Down on Love - Country Style Trivia Quiz

Answer: Goodbye Earl

The Dixie Chicks released "Goodbye Earl" in 2000 from their album "Fly". The song was very controversial at the time and still is because the lyrics describe the failure of the legal system to protect an abused wife. In the tradition of Country music, her and her best friend take the law into their own hands and poison the husband. Some of the most controversial lyrics are:

"Well the weeks went by and
Spring turned to Summer
And Summer faded into Fall
And it turns out he was a missing person
who nobody missed at all"

"And they don't
lose any sleep at night 'cause
Earl had to die
Good-bye Earl
We need a break
Lets go out to the lake Earl
We'll pack a lunch
And stuff you in the trunk Earl
Well is that all right
Good Let's go for a ride
Earl Hey"

Answer: Toby Keith

Toby Keith released "How Do You Like Me Now?" as the title single to his album of the same name. It was written by Keith and Chuck Cannon. It was the first hit for Keith after leaving his record label, Mercury Nashville, over creative differences. They did not believe the song would be a hit. The title seemed to be an anthem for Toby and the struggles he had to go through to get it made the way he wanted it made.

The song stayed at Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks from March 18 through April 15 and was named the US Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks single of the year for 2000. It was also Number One on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart for two weeks. It reached 31st on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, his best crossover success to that point. It appears Keith knew what he was talking about in sticking with the song.

The chorus says it all:
"How do you like me now?
How do you like me now,
Now that I'm on my way?
Do you still think I'm crazy
Standin' here today?
I couldn't make you love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now?"

Answer: Conway Twitty

Conway Twitty released "Goodbye Time" as the first single from his album "Still in Your Dreams" in 1988. The song reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (then named the Hot Country Singles chart).

Blake Shelton released his cover of the song from his album "Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill" in 2005. It reached number ten for Blake on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

The song is sung from the perspective a man whose woman is leaving him. The chorus of the song is:
"If being free's worth what you leave behind
And if it's too late for love to change your mind
Then it's goodbye time"

Answer: Aaron Tippin

Aaron Tippin released "Kiss This" as a single from his album "People Like Us". It was written by Tippin, his wife Thea, and Phillip Douglas. The song reached Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on October 14th, 2000 and stayed there for two weeks. It reached number three on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart and number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was Aaron's third Number One.

The chorus:
"Why don't you kiss, kiss this
And I don't mean on my rosy red lips
Me and you, we're through
And there's only one thing left for you to do
You just come on over here one last time
Pucker up and close your eyes
And kiss this goodbye"

Answer: Picture to Burn

Taylor Swift released "Picture to Burn" in 2008 as the fourth single from her self-titled debut album. The song struck a chord with Swift's younger female fans because it dealt with unrequited love and rejection. It was released due to audience reaction when she sang the song in concert. It was her fourth top ten and third top five hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart where it reached number three.

More relevant lyrics are:
"State the obvious
I didn't get my perfect fantasy
I realized you love yourself
More that you could ever love me
So go and tell your friends
That I'm obsessive and crazy
That's fine, I'll tell mine
You're gay and by the way
I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You're a redneck, heartbreak
Who's really bad at lying"

Answer: Put sugar in the gas tank

The relevant lyrics are:
"I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4 wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seat
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires
And maybe next time he'll think before he cheats"

Carrie Underwood released "Before He Cheats" as a single from her album "Some Hearts". It was written by Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear. It became a Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks, starting on Nov. 11, 2006. Other chart performances:
Number/Chart
4 - Canadian Hot 100
5 - US Billboard Adult Pop Songs
6 - US Billboard Adult Contemporary
8 - US Billboard Hot 100
9 - US Billboard Pop 100

In 2008, it won two Grammys - for Best Country Song and for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. It also won the 2007 CMT Music Awards for "Female Video of the Year" and "Video of the Year", the 2007 Academy of Country Music Award for "Video of the Year", and the 2007 Country Music Association Award for "Single of the Year".

