George Jones – The Race Is On

I first heard this song through Jason and the Scorchers giving it a high-octane slant. On my Car Songs post the other day Lisa recommended this one and instead of waiting to include it in part 3…I thought I would write a post on it.

When I think of George Jones I think of the voice. I would be lying if I didn’t also say that I think of the lawnmower story and some of the stories that I heard from some session musicians. My guitar tech had many come in his shop and they would tell stories about the country stars. They always spoke highly of George Jones, adding he was down-to-earth and a good guy. He could be a lot of fun and wild…and match his rock counterparts.

It has often been said that he had the purest country voice ever. Frank Sinatra called Jones “The second-best singer in America.” When Keith Richards (who is a huge Jones fan) heard this, he asked…who’s the first Frank?

Don Rollins, a Nashville songwriter, wrote The Race Is On with a cool twist, comparing the end of a romantic relationship to a horse race.

The song was a huge hit in Country Music. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Country Charts in 1964.

Keith Richards on recording a duet with George Jones: There was another wonderful expedition to record a duet with George Jones at the Bradley Barn sessions, “Say It’s Not You,” a song that Gram Parsons had turned me on to. George was a great guy to work with, especially when he had the hairdo going. Incredible singer. There’s a quote from Frank Sinatra, who says, “Second-best singer in this country is George Jones.” Who’s the first, Frank? We were waiting and waiting for George, for a couple of hours, I think. By then I’m behind the bar making drinks, not remembering that George is supposed to be on the wagon and not knowing why he was so late. I’ve been late many times and so no big deal. And when he turns up, the pompadour hairdo is perfect. It’s such a fascinating thing. You can’t take your eyes off it. And in a fifty-mile-an-hour wind it would still have been perfect. I found out later that he’d been driving around because he was a bit nervous about working with me. He’d been doing some reading up and was uncertain of meeting me.

George Jones on Keith Richards: “I’ll be honest with you: I love Keith Richards more than anything as a person. He’s a character – just fun to be around.” 

Dolly Parton: Anyone who knows or cares anything about real country music will agree that George Jones is the voice of it.

The Race Is On

I feel tears wellin’ upCold and deep insideLike my heart’s sprung a big breakAnd a stab of loneliness sharp and painfulThat I may never shakeNow, you might say that I was takin’ it hardSince you wrote me off with a callBut don’t you wager that I’ll hide the sorrowWhen I may break right down and bawl

Now the race is onAnd here comes pride up the backstretchHeartaches are goin’ to the insideMy tears are holdin’ backThey’re tryin’ not to fallMy heart’s out of the runnin’True love’s scratched for another’s sakeThe race is on and it looks like heartacheAnd the winner loses all

One day I ventured in loveNever once suspectin’What the final result would beHow I lived in fear of wakin’ up each mornin’And findin’ that you’re gone from meThere’s ache and pain in my heartFor today was the one I hated to faceSomebody new came up to win herAnd I came out in second place

Now the race is onAnd here comes pride up the backstretchHeartaches are goin’ to the insideMy tears are holdin’ backThey’re tryin’ not to fallMy heart’s out of the runnin’True love’s scratched for another’s sakeThe race is on and it looks like heartachesAnd the winner loses all

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

29 thoughts on “George Jones – The Race Is On”

    1. I caught that version a little while back when I did that Edmunds post…it’s a great version. He actually sounds a little like him as well.

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  7. Great tidbits you found on George and his admirers. Dolly says it all. Hardcore partiers operate on their own schedules. It’s the price you pay for admission. Appreciate you covering this song as sung by my country music hero ❤

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    1. I loved it…Thanks Lisa…I didn’t want to go into the stories I heard but all of them were told with smiles on their faces…he was well liked.
      I loved the Keith interaction.

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      1. He was a real person while being a country music god. Not easy to do but he managed it. I just listened to Marc Maron do a podcast with Billy Strings. I put Billy in that category as well.

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    1. I think that was a different song if I’m not mistaken…but it would have been a good one for her to do.

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