Introduction:
Country crooner Vern Gosdin released a poignant ballad about the trials of a failing relationship titled That Just About Does It in 1989. The song struck a chord with audiences, becoming a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, peaking at number four. That Just About Does It further solidified Gosdin’s reputation as a leading voice in country music, a genre known for its storytelling and exploration of everyday heartaches.
That Just About Does It was included on Gosdin’s studio album Alone, released on Columbia Records. The album itself did well commercially, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Bob Montgomery served as the album’s producer, having collaborated with Gosdin on numerous successful projects throughout the 1980s.
While songwriting credits for That Just About Does It are sometimes attributed solely to Gosdin, the song was actually a collaborative effort. Max D. Barnes co-wrote the tune with Gosdin. This teamwork resulted in a song that resonated with listeners due to its relatable portrayal of a love on the brink of collapse.
That Just About Does It depicts a couple wrestling with the painful realities of a deteriorating relationship. The lyrics explore themes of broken communication, unspoken resentments, and the lingering hope for reconciliation. The singer acknowledges past arguments and regrets, expressing a desire to salvage the relationship before it’s too late. However, the gloomy undercurrent of the song suggests a looming sense of acceptance that the relationship might be beyond repair.
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Lyrics:
Every night you go to bed cryingThere’s nothing left to do when love is dying So before the whole world knows, how we’re hurting Don’t you think it’s time we pull the curtains’So many times, I talked you out of leavingAnd so many times you’ve tried to fight the feeling I guess we’ve tried and failed once too often Now the suitcase down the hallway does the talkingThat just about does it, don’t itThat’ll just about kill it, won’t it Maybe we should call a truce We could but what’s the use That just about does it, don’t itIt’s sad to think that words could come between usAnd what I said, God knows I didn’t mean it It’s time we realize this time it’s over It’s tearing us apart to stay togetherAnd that just about does it, don’t itThat’ll just about kill it, won’t it Maybe we should call a truce We could, but what’s the use That just about does it, don’t itMaybe we should call a truceWe could, but what’s the use That just about does it, don’t it, don’t it