About The Song
In the realm of country music, few artists have captured the essence of heartbreak and longing quite like George Jones. With his soulful voice and poignant lyrics, Jones crafted songs that resonated with listeners, etching his name among the genre’s most revered figures. Among his extensive discography, one particular song stands out as a masterpiece of countrypolitan balladry: “The Race Is On.”
Released in 1959, “The Race Is On” marked a turning point in Jones’s career. The song’s success propelled him into the national spotlight, cementing his status as a country music icon. Its enduring popularity lies in its ability to encapsulate the complexities of love and loss with a raw honesty that has touched generations of listeners.
A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Betrayal
The song opens with a somber melody, setting the stage for the tale of heartbreak that is about to unfold. Jones’s voice, imbued with a world-weariness that belies his young age, paints a vivid picture of a man grappling with the realization that his lover has betrayed him. The opening lines, “I feel tears wellin’ up, col’in’ deep inside / Like my heart’s from a big leak”, capture the immediate shock and pain of his discovery.
As the song progresses, Jones delves deeper into the emotional turmoil of his situation. He describes his lover’s departure as a “race”, a metaphor that highlights the urgency and desperation he feels to win her back. The lyrics, “You might say I was crazy, but I’m in love with you / And I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth”, underscore his unwavering devotion despite the betrayal he has suffered.
A Haunting Melody that Mirrors the Lyrics
The melody of “The Race Is On” perfectly complements the emotional intensity of the lyrics. The song’s slow tempo mirrors the protagonist’s deliberate pace as he contemplates his next move, while the rising and falling notes reflect the waves of emotion that crash over him. The steel guitar, a staple of country music, adds a layer of poignancy, its mournful cries echoing the protagonist’s inner turmoil.
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Lyric
I feel tears wellin’ up cold deep insideLike my heart’s sprung a big breakAnd a stab of loneliness sharp and painfulThat I may never shakeYou might say that I was taking it hardSince you wrote me off with a callBut don’t you wager that I’ll hide in sorrowWhen I may lay right down and bawlNow the race is onAnd here comes pride in the backstretchHeartaches goin’ to the insideMy tears are holdin’ backThey’re tryin’ not to fallMy hearts out of the runnin’True love’s scratched for another’s sakeThe race is on and it looks like heartachesAnd the winner loses allOne day I ventured in loveNever once suspectin’ what the final result would beAnd how I lived in fear of waking up each morningFinding that you’re gone from meThere’s ache and pain in my heartFor today was the one that I hated to faceSomebody new came up to win herAnd I came out in second placeNow the race is onAnd here comes pride in the back stretchHeartaches goin’ to the insideMy tears are holdin’ backThey’re tryin’ not to fallMy hearts out of the runnin’True love’s scratched for another’s sakeThe race is on and it looks like heartachesAnd the winner loses allNow the race is onAnd here comes pride in the backstretchHeartaches goin’ to the insideMy tears are holdin’ backThey’re tryin’ not to fallMy hearts out of the runnin’True love’s scratched for another’s sakeThe race is on and it looks like heartachesAnd the winner loses allThe winner loses all