Reviewed by Shadow Wolf
Like a lot of country songs, ‘Busy Man’ tells a story, of which the title is an apt description. The narrative is of a business man who at first puts his work ahead of himself and his family. He basically ignores his children, putting off spending time with them, and breaks promises to his wife in the name of “going far” in his job. But this is succeeded by the realisation that the “responsibilities” and “priorities” he has been focusing on are not the right ones. He pointedly asks “Did you ever see a headstone with these words: ‘If only I had spent more time at work’?” This leads him to change his attitude and put his family first.
The lyrics of the song, and the story they tell, are clever and haunting, perhaps more so because they reflect the concern of Billy Ray Cyrus to put his family ahead of his singing career, making the song personal and convincing. The first verse is somewhat uncomfortable, leaving you wondering whether the story can possibly have a happy ending. The second verse then becomes correspondingly uplifting, with the narrator setting everything right and experiencing the joy of taking time to be with his loved ones.
The shift in mental attitude encompassed in the verses is cleverly offset by the symmetry of the choruses, which are almost identical, illustrating that the singer does indeed have “priorities” and “responsibilities”, but now he knows what they really are, and now it is his family members who are telling him that he has “come far”. He is still working, but now he knows when to say that he has better, more important things to do.
This song is therefore uplifting, but also thought-provoking, so even if country isn’t your thing, it may still be worth a listen if only to make you re-evaluate your priorities, or as a timely warning for the future.
The tune is simple and catchy, suiting the guitar backing and country genre. The relatively speedy and upbeat rhythm carries the listener along and avoids a morbid feel to the first verse, offsetting the tension in the lyrics to make sure you keep listening. Billy Ray’s voice, as always, suits the classic country genre: clear, clean and unlaboured.
If you like country music, you’ll probably like this, especially if you are already a fan of Billy Ray Cyrus’s older songs. If not, the story and emotional relevance of this still make it worth a listen, and it’s also a good introduction to the style.
Lyrics: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment