Logical Lyrics????

I don't DISlike country music. In fact, I actually enjoy most of it, which is a stretch for me since when I was a teenager, country music was really "twangy" and red-neckish, but in recent years there has been quite a change, and I find that I enjoy a lot of it - no screamo stuff, and the lyrics and messages are often interesting and inspiring, but sometimes they are not logical.

Case in point, Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You Were Dying" (Listen to and read the lyrics here.) tells the story of a man who finds out he only has a short time to live and he decides, among other things, to focus on those things that really matter ("love deeper," "(speak) sweeter," and "(give) forgiveness"). This is a great message and very inspiring....But....he also decides to go "sky-diving" and "rocky-mountain climbing" and even bull riding! Now my question is, if this man is sick enough to be close to death, how does he have the energy and strength to participate in these strenuous activities, and even if, by some miracle, he has the strength, don't these seem like rather dangerous activities for a dying man? Does he really want to risk cutting the time he has left even shorter?! Ok, I hope I haven't ruined this song for any of you fans, but come on. I don't think anyone would REALLY do those things if he were terminally ill.

One more case in point: The song "You Lie" by The Band Perry (Listen to and read the lyrics here.) tells the story of a girl who realizes her man is a liar. I actually really like this song. I like the beat and the pace. It is good music to run to. I even like almost ALL the lyrics.* The use of simile and the play on words is clever ("You lie like a priceless Persian rug on a rich man's floor. You lie like a penny in the parking lot of the grocery store...." etc.) What I don't like is the ending where she drives to the "big old muddy river" (I can relate-the "big old muddy river" is right behind our house.) and then, after a few last tears, takes off her ring and "gives it a big old fling" to it's final resting place where it will "lie" "until the Lord comes back around." So why, you may ask,  don't I like this ending? It does symbolically state how OVER the relationship truly is, and it cleverly ties back in the second meaning of the word "lie." .....But .....every time I hear this song, when it gets to this part, I think, "NO! Don't do it!  Do you know how much money you could hock that thing for?! Sell it and buy yourself something awesome, or take a vacation, but for heaven's sake, don't THROW IT IN THE RIVER!"

 

Now I know that neither song would have the "romantic appeal" that they do if these lyrics were changed, but I can't help but think, that they would be a whole lot more logical.

 

    *They even use the word "dang" instead of an alternate version of this word which would make the lyrics less family-friendly.