3 Country Songs From 1998 That Pack a Serious Emotional Punch

The 1990s remain a favorite decade among even moderate country music fans. Amid the dancing songs and the feel-good tunes are these three hit singles. All out in 1998, they each pack a serious emotional punch.

“Don’t Laugh At Me” by Mark Wills

On Mark Wills’ sophomore Wish You Were Here record is “Don’t Laugh At Me”. The song, written by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin, became a Top 5 single for Wills.

“Don’t Laugh At Me” says, “I’m that kid on every playground / Who’s always chosen last / A single teenage mother / Tryin’ to overcome my past / You don’t have to be my friend / Is it too much to ask? / Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names / Don’t get your pleasure from my pain / In God’s eyes we’re all the same / Someday we’ll all have perfect wings / Don’t laugh at me.”

Wills’ only two CMA Awards nominations in his career are for “Don’t Laugh At Me”. The song also started an anti-bullying movement.

“It’s resonated with a lot of people,” Shamblin tells The Tennessean. “And one of the great gifts of being a songwriter is finding purpose for your pain. Steve and I found a purpose for our pain through that song, and it’s been useful to other people that have felt pain.”

“Husbands And Wives” by Brooks & Dunn

“Husbands and Wives” is one of three hit singles Brooks & Dunn released in 1998. The song comes after their “If You See Him/If You See Her” duet with Reba McEntire, and “How Long Gone”. “Husbands And Wives” is a bit of a new direction for the duo.

Written by Roger Miller, “Husbands And Wives” says, “Two broken hearts lonely looking houses / Where nobody lives  Two people each having so much pride inside / Neither side forgives /The angry words spoken in haste / Such a waste of two lives / It’s my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline / Of the number of husbands and wives.”

“I Just Want To Dance With You” by George Strait

Among George Strait’s many sweet love songs is “I Just Want To Dance With You”. On Strait’s One Step At A Time project,  Roger Cook and John Prine are the writers of the romantic tune.

“I Just Want To Dance With You” says, “I caught you lookin’ at me when I looked at you, / Yes I did, ain’t that true? / You won’t get embarrassed by the things I do / I just want to dance with you / Oh the boys are playin’ softly, and the girls are too / So am I and so are you / If this was a movie, we’d be right on cue / I just want to dance with you.”

Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images

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