Top Ten Tuesday: Classic Country Songs I Wish Were Books

Happy Tuesday everyone and welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's theme is a freebie all about music and books, for example you could do books that should have soundtracks or songs that you wish were books, or something else altogether.  I've decided to go with Songs That I Wish Were Books, specially Classic Country.  For each song, I will include a music video, the genre I'd like the book to be, and my reasoning behind my choice.  Here we go, in alphabetical order by song title:



"Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean (1961) - Magical Realism
Every time I hear this song I can't help but to compare Big John to legendary characters like John Henry and Paul Bunyan.  That is a huge part as to why I'd love to see a book that explores John having some sort of fantastical or supernatural ability.



"A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash (1969) - YA Contemporary
I can totally imagine this as a edgy, gritty, and intense YA Contemporary novel narrated by Sue's detailing his rough life as he's growing up and deciding to look for his scumbag father.



"Convoy" by C.W. McCall (1975) - Action/ Adventure/ Humor
So, there was a movie that was made about this song in 1978 starring Kris Kristofferson as Rubber Duck, the narrator of the song.  Just my opinion, but skip the movie and just listen to the original song instead (a movie version was recorded to fit in with some of it's changed details).  Seriously, the movie manages to have almost zero plot.  Though, personally, I do think it would be fun to see a fast-paced, action-packed, and downright hilarious book!  I'd like it to be from multiple POVs from the perspective of the drivers in the convoy, but with Rubber Duck and Pig Pen taking more prominent parts.  And, it would also be interesting to directly know what's going on with the Bears (aka the highway patrol officers).  Lots of highway maps and a CB slang glossary should be included for reference.



"The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band (1979) - Horror Fantasy
I know, the video that goes along with this song is pretty crazy, but can't you just see this as an awesome horror fantasy novel?  Because I sure can!  Personally, I'd like to know more about Johnny - he's quite the bad-ass!  I mean, doesn't seem fazed at all when the devil challenges him and he manages to easily beat the devil at his own game.  Who exactly is Johnny, how did he get so good, has he come across other supernatural/ demonic beings, and what does he do with the devil's golden fiddle after he wins it?  I'd say that's a pretty good place to start for the novel, wouldn't you?



"Harper Valley PTA" by Jeannie C. Riley (1968) - YA Contemporary
There was a movie adaptation of this song released in 1978, again like with Convoy the song manages to be much better than the movie.  Anyway, I would really like to see a YA Contemporary novel adapted from this song and set at the time of the song's release.  One that's told from the perspective of the younger high school aged daughter (I'm not sure how old she's supposed to be in the song) and focuses on her relationship with her mother who's forced to challenge the stodgy social conventions of Harper Valley.



"Phantom 309" by Red Sovine (1967) - Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy
This song is pretty creepy and I think it could work as a Paranormal novel.  I'd definitely like to know more about Big Joe's past, the people he's given rides to, and the locals who all know the story.  Maybe throw in a ghost hunter or two, and then we'd really have something!



"Saginaw, Michigan" by Lefty Frizzell (1964) - Family Epic/ Romance
Okay, I'm partly in this one for the Alaskan gold mining.  You don't really see that in fiction very much these days and adaptation of this song as a Family Epic/ Romance could really bring it back!  When I say epic, I want more details on his dad, growing up in Saginaw, his relationship with his future wife and her family on top of all that gold mining stuff and the numerous obstacles in their way, and of course their happily ever after.  It'll be a real brick, but worth every page!


"A Week In A Country Jail" by Tom T. Hall (1969) - Older YA/ New Adult  Action/ Adventure Comedy
Just listen to the song, I'd say this one's pretty self-explanatory - the cast and their situations just need fleshed out a bit to really make it work as a novel!




"When It's Springtime In Alaska" by Johnny Horton (1959) - Historical Fiction
Johnny Horton is awesome - I especially enjoy his historical songs.  He has so many great ones, but again this one features Alaska and prospecting for gold!  Like I said before, I'd really like to see more of that in fiction.



"Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs" by Tom T. Hall (1971) - Medical Thriller/ Humor
This song is great, but honestly it leaves me with so many questions that maybe a medical thriller novel with a sense of humor could really help out.  For example, some of my questions include the following: What happened to the hog farmer to land him in the hospital?, How did the narrator get in the hospital and what was wrong with him?, What was going on at the farm while all of this was going on?, and What does the waitress think of everything she's just heard?, etc.


What do you think of my list this week?  Have any of my picks piqued your interest?  Do you have any recommendations or additions?  What songs do you wish were books?