George Jones – Choices (1999)

About the song

“Choices.” Released in 1999 as a single from his album Cold Hard Truth, this track wasn’t just a hit; it became a Top 30 single and garnered immense critical acclaim, including a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. It’s far more than just a popular song; it’s a poignant and unvarnished meditation on the paths taken, the lessons learned, and the enduring consequences of the choices we make throughout our journey.

The Unflinching Honesty of the Lyrics
The lyrics of “Choices,” brilliantly penned by Mike Curtis and Billy Yates, are a candid and deeply personal inventory of a life marked by both good decisions and regrettable missteps. The narrator reflects on a lifetime of experiences, acknowledging the direct link between the choices made and the outcomes faced, without apology or self-pity. Phrases like “I’ve had choices since the day that I was born / There were voices that told me right from wrong” and “I’ve been a hero and a fool, I’ve been a rich man and a poor man / And a king and a pawn, and a bishop and a knight” perfectly capture this blend of weary wisdom and defiant acceptance. The song speaks to the universal human experience of navigating life’s complex moral landscape, understanding that every decision, big or small, shapes who we become. It’s about the profound responsibility that comes with free will, the often-painful lessons learned from mistakes, and the quiet contentment that can eventually emerge from a life lived authentically, for better or worse. For George Jones, a man whose life was notoriously marked by both immense talent and profound personal struggles, these lyrics resonated with an almost unparalleled biographical weight, making the song an intensely powerful and personal statement.

George Jones’s Soulful Delivery
George Jones’s vocal performance on “Choices” is nothing short of masterful, often cited as a late-career highlight that showcased his enduring power as an interpreter of raw emotion. His voice, matured and weathered by decades of life and performance, delivers the lyrics with a profound sense of lived experience. He doesn’t just sing the words; he embodies the very essence of the song’s reflective and sometimes mournful tone, making the listener feel every ounce of his triumphs, his weariness, and his ultimate acceptance. There’s a perfect crack in his voice, a subtle tremble that conveys immense emotional depth without ever resorting to over-dramatization. Jones’s brilliance lies in his unparalleled ability to infuse such a deeply personal narrative with raw, authentic emotion, connecting with audiences on a visceral and empathetic level. It is a performance that underscores why he was, and remains, known as “The Possum” – a true master of conveying profound human experience.

The Classic, Unadorned Arrangement
The musical arrangement of “Choices” is classic George Jones from his later period – stripped-down, traditional, and meticulously crafted to highlight the profound lyrical narrative and his commanding vocal performance. It features a gentle, melodic acoustic guitar that provides a warm foundation, a prominent and weeping steel guitar that adds a layer of country soul, and a steady, unobtrusive rhythm section that allows the listener to fully absorb every word. The instrumentation is tasteful and precise, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and deeply reflective. The production is clean, warm, and timeless, allowing every instrumental nuance and, crucially, Jones’s incredible vocal delivery, to be heard with pristine clarity, enhancing the song’s profound emotional impact. It’s an arrangement that respects the song’s message, letting the truth of the lyrics and the power of the voice speak for themselves.

“Choices” resonated deeply with audiences because its themes of life’s journey, the impact of personal decisions, and the wisdom gained through experience are universally understood and profoundly felt. It became one of George Jones’s most iconic and beloved late-career hits, a true signature song that continued to cement his status as a country music legend. It remains a timeless classic, a powerful and poignant reminder that in the end, we all live with our choices.

Video

Lyrics

I’ve had choices since the day that I was born
There were voices that told me right from wrong
If I had listened, no I wouldn’t be here today
Living and dying with the choices I’ve made

I was tempted, by an early age I found
I liked drinkin’, oh, and I never turned it down
There were loved ones but I turned them all away
Now I’m living and dying with the choices I’ve made

I’ve had choices since the day that I was born
There were voices that told me right from wrong
If I had listened, no I wouldn’t be here today
Living and dying with the choices I’ve made

I guess I’m payin’ for the things that I have done
If I could go back, oh, Lord knows I’d run
But I’m still losin’ this game of life I play
Losing and dying with the choices I’ve made

I’ve had choices since the day that I was born
There were voices that told me right from wrong
If I had listened, no I wouldn’t be here today
Living and dying with the choices I’ve made

Living and dying with the choices I’ve made