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Song Stories

“Rooster”

Alice in Chains | 1992

For civilians, it's hard to fathom the horrific events that soldiers experience in war. And on"Rooster," Alice in Chains tackle a subject that hit home for guitarist Jerry Cantrell, as his father is a Vietnam War veteran. "It was the start of the healing process between my dad and I from all that damage that Vietnam caused," Cantrell explained. "This was all my perception of his experiences out there." The beginning of the "Rooster" video would feature Cantrell's father briefly talking about his war experiences.

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Song Stories

“(We're Not) The Jet Set”

George Jones and Tammy Wynette | 1973

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were still married when they recorded the tongue-in-cheek "(We're Not) The Jet Set." The lyrics, written by Nashville songwriter Bobby Braddock, who also penned Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today," make fun of the good life by declaring, "We're not the Jet Set/We're the old Chevrolet set." Braddock recalled that while writing the song, he needed the name of a city that evened out the rhyme he had with "Riviera" and "Missourah." “I got out a Rand McNally atlas," he said. "In the first part are the maps. The last part is an alphabetical listing of cities. I wanted a rustic, small-time sound. I went to the listing for Missouri. And I found 'Festus.' I loved the sound of it."

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