In my opinion Keith Whitley is one of the greatest country singers of all time. I always wonder how many more hits we would have seen from him if he had lived longer. Here is my top 10 favorite of his songs and the reasons why I love them.
10. That’s the way love goes- Keith Whitley and Lorrie Morgan https://fb.watch/bYyuoQkeHT/
This song is written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. Shafer. This is a great song originally and this cover is pure gold. The harmony in this version is magical and the lyrics on top of this make it a great recording.
Favorite line- “I’ve been throwing horseshoes over my left shoulder.” This line combines references of lucky horseshoes and throwing salt over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck. This is a really creative way to say something as simple as the narrative is trying to get some luck.
9. I don’t know you well enough to say goodbye-
This song is written by Fred Koller and Kix Brooks. I love how his song describes a man not wanting to let go and his excuse being that he doesn’t know the woman well enough. This also implies that the woman never shared any information about herself. The narrator is holding on hoping that he may learn more about the mysterious person he has been with all this time.
Favorite line-“But I don’t know you well enough to ever think of giving up, Not well enough to ever say goodbye.”
8.That’s where I want to take our love-
This song is written by Dean Dillon and Hank Cochran. This song is so simple yet so romantic. It talks about all the simple things in life that the narrator wants to experience.
Favorite line- “That’s where i wanna raise the babies that we make and the hell you know we’ll raise when they raise cane”
7.Between an Old memory and me-
This song is written by Charlie Craig and Keith Stegall. This song perfectly sums up the feeling of needing time for just you and your thoughts. It puts this concept to a beautiful melody.
Favorite line-“And I’m not hurtin’ anybody
As far as I can see I just need to be alone sometimes While she goes walkin’ through my mind.”
6.I’m gonna hurt her on the radio-
This song is written by Mac McAnally and Tom Brasfield. I wonder how many country songs follow this premise of the songwriter writing it to get back at an ex. The idea of making money off of a hurtful situation to get back at the person who put you into that situation is so interesting.
Favorite line-“Take these pieces of this broken heart. I’ll watch them climb the country music charts. She’s going to pay me back in royalties
For bringing me down to my knees”
5.Kentucky Bluebird-
This song is written by Don Cook and Wally Wilson. This song creates great imagery into how it feels to be in love with a singer or drifter of any kind. Being in love with someone who is always gone is expressed perfectly in this beautiful song.
Favorite line-“Kentucky bluebird, I heard your song today but when I try to touch you you fly away.”
4.I’m no Stranger to the rain-
This song is written by Sonny Curtis and Ron Hellard. This was the last song that Keith released before his passing and to me it seems like it could be an autobiography for what he was going through.
Favorite lines-“I’ve fought with the devil, Got down on his level.”
“But when I get that foggy feeling, What I’m feeling now. If I don’t keep my head up, I may drown.”
The devil that is referenced could be the alcohol and the foggy feeling causing him to feel he is drowning could be the depression that caused him to take his life.
3.Tell Lorrie I love her-
This song is written by Keith Whitley. The song was released after Keith had passed and was recorded at home. This fact makes it even more special knowing that he just sat down and decided to sing this amazing song for his wedding. This is a great love song that comes straight from the heart.
Favorite line-“And if I leave this old world
Tell her she’s the only girl for me” This line is heartbreaking when you realize even though he had a lot going on inside of his mind he truly loved Lorrie Morgan.
2.Don’t Close your eyes-
This song is written by Bob McDill. When I first heard this song the way I interpreted it was that the man the narrators girlfriend was thinking about had died and she was having a hard time letting go. Another interpretation is that she is still in love with another man who is still alive. One of my favorite things about music is that it can be interpreted differently like this.
Favorite line-“Don’t close your eyes, let it be me. Don’t pretend it’s him, in some fantasy. Darling just once, let yesterday go and you’ll find more love than you’ll ever know”
1. Wherever you are tonight-
This song is written by Gary Nicholson, Don Cook, Keith White, and Keith Whitley.
Favorite line-“When all the stars sing you to sleep, it’s just this old turn table and me.” I think it is so cool how both the narrator and the woman the song goes out to are both lonely and have each other and the music . I think it would be cool to do a follow up song on where these people are now and if they ever met.
These are just some of the amazing songs that Keith Whitley did before his death in 1989. This list could have gone on forever with the amount of great songs and vocal talent Keith had. Hope you enjoy some of my favorite songs.
Critiquing Country Music 
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