so fast\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cLive Like You Were Dying\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_9TShlMkQnc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In my opinion, this is the <em>ultimate<\/em> song about living in the moment. I have gotten to see Tim McGraw perform this song three different times in person, and I still get goosebumps. Between the lyrics, the sound, and the way Tim McGraw sings the song, it extremely powerful. The message is clear in this 2004 hit- don\u2019t just live life, live it to the fullest and truly appreciate every moment.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAnd he said someday I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dying\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>No matter the situation or circumstances, or even the phase of our lives that we find ourselves in, country music remains clear on one thing. Enjoy life and don\u2019t take time for granted- live in the moment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For every nostalgic song produced by country music, there is one that reflects on the opposite message. Living in the moment is important for everyone, especially in a time where little distractions are so common. In order to have no &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/2015\/10\/10\/making-the-most-of-everything-country-music-lessons\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,22,55,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog-post-3","category-classic-country","category-country-pop","category-song-analysis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5503"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5540,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5503\/revisions\/5540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}