"He Stopped Loving Her Today" is a song recorded by American country music legend George Jones, and it's known to many as the greatest country song of all time. It was released in April 1980 as the lead single from Jones' album, "I Am What I Am."
The song is a love song, albeit the saddest darn love song you've ever heard. It tells the story of a friend who has been in love with the same woman for a lifetime. He keeps their old letters and photos from back in the day, clinging to the hope she would "come back again." The song reveals, however, that he indeed stopped loving her – but only on the day he passed away.
Crying yet? No? Well, here's the real kicker: the love of his life, the woman he endlessly pined for, attends his funeral.
The lyrics alone are enough to give you chills, but when you watch George Jones sing it, the song takes on a life of its own.
He said I’ll love you ’til I die
She told him you’ll forget in time
As the years went slowly by
She still preyed upon his mind.He kept her picture on his wall
Went half crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all
Hoping she'd come back again.He kept some letters by his bed
Dated 1962
He had underlined in red
Every single I love you.I went to see him just today
Oh, but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away
First time I'd seen him smile in years.He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today.Ya' know she came to see him one last time
Oh, we all wondered if she would
And it kept running through my mind
This time he's over her for good.He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today…
The week after Jones' death, the song re-entered the Hot Country Songs chart.
I can't get through listening without grabbing for the tissues. They just don't make music like this anymore.
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