Im not against verse 2 if its based on life experience, thats something someone could relate to because while some women dont rely on their husbands for money, some of them do; and they are painted in a negative light here.
It sounds like country music to me, but i think i see where youre goin with this. Its great
Thank you. It is "progressive country" musically. All I have is a vocal melody right now... but it's definitely what is currently considered "country," musically. Wouldn't have been considered musically "country" twenty years ago, but would be now. Our protagonist/narrator would likely consider it "new country." Different from the country music he grew up with.
My (imagined) protagonist/narrator as I wrote this song is a rural redneck. "Redneck" is not an insult. It describes someone who works outside in a shirt without a collar. Could be a farm hand, or a construction worker (both of which I have been myself.)
In this modern world, it is likely that the average rural redneck has a wife who works. One income families are at least as rare in middle class rural America as they are in urban America.
AND.... in rural America, there is also a reasonably good chance that she makes more money than he does. But culturally, he still has a larger say about how money (particularly discretionary income) is spent than she does. In today's rural America, they are extremely likely to be marginally religious, and (even when the woman IS in charge) they will feel it necessary to make a pretense of the man being in charge "as God intended."
And... the lyric doesn't make it clear, but there is a near certainty that she is going to end up the "nice things" that they are contentious about whether he buys them for her or not. But she wants HIM to buy them
for her. . . or at least support her purchase of them. In rural America (and in my part of urban America) that isn't unusual. The lyric (as I wrote it) did not INTEND to portray anyone in a "negative light." If anything, the average rural American housewife is even more admirable than her husband, because she (on average) works two jobs. (One at home and one that produces income.)
I'm not making a commentary on whether any of that is fair or not.... just putting my narrator/protagonist into a situation I have often seen and that fairly and respectfully defines this "rural redneck's" world and culture (which includes his wife's world and culture.) I intended for the lyric to show my fondness for this particular cultural group. Perhaps it failed to do that.
Frankly, I was surprised anyone felt this was dysfunctional. It's a very real portrayal of an existing culture. The lyric might not communicate it well enough, but this was about people who really do exist and are due a great deal of respect. It's a difficult life, and they live it well.
All that isn't really in response to your post. Your post just gave me a chance to express it after giving serious thought to the other posts.
