Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Wagoner’s “The Cold Hard Facts of Life” Will Make You Sad

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

“The Cold Hard Facts of Life” is a song that portrays infidelity. In the complicated world that we live in, what’s your take on this song? To be in hell or rot in here? Well, why didn’t anyone teach us about the cold hard facts of life?

 The Cold Hard Facts of Life’s Original Artist

Porter Wagoner was a popular country singer in 1960s through the ’70s. He was well known for his fashion statement of flashy nudies and being the duo partner of Dolly Parton. With 81 charted singles, he was also known as Mr. Grand Ole Pry and then elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Wagoner was the original artist to release the song in 1966.

porter wagoner
Photo Credit: Country Thang Daily

The Narrative of the Song

It is a classic country song that tells the story of infidelity. In the song, the husband decided to go home a day earlier to surprise his wife. He planned on going home without phoning his wife. As he passed by a wine store, he was imagining candlelit dinner with a bottle of champagne. He decided to buy one and saw a stranger who even gave him a small talk.

On his way home, he was two steps behind the stranger. To the husband’s surprise, the stranger pulled his car in the drive. That’s when he realized the cold hard facts of life. As the husband entered the house the wife and stranger screamed and cried. They pleaded the husband to put away the knife. The song ends with the husband’s line,

“I guess I’ll go to hell or I’ll rot here in this cell.”

porter wagoner
Photo Credit: Country Thang Daily

Listen to Wagoner’s “The Cold Hard Facts of Life” here:

For more classic country reads, like and share us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Trending

Latest Stories

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

After viral sensation Oliver Anthony shared some candid—and controversial—thoughts about the music industry, country music fans were abuzz recently. The conversation escalated when Anthony hinted that a mainstream country artist ...

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis' Grammy-Winning "Forever and Ever, Amen"

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis’ Grammy-Winning “Forever and Ever, Amen”

When it comes to country music that stands the test of time, Randy Travis is the name that echoes through the halls of history. His deep, resonant voice and unparalleled ...

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Amid Blood Disease Complications

The Robertson family, known for their Duck Dynasty fame, has revealed concerning news about their beloved patriarch, Phil Robertson. On a recent episode of their podcast, Unashamed with the Robertson ...

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Country music has always been a storytelling tradition, weaving the trials and triumphs of everyday life into melodies that stand the test of time. While most fans trace the roots ...

The All-American Rejects Reveal "Dirty Little Secret" Started as a Country Song

The All-American Rejects Reveal “Dirty Little Secret” Started as a Country Song

Who would’ve thought? The All-American Rejects, those emo-rock icons of the 2000s, recently revealed a surprising twist about one of their biggest hits. During an interview on the Zach Sang ...

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery's "Sold" With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold” With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top is quickly solidifying his place as one of country music’s most exciting rising stars. Hailing from Sunnyside, Washington, Zach brings a neotraditional flair to his music that feels ...

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds' Show

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds’ Show

Burt Reynolds may be best remembered as a Hollywood icon. Still, in the early ’90s, he brought country music royalty together for an unforgettable moment in television history. On his ...

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Chris Stapleton’s dominance at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was not without controversy. As he walked away with Single of the Year and Song of the Year for ...

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" Album as "Complete Trash"

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” Album as “Complete Trash”

Oliver Anthony is no stranger to controversy. Known for his unapologetic stance against the mainstream music industry, the artist behind “Rich Men North of Richmond” recently turned his attention to ...

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville's Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville’s Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony, the breakout star whose hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed him to fame, has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the music business’s ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.