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He Stopped Loving Her Today
A 30-Day Music Memory Series
Today’s song is “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones.
My dad used to sing this song while playing his guitar. He sang it from his heart every time. I’d heard the song a thousand times from George and from my dad over the years.
My parents had a complex relationship. My dad, full of Vietnam War PTSD, and my mom, probably the most patient human being in the whole wide world. As I grew into early adulthood, I sometimes wondered why she put up with him for so long. There was a good deal of turbulence, but there was always love. They stayed together until she passed away in 2002.
A few months after my dad passed away in 2012, this song came on the radio, and suddenly, I heard the song. At that moment, I understood the song’s meaning, and it filled me with sadness, appreciation, and understanding. I can’t listen to more than the first few notes without my eyes filling up with tears. (Even writing about it right now.)
But good tears, you know?
Is there a song that breaks your heart every time you hear it? ❤️
☕️ Jaimee
CONTEXT: This is part of a series of music memories, a 30-day writing exercise to help me get unstuck. (It’s working!)
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