My Top 20 Robbie Fulks Songs: Coldwater, Tennessee (#12)

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Before I leave the cool of my hotel room for the 90-degree heat (that's the temperature, not an angle measurement ) I'll post my list countdown entry for the day. This one looks at alt-country singer Robbie Fulks. #12: Coldwater, Tennessee There's one frequently-used subject in country music that a lot of people don't talk about. That's the murder ballad. "Knoxville Girl" is a classic, so is "On the Banks of the Ohio." Where do you get that in rock and roll? What, "Down By the River"? Ha! You want slaughter, go to country music! Fulks has some terrific murder ballads, too. "South Richmond Girl" from South Mouth is splendid. My favorite murder ballad of his will be on this list later. But for now we have the story of a teenager who resents the fact that his father ran away from the family, taking the money and his guitar, and moved to Nashville. There he became a country music superstar, remarried, and had the good life. The jilted son takes his revenge on the father in a permanent way. "Rusted dreams turn gold in Nashville," indeed. What a great song. Coldwater, Tennessee Written by Robbie Fulks and Dallas Wayne From Georgia Hard, 2005 Robbie's version (Dallas Wayne also recorded it):