Nothing is sadder than listening to songs that talk about divorce. Why? Well, it is because we all know divorce is just like death. The only difference is that in divorce the person you love chooses to walk away from the commitment you both promised to keep. However, just like death, divorce requires time to let things settle back to its normal routine.

Photo Credit: David Redfern, Billboard

“The Grand Tour,” Saddest Song in Country Music

In country music, one of the saddest songs about divorce was sung by country legend George Jones. “The Grand Tour,” which sound more like a happy song, details a story of a man who is going through a divorce. This George Jones hit has been listed by Rolling Stones as one of the Saddest Country Songs of All Time. In addition, what makes it sadder is the fact that the song was released the year George Jones and Tammy Wynette got divorced.

The Making and Chart Performance of the Song

“The Grand Tour” was produced by Jones’ longtime producer Billy Sherrill. Moreover, it was written by Norro Wilson, Carmol Taylor, and George Richey. The latter was married to Wynette until her death. With this single, Jones finally scored his number one song after seven years as a solo artist. The last time he had a number one single was in 1967 with his song “Walk Through This World with Me.”

His single became part of his same-titled album that peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

The Song’s Content

The song begins with Jones (narrator of the song) inviting his listeners to come to take a tour at his house.

“Step right up, come on in

If you’d like to take the grand tour

Of a lonely house that once was home sweet home.”

The narrator gestures to each furniture in the house and tells the bittersweet memories he had of it. Until then, he finally mentions that he was left behind with nothing from the woman he loves.

“There’s her rings, all her things

And her clothes are in the closet

Like she left them when she tore my world apart

As you leave you’ll see the nursery

Oh, she left me without mercy

Taking nothing but our baby and my heart…”