It’s no secret that Randy Travis will go down as one of the most influential country singers in the ’80s and ’90s, and his music will forever stand the test of time.
I mean c’mon, I still continue to drown myself in “Three Wooden Crosses,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and “Deeper Than the Holler” to this day.
However, this may be a hot take, but I truly believe “Diggin’ Up Bones” is the best song Travis has ever released, straight from his iconic 1986 project, Storms of Life, which is widely known as his greatest album of all time.
We’re talking about humor, heartbreak, and a ton of relatability, and the song can hit just about every emotion as you sing “Diggin’ up boneeeeeeees” at the top of your lungs.
With that being said, “Diggin’ Up Bones” was released as a single on this date back in 1986.
Written by Paul Overstreet, Al Gore, and Nat Stuckey, the song takes you through a journey of Travis digging through old stuff that reminds him of his former significant other, even though he knows it’s only gonna break his heart even more.
Not to mention, the song has one of the most humorous, yet saddening lines in country music history:
“Last night I dug your picture out from my old dresser drawer
I set it on the table and I talked to it ’til four”
The song saw immediate success, topping both the US Hot Country Songs and Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts, while also going certified gold by selling 500,000 units.
For a guy like Randy Travis, this was just another number one hit. To us, it’s one of the greatest ’80s country songs of all time.
