I’m a sucker for country songs with a clever twist or double entendre, and this tune definitely hits the mark. Randy Travis is a legendary artist in country music, known for his deep baritone voice and traditional country style mixed in with the modern country sound of the 1980s and ’90s. Born in North Carolina in 1959, Randy often found himself in trouble during his early years. As a teenager, he committed several crimes, including reckless driving after crashing his brother Ricky’s car in a cornfield, breaking into a church to throw a party, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, and stealing knives and watches from a local store. On his seventeenth birthday, Randy was arrested for public intoxication and faced the possibility of prison.

After years of struggling as a young musician and facing countless rejections, he finally signed with Warner Nashville in 1985. He released his debut studio album in 1986, titled Storms of Life, which hit #1 on Billboard’s U.S. Top Country Albums chart. The troublemaker from Marshville, North Carolina had finally made it big.

AI Fact: In 2013, Randy Travis suffered a stroke that ultimately left him unable to speak and sing like he used to. After many years of surgeries and physical therapy, Randy still was only able to sing a few notes here and there. In early 2024, Randy and Warner Music Nashville co-president, Cris Lacy, worked with AI music creators in London to create a new Randy Travis tune using artificial intelligence. They worked hard to bring the world a new song with Randy’s familiar and comforting voice. They released “Where That Came From” in May of 2024, and they hope to create more songs with his voice model in the future. If you want to take a listen, click here.

Fun Fact: Randy was born Randy Traywick, but he performed under the name Randy Ray while playing in bars and clubs. When he landed his first record contract, executives didn’t like the name Randy Ray and suggested the name Randy Travis instead.

Age Fact: Randy married his longtime manager, Elizabeth Hatcher-Travis, in Hawaii in 1991. They met in 1977, and based on my calculations, they met and started working together when he was 18 and she was 34.

Writer Fact:  Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz wrote this great song, and after finishing it, they took it to song promoter Pat Higdon. Higdon recommended it to producer Kyle Lehning, intending for Dan Seals to record it. However, Lehning felt the song wasn’t a good fit for Seals and decided to offer it to Randy Travis instead.

My Listening Tips: The lyrics of this track are incredible. Each line is so well crafted and Randy delivers each one so well. I also love the piano on this track. I feel like the slide guitar and piano take you back to some classic country tunes from the 60s and 70s.

Happy listening!

On one hand, I count the reasons I could stay with you
And hold you close to me all night long
So many lover’s games I’d love to play with you
On that hand there’s no reason why it’s wrong

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But on the other hand, there’s a golden band
To remind me of someone who would not understand
On one hand, I could stay and be your lovin’ man
But the reason I must go is on the other hand

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My name is Michael Sanchez and I’m an avid record collector and obscure song searcher. My goal is to post one song a day that’s been on my stereo/turntable frequently. If you don’t like the song… too bad 🙂 You can just wait another day for a new one.

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