Now This Is How You Tell A Story

It’s from the song “Lucille” by legendary country singer and haver of great facial hair, one Kenny Rogers.  Which I came across when I was looking for a photo of him and his beard to use in his best quotes article I did the other day.

It’s so good.  Hard to listen to it without getting emotional.

But I just wantcha to read through the lyrics and appreciate the storytelling skills:

[Verse 1:]
In a bar in Toledo
Across from the depot
On a bar stool she took off her ring
I thought I’d get closer
So I walked on over
I sat down and asked her name

When the drinks finally hit her
She said I’m no quitter
But I finally quit living on dreams
I’m hungry for laughter
And here ever after
I’m after whatever the other life brings

In the mirror I saw him
And I closely watched him
I thought how he looked out of place
He came to the woman
Who sat there beside me
He had a strange look on his face

The big hands were calloused
He looked like a mountain
For a minute I thought I was dead
But he started shaking
His big heart was breaking
He turned to the woman and said

[Chorus:]
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I’ve had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time you’re hurting won’t heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille

[Verse 2:]
After he left us
I ordered more whiskey
I thought how she’d made him look small
From the lights of the bar room
To a rented hotel room
We walked without talkin’ at all

She was a beauty
But when she came to me
She must have thought I’d lost my mind
I couldn’t hold her
‘Cuz the words that he told her
Kept coming back time after time

[Repeat Chorus:]
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I’ve had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time you’re hurting won’t heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children
And a crop in the field
I’ve had some bad times
Lived through some sad times
But this time you’re hurting won’t heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille

I mean… dude.  Vivid.  Suspenseful.  A bit of a surprise at the end, when he decides not to hook up with her.

And… the words?  Just brilliantly chosen.

Like:

“The big hands were calloused.  He looked like a mountain.  For a minute I thought I was dead.”

When I heard that?  I saw, in my mind, a farmer, in overalls, towering over the two at this little dive bar.  I thought, “Oh sh*t, ol’ Kenny ’bout to be sipping steak through a straw!”

And then… that chorus?  C’mon, man.  Makes your heart break for the ex, does it not?

Incredible.

You’re gonna wanna read that back a few times and try to soak up some of that magic… by osmosis.  Alright?

Related: this rap verse will improve your copywriting skills.