2:25
single, 1955
Written by Charlie Louvin and Ira Louvin
An in-harmony country weeper, blending close brother-duet singing with deep Appalachian bluegrass and gospel and early honky-tonk influences. Its aching, sorrowful style helped define the emerging genre of country heartbreak ballads: "You can teach all the raindrops to return to the clouds / But you can’t teach my heart to forget." The song asserts unrelenting love and grief lasting beyond death, the message simple and devastatingly pure. It’s a cornerstone of the stylistic roots of modern country and Americana music.