I can never get enough of Riley Green singin’ sad, old country songs.
Yes, I’m still holding out for that classic country cover album one day…
But today, Riley’s blessing us with another acoustic cover of Doug Stone’s super underrated 90’s heartbreaker “I’d Be Better Off (In A Pine Box)”.
Written by Johnny MacRae and Steve Clark, it was released as the first single to Doug’s 1990 self-titled debut album, eventually peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. He was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance with it.
And good Lord if this one doesn’t just cut you deep down in your soul:
“Well, I said the night you left me nothin’ worse could ever happen
But seein’ you with someone else proved that I was wrong
And when your eyes met mine I knew you were gone forever
Along with all the reasons I had for hangin’ on
Well, I’d be better off in a pine box on a slow train back to Georgia
Or in the gray walls of a prison doin’ time
And I think I’d rather die and go to Hell and face the Devil
Than to lie here with you and him together on my mind”
I just want more sad songs like this on country radio…
And I’ve said it just about every time he covers an oldie, but damn if I wouldn’t love to have a studio version of this song now, too:
And the original:
