A Death In The Family

Jimmy Dickens - A Death In The Family

I have to admit that when I found this record, my hopes were high that the song was going to be some kind of demented country murder song. Why? Well, the jolting title and the fact that it was written by Bill Anderson (author of the country murder classics The Cold Hard Facts Of Life and The First Mrs. Jones) were all that was needed for some wildly groundless speculation on my part.

Sure, I admit that I was initially a little disappointed to learn that the song is actually about the misery of a shattered marriage rather than a cold-blooded murder. It still packs one hell of a punch, though.