Song for the Life

"Song for the Life" is the title of a country music song written by American singer Rodney Crowell. Crowell first recorded the song in 1978 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.

Recording history

The first version of "Song for the Life" was recorded by The Seldom Scene on their 1976 album The New Seldom Scene Album, with John Starling singing the lead. Singer/songwriter Jonathan Edwards also recorded the song on his 1976 release "Rockin Chair" produced by Brian Ahern. 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.^[2] 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".^[3] Alison Krauss recorded the song on her debut album with Union Station in 1987, "Too Late to Cry" at the age of 16. A version was also recorded by The Waterboys for their album Room to Roam in 1990, Although it wasn't released until 2008 on the remastered edition of the same album.^[4] However, the Waterboys version of the song did appear on the BBC television 1991 series "Bringing it all Back Home - the influence of Irish Music" and was released on the supporting CD and DVD of the series.

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.

Critical reception

Jackson's rendition of the song is mainly backed by steel-string acoustic guitar 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",^[5] and Thom Jurek of Allmusic said, "in a version that rivals Crowell's own, Jackson's balladry in three-forths [sic] time is heartbreakingly beautiful."^[6] 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."^[7]

Chart performance

Jackson's rendition debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 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.

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[8]	11
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[9]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[10]	56

References

↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. pp. 201–202. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
↑ "Things look and sound different as years pass". GJSentinel.com. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
↑ Whitburn, p. 260
↑ Room to Roam (Media notes). The Waterboys. 2008.
↑ Tarradell, Mario (1995-06-30). "Jackson joins country's best at Texas stadium". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
↑ Jurek, Thom. "Who I Am review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
↑ Young, Ron (1994-09-30). "Who I Am review". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9017." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 8, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
↑ "Alan Jackson – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Alan Jackson.
↑ "Best of 1995: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Rodney Crowell

Studio albums	Ain't Living Long Like This But What Will the Neighbors Think Rodney Crowell Street Language Diamonds & Dirt Keys to the Highway Life Is Messy Let the Picture Paint Itself Jewel of the South The Houston Kid Fate's Right Hand The Outsider Sex & Gasoline Old Yellow Moon Tarpaper Sky The Traveling Kind

Compilation albums	The Rodney Crowell Collection Greatest Hits

Singles	"Elvira" "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" "Ashes by Now" "Ain't No Money" "It's Such a Small World" "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried" "She's Crazy for Leavin'" "After All This Time" "Above and Beyond" "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" "If Looks Could Kill" "My Past Is Present" "Now That We're Alone" "Lovin' All Night" "What Kind of Love" "Please Remember Me" "I Walk the Line Revisited"

Other songs	"The Answer Is Yes" "Heartbroke" "I Ain't Living Long Like This" "Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight" "Making Memories of Us" "Queen of Hearts" "Song for the Life" "Voilá, An American Dream"

Related articles	Discography Roy Orbison The Notorious Cherry Bombs The Notorious Cherry Bombs Emmylou Harris

Alan Jackson singles

Here in the Real World	"Blue Blooded Woman" "Here in the Real World" "Wanted" "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" "I'd Love You All Over Again"

Don't Rock the Jukebox	"Don't Rock the Jukebox" "Someday" "Dallas" "Midnight in Montgomery" "Love's Got a Hold on You"

A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)	"She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" "Tonight I Climbed the Wall" "Chattahoochee" "Mercury Blues" "(Who Says) You Can't Have It All"

Who I Am	"Summertime Blues" "Livin' on Love" "Gone Country" "Song for the Life" "I Don't Even Know Your Name"

The Greatest Hits Collection	"Tall, Tall Trees" "I'll Try" "Home"

Everything I Love	"Little Bitty" "Everything I Love" "Who's Cheatin' Who" "There Goes" "Between the Devil and Me" "A House with No Curtains"

High Mileage	"I'll Go On Loving You" "Right on the Money" "Gone Crazy" "Little Man"

Under the Influence	"Pop a Top" "The Blues Man" "It Must Be Love"

When Somebody Loves You	"www.memory" "When Somebody Loves You" "Where I Come From" "It's Alright to Be a Redneck"

Drive	"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" "Work in Progress" "That'd Be Alright"

Greatest Hits Volume II	"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (w/ Jimmy Buffett) "Remember When"

What I Do	"Too Much of a Good Thing" "Monday Morning Church" "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues" "USA Today"

Like Red on a Rose	"Like Red on a Rose" "A Woman's Love"

Good Time	"Small Town Southern Man" "Good Time" "Country Boy" "Sissy's Song" "I Still Like Bologna"

Freight Train	"It's Just That Way" "Hard Hat and a Hammer"

34 Number Ones	"Ring of Fire"

Thirty Miles West	"Long Way to Go" "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore" "You Go Your Way"

Angels and Alcohol	"Jim and Jack and Hank" "The One You're Waiting On"

Other songs	"Tequila Sunrise" "Good Year for the Roses" (w/ George Jones) "Redneck Games" (w/ Jeff Foxworthy) "Margaritaville" (w/ Jimmy Buffett) "Murder on Music Row" (w/ George Strait) "Designated Drinker" (w/ George Strait) "Hey, Good Lookin'" (w/ Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait) "You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie" (w/ The Bellamy Brothers) "Barefootin'" (w/ Jimmy Buffett) "As She's Walking Away" (w/ Zac Brown Band) "A Million Ways to Die"

See also	Singles discography

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