Once he was back onstage, the band began to play "Don't Take the Girl," which soothed the crowd back into a relaxed vibe, as McGraw belted out some of the saddest lyrics we have ever heard. The song is about a boy and a girl; in the first verse, an eight-year-old boy is going fishing with his dad and begs him not to take the girl with them; in the second verse, 10 years later, the same boy and girl are walking home from a movie when a mugger grabs the girl and asks the boy for his wallet.
The boy begs the robber not to take the girl; and in the third verse, five years later, the girl is giving birth, and the doctor tells the boy that the girl might not make it. The boy begins to pray and begs God... well, you get the idea.
It happens to be one of the only country songs that can make Aftermath's eyes swell. Make fun if you want to, but we're not embarrassed to admit that music can bring about a little emotion in us... from time to time, that is.
After "The Cowboy In Me," a fitting finale for a man whose persona is as cowboy as it gets, as the band onstage continued playing, McGraw bowed, waved and smiled in a way that could only be genuine, thanking his many adoring fans as he exited the stage. It was the end of a solid performance by, from what we can tell, is one hell of a solid individual.
Personal Bias: You know that bass solo in 'I Like It, I Love It'? Yeah, that's our jam. Show some love for the ever-underappreciated bassists, people!
Overhead in the Crowd: "I heard on NPR the other day that one in seven divorces involves claims backed up by Facebook." Seriously, America? Come on.
Random Notebook Dump: Mutton bustin', in which 5- and 6-year-olds hold onto the backs of sheep as they dart toward the center of the field, may be the most adorable activity involving children we've ever seen. It's not nearly as creepy as those eTrade commercials, which send shivers down our spine.
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