OK, I have three songs that I taped off the radio years ago, that weren’t back- or front-announced, so I don’t know who performed them. They’re very good, IMHO, and of the country or alt-country persuasion.
I haven’t been able to find them from a lyrics search. In order to be cool with copyright, I’m only going to include the first line or two and coupe from the chorus
Help me, Straight Dope; you’re my only hope.
-
A group, along the Poco/Flying Burrito Brothers/Pure Prairie League vein
What put me on the road to alcohol;
What put me on the road to cocaine…
[snip]
…they get you where they want you
With a silver bullet in the heart -
Single guy, country edging-toward-bluegrass timbre, about a lady who has not treated him well
I only try to do some good, and the faces turned toward me begin to cry…
[snip]
I guessed I would, I knew I would
Around the corner lies another life -
Another single guy, with a strong high country voice, complaining about the state of modern country music. No real chorus, but the last bit is the key thought
You took the yodel away from Jimmie Rogers.
You took the fiddle away from a Texan named Bob Wills
[snip]
Won’t you please give us back country music
It helps us make it through the working day
Thanks for looking
Hometownboy