This morning, I am driving to our retail store, coffee in hand and scanning through the radio channels when something makes me stop.  It’s Brad Paisley.  On the radio, not in the road.

Being a proud Nashvillian, I know that most people around here consider any bad-mouthing of country music as sacrilege.  But this song, “Ticks” is just a little too country for me.  I’m surprised this is the first time I’ve heard it, considering it was released on his 2007 album entitled, 5th Gear.

We’ve all made fun of  the way country music includes lyrics about crying into beer,  meeting the love of your life at a Monster Truck ralley or a finding romance over a plate of fried catfish.  But, to romanticize picking disease carrying parasites off of each other?  Eeew.  I’m squirming, thinking about it.  Below is piece of the lyrics.

I’d like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I’d like to walk through a field of wildflowers
And I’d like to check you for ticks

Come on Brad, what’s next?  How about a few lines like, “We’re flat broke and the kids got lice but we’ve got love”  or, worse yet, “Baby, take this box of RID and I’ll love ya for who you are.”

Oh.  I have to stop writing.  I’m making my head itch.  Perhaps this song would be good for raising money for Lyme Disease?