Obscure Gems: Gary Allan - Tough All Over

In 2002 Johnny Cash covered a Nine Inch Nails song about drug addiction and isolation and made it his own.  The song took on new meanings as we reinterpreted the lyrics through the scope of a legend’s career.  The intertextuality of the music deepened it’s value, as our knowledge of the performer added weight to Trent Reznor’s words.

Music is malleable; taking on new meaning and attributes as the performers and the audiences change. 

Similarly in 2005 another country recording artist Gary Allan released the first track to his album, Tough All Over; “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” a cover of a Vertical Horizon song.  For Vertical Horizon, the song was about a difficult breakup.  For Allan the song was still about the end of a relationship, but the circumstances made the bittersweet song even more poignant.

In 2004 Allan’s wife committed suicide after suffering from migraines and depression.  Following her death, Allan took a break from performing, but soon returned to the studio to record what would become 2005’s Tough All Over.  

His wife’s death is never directly referenced in the album, but themes of love and loss pervade the record.  Tough All Over is a reminder that there is room for greatness in all genres of music.  Allan has always existed in the genre of radio ready country, and Tough All Over is no exception.  “Best I Ever Had”  and “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” both made it to the Top 10 as singles on the Country charts.  

There is a forwardness and urgency to the lyrics on the album.  On Puttin’ Memories Away Allan sings about boxing up his wife’s old things.  He sings,

With red wine and tears I've been gatherin' all the years we spent together

I need to move on

'Cause I know that you're gone forever

On Ring Allan sings to his wife’s old wedding ring:

Yesterday you used to hold her

In Life Ain’t Always Beautiful he tries to reconcile with loss

And I wish for just one minute

I could see your pretty face

Guess I can dream, but life don’t work that way

Still, in the chorus he tries to find a silver lining:

But the struggle makes you stronger

And the changes make you wise

Nickajack Cave thematically stands out from the rest of the songs of the album, as it deals with the legend of Johnny Cash’s quest for redemption in Nickajack Cave.  The song is about Cash seeking salvation in spite of his past sins, and perhaps Allan is battling with his own guilt, and seeking a sort of rediscovery.

In the album’s final track, Puttin’ My Misery on Display Allan sings about the demands of performing the heartbreak of his songs on a nightly basis.  The song is all about music as a coping mechanism.  It’s a lonely life on the road, but a necessary evil for Allan, he sings, “It soothes my soul and keeps my sanity,” later adding, “I don’t know any other way, than putting my misery on display.”

Country music has always favored themes of love and heartbreak, and Tough All Over exists very much in that same space.  The album, however, is a reminder that there is room for greatness in all genres of music.  It’s an album borne out of tragedy, a mix of heartbreak, remorse, and determination.  Tough All Over is the sort of albums most artists should hope they never have the opportunity to write.

-Anthony