Country Mike Blog

That's How It Still Ought To Be

Mike Sudhalter  |  February 22, 2009

Are the good times really over for good? That's the question that Merle Haggard asked a generation ago in the loss of innocence that defined the post-Vietnam, post-Watergate era.

So I guess it's time for another artists - in this case, Trent Tomlinson to provide social commentary on how things in our society have changed - for the worst.

Tomlinson's ballad titled "That's How It Was (That's How It Still Ought To Be)" has a nice, easy melody but the lyrics sound like a big case of whining.

Manners were important and people said "yes ma'am and yes sir." Big deal. Lots of people still do that here in Texas, but use of proper titles like that doesn't signify one's character.

All of this gloom and doom about "how the world was much safer." That's not entirely true.

But I do give Tomlinson credit for talking about how families used to eat dinner together without watching television. I can still remember having family meals with no television static in the background, because Tomlinson and I are of the same generation, late 20's/early 30's.

I also liked how he mentioned the high gas prices, credit crunch and the outsourcing of jobs.

I wonder if in 30 years, if a young country singer will reflect on the 2030s and talk about the good ole days of the early 2000s?

Sure, we have our problems now and did in the 70's. But instead of reflecting over the past, I'd rather go with the l theory presented by James Otto, who says these are the "Good Ole Days" that we've been living.

Carpe Diem, baby.