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IFLTS: 'He Stopped Loving Her Today,' George Jones



'He Stopped Loving Her Today,' George Jones
From 1980's 'I Am What I Am'

I was driving down the road the other day when the opening chords to 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' came on, and I went, "F---, I love this song." I was just in buckets of tears by the time I got to where I was going. Oh, George, why? But the string line, and everything about it. I love that song. I like sad stories.

It's one of those songs I always remember being there. My parents had all those 8-tracks and I had a few go-to songs. I would stand in front of the 8-track at three, four years old, and play these songs and cry. 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' was one of them. I would just cry and shake my head, "Oh, this is so sad."

I loved standing there and bumming myself out. The other song that used to make me cry all the time was 'Leaving On a Jet Plane.' But George Jones ... that one's kind of hitting you over the head with a sledge hammer.

Ambrosia Parsley is the frontwoman for rock trio Shivaree. Their latest album, 'Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs' -- which features all covers including songs by Michael Jackson, Ike Turner, R. Kelly and Bette Midler, among others -- is in stores now.

What song do you freakin' love? Write our next IFLTS. Send it to us at spinnereditor@aim.com

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10 Comments

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DOUG

HE IS THE BEST OF THE BEST

January 07 2011 at 9:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DARRELL WATSON

THERE IS ONLY ONE COUNTRY SINGER,AND ONE SONG AND THAT IS GEORGE JONES HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY.I'M GO HAVE THAT TITLE ON MY HEADSTONE,I LOVE IT

October 20 2009 at 11:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ktu

This is THE best saddest/make me cry song ever!

I listend to George when I was 15, drove my family crazy by always listening to his music...

He is still my favorite singer of all time!

October 21 2007 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steele

The steel guitar weeps as the tears roll down my face, the haunting lilt of the back up singers really drives this one home for me. Even though it was released the year before my first marriage, I have played it many times since; and damn I love this song.

October 19 2007 at 7:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steele's comment
Jeff

When the backup singers come in at the start of the spoken word verse, it's almost like angels singing. Then, the upsweep of the fiddles just amplifies the raw emotion of the song. It's such a simple song and yet, that's the best part. It works so supremely well because it hits you at gut, or rather, heart level.

April 24 2011 at 11:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jrady

This is one of the best sad songs ever written. I can listen to this song over and over again. Yes, it makes me cry everytime! And that special person that is not in my life any longer knows when he hears this song that I could have written it for him myself. The words are so very true! And great performance by George Jones! Love him!

October 17 2007 at 9:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Heather

I can absolutely relate to the childhood sentiments of this song--my parents loved it. Even as a very small child, I understood the meaning of what George was singing about, and always knew that this described my parents perfectly. They divorced after 35 years of marriage and truly never stopped loving each other, even though they both remarried. My dad passed away five months ago and this was the song that kept replaying itself in my head, because he did finally stop loving her that day. Just so you know, swas there at the hospital when he was sick, she was with him when he drew his last breath, and she was at the funeral--we all wondered if she would.

October 15 2007 at 2:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobbie

I started crying before I even read the article just the Name of the song reminds me of the day 19 years ago when my husband left me for another women. That song can take me back to the begining of that time. It was more hurt than anyone person should ever have to go thru. It haunts me even to this day.

October 13 2007 at 10:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pappy

Yes! I freaking love that song. George has always been a favorite of mine with that song at the top of the list.I lost my wife of 37 years not long ago and each time I hear it, fond memories of our life together come rushing back to fill the void.

I alays thought that George and Tammy made the greatest couple. Even after they went their seperate ways, they still made beautiful music together.

October 11 2007 at 4:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Vivian

"He Stopped Loving Her Today" literally gives me chill bumps when I hear it; I guess it's cause I always think of his relationship with Tammy Wynette before she passed away. Tammy & George truly loved each other - they just couldn't live together. I don't think either of them got over the other. Also, with the arrangement of the song, it's as if the power of the song just keeps rising through each verse.

October 09 2007 at 7:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply