Exclusive Song of the Day: "Committed to Parkview," Porter Wagoner

Country legend Porter Wagoner sings about life in a mental institution.

Published April 23, 2007 7:01AM (EDT)

Porter Wagoner is one of country music's living legends. But he's almost as well known for serving up some of the most cheese-slathered corn ever to come out of Nashville as he is for his catalog of classic country hits and his influential 1960s TV show, "The Porter Wagoner Show," which helped launch Dolly Parton's career. Taken from his new album, "Wagonmaster," "Committed to Parkview" lives on the line between the best and the worst of what Wagoner has to offer. Written and originally performed by Johnny Cash -- no stranger to schmaltz himself -- the song is a first-person account of life inside a mental institution. The whole thing has a slight whiff of gimmickry about it, but you can't deny the weary sadness the 79-year-old Wagoner gives to lines like "My days are kinda foggy/ My nights are dreamy too/ They're taking good care of me/ While I'm committed to Parkview."

-- David Marchese

The Song of the Day is also available as a podcast. (Subscribe: iTunes or RSS)


By Salon Staff

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