# Country songs about unrequited love **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035 "2014-11-19T02:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/1 "2014-11-19T02:27:59Z")
I had to keep the title short, so it’s not quite accurate, but I think it’s close enough. I’m looking for country songs about loving someone you can’t have. Some themes would include: Loving someone that belongs to someone else – the object of desire either knows or doesn’t know Both in love but can’t have each other Best friend’s wife Some song examples are: “As Close as I’ll Get to Loving You” - Aaron Tippin “You Don’t Know Me” - Eddie Arnold I recall a 50’s classic along these lines, but can’t remember it…but I’ll take 50’s and 60’s classic rock tunes, as well. Load me up, folks! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/2 "2014-11-19T03:56:45Z")
Did you say 50’s and 60’s classics? Willie Nelson [Crazy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnYEQbEHNZE) George Jones [Window Up Above](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2zyBtTXRo4) Conway Twitty [It’s Only Make Believe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-e2MUH3rBw) Johnny Cash [Guess Things Happen That Way](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aO4n1fLEVQ) Johnny Preston [Running Bear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P615vAhkUlU) Hank Williams [Cold Cold Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn2e4Dhod7M) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/3 "2014-11-19T03:58:42Z")
Only the saddest Country song ever. " He Stopped Loving Her Today" ---
**Author:** ![Waymore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Waymore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waymore)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/4 "2014-11-19T04:04:28Z")
How about requited but forbidden love that ends disastrously? _ **Long Black Veil** _ is a damn good song. Johnny Cash’s version is the best. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/5 "2014-11-19T16:53:59Z")
[I’m Not Waiting for You Anymore](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Tc_ok4Xnk) - Chris Isaak [Neon Moon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nopBvlKfYgY) - Brooks & Dunn [Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udEZ_JjNz4E) - Crystal Gayle And the archetypal [There’s a Tear in My Beer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM8tROzp4Dc) - Hank Williams Sr (though performed in this vid by Jr) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/6 "2014-11-19T17:30:47Z")
Then there’s a country song with a different take on unrequited love. In Garth Brooks’ “Unanswered Prayers,” a married adult male meets the girl he used to pine over, the girl he used to beg God to set him up with… and realizes they were wrong for each other all along. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/7 "2014-11-19T17:35:06Z")
[For The Good Times](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phLlo_t-z-U), Ray Price ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/8 "2014-11-19T19:03:11Z")
[“One Has My Name, The Other Has My Heart”.](http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=one+has+my+name%2c+the+other+has+my+heart+youtube&qpvt=one+has+my+name%2c+the+other+has+my+heart+youtube&FORM=VQFRML#view=detail&mid=0D9AB61D7525A8AC9BC80D9AB61D7525A8AC9BC8) ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/9 "2014-11-19T20:51:32Z")
[Six Blocks Away by Lucinda Williams](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PoTFW7ogpw) ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/10 "2014-11-19T21:01:32Z")
[Teardrops on my Guitar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKCek6_dB0M) Taylor Swift. [El Paso](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spaPETdoRVM) Marty Robbins. I’m not sure if this one counts. [Springtime in Alaska](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtsHDcxZlx0)Johnny Horton ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/11 "2014-11-19T21:03:22Z")
\*\*Country songs about unrequited love \*\* Is there another kind? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/12 "2014-11-19T21:07:42Z")
[Crazy Arms](http://youtu.be/I4oFrXx8ogI) - **Ray Price** [Wedding Bells](http://youtu.be/Vb15YZxiW2Y) - **Hank Williams** [Mansion on the Hill](http://youtu.be/Vb15YZxiW2Y) - **Hank Williams** [I Can’t Help It if I’m Still in Love With You](http://youtu.be/slFnQfwGJZE) - **Hank Williams** [Crying](http://youtu.be/qLC9o_unLq4) - **Roy Orbison** ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/13 "2014-11-19T21:22:45Z")
[In Dreams](http://youtu.be/_qdPOwfw2gQ) - **Roy Orbison** [All I Have To Do Is Dream](http://youtu.be/lTYe9eDqxe8) - **The Everly Brothers** ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/14 "2014-11-20T01:37:58Z")
I wasn’t really looking for, “We used to love each other, and now we don’t” but rather, “I love you, but you don’t even know who I am” Also, “I love you, you love me, but we can’t have each other” ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/15 "2014-11-20T01:47:59Z")
Hank Williams [Kalija](https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0SO8yvHR21UIBEAUIxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0cTQwYmdvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDI4MV8x?p=kalija+the+wooden+indian&tnr=21&vid=49805E8A7AF9E32F68A549805E8A7AF9E32F68A5&l=153&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.608012905267726483%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Di_c1A8tmHuI&sigr=11a2764eg&tt=b&tit=Hank+Williams+-+Kaw-Liga&sigt=10ogg862t&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dkalija%2Bthe%2Bwooden%2Bindian%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-250-s%26fp%3D1&sigb=12ngq1il3) is exactly what your looking for. You didn’t say it had to be about actual humans.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/16 "2014-11-20T01:54:25Z")
Alan Jackson - I Don’t Even Know Your Name ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/17 "2014-11-20T02:21:21Z")
How about some forbidden love? [Irma Jackson](http://youtu.be/1N3CbOelYvI) - **Merle Haggard** ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/18 "2014-11-20T02:59:14Z")
I’ll be true to you - Oak Ridge Boys Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss Someone Else’s Star - Bryan White The Weekend - Steve Wariner Addicted - Dan Seals ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/19 "2014-11-20T16:05:37Z")
Now we are hitting the target! Forbidden love definitely works. The non-country song I couldn’t recall was “My Eyes Adored You,” which is definitely in the spirit of what I’m looking for. Thanks everyone, keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035/20 "2014-11-20T16:35:51Z")
In college I took a medieval literature course in which we studied the works of the Minnesaenger, wand’ring minstrels whose schtick was to sing lonesome songs about how much in love they were with the noblewoman on the next estate over, and how sad it was because she was so very far beyond his reach and probably didn’t even know who he was and they would never ever ever be together. The professor remarked that as far as she was concerned, the works of the Minnesaenger were the direct lineal ancestors of country music. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/country-songs-about-unrequited-love/705035.md?page=2)