If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong  (Do It Right)  - Vern Gosdin - 1983

  Right now there are a couple of songs on our playlist on WQMX  that feature very tough subject matter, and that's OK.  Jelly Roll And Lainey Wilson's, Save Me is really tough for many as it's a cutting - "knifey" song that's honbest and goes right to the gut.  We haven't done a whole lot of that over the past number of years as traditional "hurtin'" songs have gone out of favor, but I'm glad to see them again as they are a part of who we are.  Jelly Rolls, Need A Favor  too is a gutty song and the Luke Combs, Fast Car remake cuts deep.  The genesis of  sad country songs goes back to Hank Sr. when you stop and think about it, and it's always evolving.  Vern Gosdin was very respected and popular in the 1980's and 90's, recording some really powerful songs about love gone way wrong.  I totally get it, this sounds dated today both in vocal and arrangement but this was a big hit, getting song of the year nominations and a Grammy nom too.  This will be way too traditional for many, and I get that too. As hard as Save Me can be to hear and as sad as it can make you today, so could this a generation or so back.  Gosdin was loved and was known as "The Voice."  A very different time and feel, this is a real broken jukebox song that takes you right to the darkest, dankest, lonelist bar you can imagine. If you like 'em sad sometimes, and country listeners seem to, this is for you.  Gosdin died in 2009.