Way back in 1994 I was introduced to country music via Tim McGraw’s”Don’t Take The Girl“. It meant a lot to me then and it still does, I never tire enough from listening or watching that video – I still get shivers when I listen to the story that unfolds in the video.

As the years have passed I’ve become a staunch fan of the new country style and quite often listen to Tracy Lawrence, Billy Currington, Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert …. I could go on and on!!! I digress, the reason for this post is Joe Nichols. Nichols is an amazing singer who has struggled in recent times with substance abuse checking in to rehab in 2007.

Don’t ask me why but I can’t get enough of  “As Country As She Gets”, it’s just an amazing track. Never released as a single it’s one of the stand out tracks from his 2005 “III” album. Despite the number 1 “Tequila Makes her clothes fall off” and the wonderfully moving single “I’ll Wait for You”,  “As Country As She Gets” still remains a big favourite. “III”  is a Gold album and reached number 2 in the charts.

As Country As She Gets – Lyrics

She hates goin’ anywhere in my old truck
She says it’s always muddy and it rides so rough
And there ain’t no graceful way to climb up in a dress
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

I might get her on the lake to fish with me
If the water’s smooth and the sky is blue with a nice cool breeze
But anything we catch i’ll have to clean myself
Cause i’m about as country as she gets

She’ll slip off a pair of heels
Walk barefoot across the field
Climb up on the fence just to be near me
Sometimes i think that horse still scares her half to death
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She likes being within spending distance of a mall
Havin’ enough bars to make a cell phone call
Put her in a crowd and she’s right in her element
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She’ll slip out on the porch sometimes
When that sun’s low in the sky
Pull up a rocking chair just to be with me
Until that first big junebug buzzes by her head
You see i’m about as country as she gets
Yeah i’m about as country as she gets

She hates goin’ anywhere in my old truck.

It’s been a while since Joe Nichols released a studio album (2007 with “Real Things”) but I have to admit it was well worth the wait if “An Old Friend Of Mine” is anything to go by.

Nichols has always been able to deliver an emotional song effortlessly and until I heard this song “I’ll Wait For You”, taken from his 2005 album III and written by Bill Anderson and Harley Allen, was my favourite song. Don’t get me wrong I love most of his songs but I’ll Wait For You had that something special and the two videos that accompanied the two versions were amazing.

Alcohol has played a huge part in his songs but few were aware of his addiction and problems with Alcohol but with the release of his new album Nichols is frank and honest about his problems. He has been sober for over a year and “An Old Friend of Mine” is his emotional storytelling account of his drinking.

It will inevitably strike a chord with people who are struggling with any form of addiction but for me, someone who is fortunate not to suffer from such an addiction, it delivers on all fronts. Emotional, honest and simple. The use of one camera doesn’t detract from the message the video brings and is key to this kind of song. Country songs are famed for a broken truck, a bitter divorce or the dog dying but this track steps up a gear and arguably provides support to those in need.