This song is considered by many to be the greatest country song of all time. 

He said “I’ll love you til I die”
She told him “you’ll forget in time”

Right off the bat she throws a gut wrenching punch. She’s over him, no feelings for him anymore. 

But he’s not. Far from it. 

I bet thoughts of her came many times during a single day. Long days and nights. I bet he dreamt of her at night and woke up unable to shake the dream away. Longing for the past, the dream feels real and stayed throughout the day. 

All those years he wished she would come back must have been slow and painful. Especially when one is alone with only their thoughts. Many have lost themselves in times such as these.

Sometimes it takes a lot of courage just to survive a single day without accomplishing anything. 

I doubt she cared or thought about him much through those years. Maybe a random thought now and then. 

“you’ll forget in time”

Harsh words said by someone who’s over the other person, But she’s right. Time heals. 

I am glad he made it to the point where he could smile again. I am glad he stopped loving her. He probably did not help himself with all those memorabilia of her though.

I hoped he was so over her that he cared not whether she shows up again.

As I drove on my way home from work and thought about the lyrics it dawned on me I may had misinterpreted the ending of the song. I was feeling sleepy with the rush hour slow traffic so I took an exit and stopped at a Mcdonald’s to get coffee, and took a closer look at the lyrics. I was wrong on the ending. It didn’t end the way I thought it did. 

I hope the man found inner peace before he passed.

sunflowers facing down

[Verse 1]
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
But he still loved her through it all
Hoping she’d come back again

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they’ll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

[Bridge]
You know she came to see him one last time
Oh, and we all wondered if she would
And it kept runnin’ through my mind
This time – he’s over her for good

[Chorus]
He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they’ll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

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