Answer: Miranda Lambert

Miranda Lambert first gained exposure by finishing third on the talent show "Nashville Star". Many of her early songs seem to have a theme of wronged women seeking revenge. The first three are pretty clear in the intent and the aftermath while the fourth one is a bit more subtle but the underlying threat is clear. Here are the relevant lyrics from these songs:

"Kerosene"
"Forget your high society, I'm soakin' it in kerosene
Light 'em up and watch them burn,
Teach them what they need to learn, HA!
Dirty hands ain't made for shakin',
Ain't a rule that ain't worth breakin'
Well I'm givin' up on love cause love's given up on me"

"Gunpowder and Lead"
"I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door and light a cigarette
He wants a fight well now he's got one
He ain't seen me crazy yet
Slapped my face and he shook me like a rag doll
Don't that sound like a real man
I'm gonna show him what a little girl's made of
Gun powder and lead"

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
"Well I started throwin' things and I scared folks half to death
I got up in his face and smelled whiskey on his breath
Didn't give a second thought to being thrown in jail
Cause baby to hammer everything looks like a nail
And I was mad as hell
Well those pretty girls their all the same
But their damn well gonna know my name
I'm a crazy ex-girlfriend
I'm a crazy ex-girlfriend
I'm a crazy ex-girlfriend"

"White Liar"
"You better be careful what you do
I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes
If they ever found you out
You better be careful what you say
It never really added up any way
I got friends in this town"

Answer: Brokenheartsville

Although Joe Nichols may have also visited Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville" after the breakup, he was spending most of his time in "Brokenheartsville". He released the song as a single from his album "Man with a Memory" in 2003. It reached Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on March 29, 2003. It also had crossover success reaching number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The chorus:
"Here's to the past, they can kiss my glass.
I hope she's happy with him.
Here's to the girl, who wrecked my world,
That angel who did me in.
I think the devil drives a Coupe de Ville.
I watched 'em drive away over the hill,
Not against her will, an' I've got time to kill,
Down in Brokenheartsville."

Answer: Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares

"Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares" belongs to Travis Tritt not Garth. "Friends in Low Places" was one of Garth's first big hits and has gone on to become his signature song. "The Thunder Rolls" was another early hit and quite controversial when it was released. A third verse was originally not released because it told of the betrayed woman getting a gun to kill her cheating husband. The video was banned by TNN and pulled by CMT after first being aired because of the controversial nature of the song. VH-1 stepped up and filled the void by airing the video. It went on to win the CMA award for Video of the Year in 1991. "Papa Loved Mama" is pure irony in that it tells a very sad story in an upbeat, fast tempo song.

The relevant lyrics for all four songs are:
"Here's a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares"
"You say you were wrong to ever leave me alone
Now you're sorry, you're lonesome and scared
And you say you'd be happy if I you could just come back home
Well, here's a quarter, call someone who cares"

"Friends in Low Places"
"Blame it all on my roots
I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to show
I was the last one
You thought you'd see there
And I saw the surprise
And the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of champagne
And I toasted you
Said, honey, we may be through
But you'll never hear me complain
'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places"

"The Thunder Rolls" (chorus and third verse)
"The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls
She runs back down the hallway
To the bedroom door
She reaches for the pistol
Kept in the dresser drawer
Tells the lady in the mirror
He won't do this again
Cause tonight will be the last time
She'll wonder where he's been"

"Papa Loved Mama"
"Mama was a looker
Lord, how she shined
Papa was a good'n
But the jealous kind
Papa loved Mama
Mama loved men
Mama's in the graveyard
Papa's in the pen"

Answer: Patty Loveless

Patty Loveless was born Patty Lee Ramey. She married Terry Lovelace and became Patty Lovelace but changed her stage name to Patty Loveless so as not to be confused with porn star Linda Lovelace. She released "Blame It On Your Heart" in 1993 as a single from her album "Only What I Feel". It reached Number One on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on June 19, 1993.

Relevant lyrics:
"You've got a thing or two to learn about me baby
'Cause I ain't taking it no more and I don't mean maybe
You don't know right from wrong
Well the love we had is gone
So blame it on your lying, cheating, cold dead beating,
Two-timing, double dealing
Mean mistreating, loving heart"