For a good time:
In the annals of classic country music, there are albums that stand out as underrated gems, and Johnny Bush‘s 1973 release, Here Comes The World Again, undoubtedly belongs to this esteemed category. With a voice that could melt the hardest of hearts and lyrics that resonated with the trials and tribulations of life, Johnny Bush crafted a record that still holds a special place in the hearts of country music enthusiasts. Let’s take a closer look at a few standout tracks from this album that was a big part of the early days of the Dixie Chicken and why Johnny Bush remains a beloved figure of Texas country music history.
Johnny Bush was a stalwart of the early Texas country scene, known for his soulful, emotive voice. He was a contemporary of luminaries like Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, and his career spanned several decades with 24 records between 1968 and 2017. While going through the old Dixie Chicken vinyl library, Cortney, current Operations Manager for Dixie Chicken Inc. saw Here Comes The World Again and said “That’s prime Chicken music!”
When asked about what made this album so special to her and her memories of growing up around the Chicken, she pointed out the standout track of “Green Snakes On The Ceiling.”
“That song was my childhood,” she said. “We’d go to the Chicken after school, Freddy would make us flautas and that song would always play. It was just so much fun!”
Even though the song topped out at #53 on the country airplay charts in 1973, it has had a long life in honky-tonks and beer joints throughout Texas for the last 50 years. With the whimsical lyrics and jovial tone of an old fool sitting at the bar, it’s not hard to see why.
One fool on a stool and on this stool sits this fool me
One fool to a stool is what I heard the bartender say
It’s also a fun song for the Dixie Chicken since we have an actual rattlesnake on premises.
Here Comes The World Again has 10-tracks of heartfelt ballads and lively honky-tonk tunes. Produced by Grady Martin, the album’s arrangements are superb and Bush’s vocals, with the backing of the Jordanaires, shine through on every track.
The opening and closing tracks are perfect bookends of the album as they both fit perfectly in places like the Dixie Chicken. Up first is “Drinking My Baby Right Out Of My Mind” which was co-written by Eddie Rabbitt who’d go on to include it on his 1976 album Rocky Mountain Music. The final track “I’ll Keep Drowning My Troubles till They’ve Learned to Swim” is a fiddle-driven, upbeat song with a fun play on words. Both are classic stories of going to the bar to try to forget about your heartaches, a staple of honky-tonk music.
Johnny Bush‘s influence on country music extended far beyond this album. His collaboration with Willie Nelson on songs like “Whiskey River” helped shape the outlaw country movement while his 2020 collaboration with Mike and the Moonpies cements his enduring legacy. His ability to convey raw emotion through his music left an undeniable mark on the genre.
Here Comes The World Again is a testament to the power of classic country music. Johnny’s soul-stirring vocals make this album, and the rest of his musical library, a must-listen for anyone with an appreciation for the roots of country music. Listen for his music and see if you can hear his influence on other artists next time you’re at the Dixie Chicken!