Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 1993 Women's Communication in Country Music Heather Elizabeth Yarbrough This research is a product of the graduate program in Speech Communication at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Yarbrough, Heather Elizabeth, "Women's Communication in Country Music" (1993). Masters Theses. 2126. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2126 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THESIS REPRODUCTION CERTIFICATE TO: Graduate Degree Candidates who have written formal theses. SUBJECT: Permission to reproduce theses. The University Library is receiving a number of requests from other institutions asking permission to reproduce dissertations for inclusion in their library holdings. Although no copyright laws a.re involved, we feel that professional courtesy demands that permission be obtained from the author before we allow theses to be copied. Please sign one of the following statements: Booth Library of Eastern Illinois University has my permission to lend my thesis to a reputable college or university for the purpose of copying it for inclusion in that institution's Library or research holdings. Date I respectfully request Booth Library of Eastern IlUnois University not allow ;my thesi$ be reproduced because ~~~~~--~~~~~~~- Date Author Women's Corrmunication in Country Music (TITLE) BY Heather Elizabeth Yarbrough THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Arts IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 1993 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE DATE Country Music 1 WOmen's Conmunication in Country Music Heather E. Yarbrough Eastern Illinois University Running head: W)MEN'S COMMUNICATION IN COUNTRY MUSIC Country Music 2 Abstract The lyrical content of female performed country songs was evaluated in this study. Female soloist perfonner's songs ranking in the top hits of each year between 1950 and 1989 were examined. After indepth research into the history of country music and the female role in country music, several songs performed by females and listed as hits between the years 1950 and 1989 were analyzed. The characteristic found in most female songs was relationships with men and family and how women react to the positive and negative aspects of these relationship. Country Music 3 Dedication This publication is dedicated to the warren of country music from yesterday and today who have made career opportunities in country music rrore assessable to women. This is especially dedicated to the legend in country music whose career was ended too soon by a tragic plane crash: Patsy Cline. She has been an inspiration to me during the research of this thesis and my desire to sing country music. Country Music 4 Acknowledgments I would like to thank the Speech Ccxrmunication Department at Eastern Illinois University for the education they have given me. outstanding teachers such as Dr. calvin smith, Linda Jenkins -Taylor, and Dr. Ken Hadwiger have been an inspiration to me during my studies. I would like to thank them for their unique teaching skills and dedication to helping students learn. Memories of the lessons they have taught me in and out of class will be with me a life time. I would like to thank Dr. Frank Oglesbee and Dr. Floyd Merritt for their support and enthusiasm concerning this study. Dr. Oglesbee's interest in this subject continued to give me renewed excitement about we.men in country music and the progress they have made. Of course, this study would not have been possible without research. For this, I would like to thank the Music library in Champaign, Illinois for their help in researching the history and carmunication of country music. The support and enthusiasm of their staff made each trip to the library very productive and enjoyable. Finally I would like to thank my friends and family for their support. A special thank you to Mary Yarbrough, Man, for proofing my final draft, and James Anderson for zeroxing Country Music 5 all those copies for me in the library. One last note to Joe Straka: You're behind ••• Country Music 6 Table of Contents Title Page ••••••••.•••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 Abstract ..•.••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••• 2 IJed.ication •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3 AcknOW' led.grnents ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4 Introduction •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8 History of Country Music ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 10 The Country Music Message •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 17 Relationship Songs •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20 Burtin' love songs ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20 Faded. love songs •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20 Sanebody done sanebody wrong songs •••••••• 21 Worried. love songs •••••••••••••••••••••••• 23 Frustrated. love songs ••••••••••••••••••••• 25 Happy love songs ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 27 Together again songs •••••••••••••••••••••• 27 Sanebody special songs •••••••••••••••••••• 27 Behind closed. doors songs ••••••••••••••••• 28 Pretty world songs •••••••••••••••••••••••• 29 Love or sanething like it songs ••••••••••• 29 Trip to heaven songs •••••••••••••••••••••• 31 Cheatin' songs ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 31 Being tempted. to cheat songs •••••••••••••• 33 Country Music 7 Attempting to cheat songs ••••••••••••••••• 34 Cheating songs ....••...•..•.•••••••.•..••. 35 Reacting to cheating songs •••••••••••••••• 36 Livin' songs •.•........•...•••...........•••..••.... 37 The way a person lived songs ••••••••••••••••••• 37 The way a person is living songs ••••••••••••••• 38 The way a person wishes to live songs •••••••••• 39 Women's Role in Country Music •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 47 women's Carmunication in Country Music ••••••••••••••••••• 53 Conclusion •..•...•.•..•••••••.••.••..•.•........••..••... 63 Suggestions for Further Research ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 63 Country Music 8 Introduction Women have made careers for themselves in all facets of business in the last 40 years. The carrnunication field is just one area women have excelled. we find female newscasters and radio announcers a part of every day life. Women have also excelled in the corrmunication of lyrics: music. All forms of music can be studied to explore women's contributions in this field. However, this study will concentrate on women's carrnunication through the lyrics of country music. There have been few studies about country music and even fewer, if any, solely about the study of wanen in country music. Throughout the long history of country music women have progressed from token band members to superstar soloists. With this change in status comes a change in lyrical content. This content, or musical conmunication, has given women a chance to speak to society through music. What is it that -women sing about and what changes have taken place since women began solo careers in country music? These questions are answered in the study that follows. In order to answer these questions, it is important to understand where country music came from and how women have evolved as country music perfonners. The final analysis of female soloist's hits will be confined to the years 1950 to Country Music 9 1989. These dates were chosen because women did not hit the Billboard charts until the 1950s and 1989 gave the study an even 40 year span. The Billboard charts were chosen as the main source of songs because they supplied the largest selection of hits available in a concise form. Country Music 10 The History of Country Music Country music has gone through many changes since its inception in the United States. These changes have been labeled by Charles T. Brown (1986) as follows: Hymns, Hillbilly Music, Singing Cowboys and Country SWing, Honky-Tonk Music, Rockabilly, The Nashville Sound, The Folk Revival, Experimental Country, and finally, the country we know today, The New Country. As this music evolves, it is imp::>rtant to watch for lyrical changes reflecting the industry and society. This could include changes in transp::>rtation from the horse to the railroad and changes in the female role in society. After a brief over view of the history of country music, this research will begin to explore the role women have played and continue to play in country music. Country music can be traced as far back as the early settlers of the United States. Although their music set the tone for country music, it was far from what the music has evolved to. One imp::>rtant factor has become a steadfast rule for country music: The message of the words is considered more imp::>rtant than the music itself (Brown, 1986). As the United States was being settled, people began to settle in rural carmunities isolating themselves from urban settlements. This is where country music got its name. These country settlers, often referred to as Hillbillies, began to Country Music 11 use their music as a way to carmunicate their way of life. The message was often about the hard life of the hills (Marek, 1961). The carmunication was a very personal thing, passed on fran one generation of a family to the next, and performed largely for personal or neighborly fun ("The Country Songwriting," 1963). Not