A song written by Bobby Braddock & Rafe VanHoy, was recorded by Tammy Wynette & George Jones for the Epic label, and produced by Bill Sherrill, in May 1976, released in June 1976, reaching number one on country charts on August 7 of the same year, it was the second duo George Jones-Tammy Wynette that reached the number 1 in the list of Billboard Hot Country Singles. The song would be included on the album, Golden Ring (Epic 1976), they recorded the song in 1994 for the album, The Bradley Barn Sessions (MCA).
Story behind the song:
Bobby Braddock was inspired watching a television drama, about the history of a gun, the story behind each person who had owned it, how it had changed hands, a hunter, a police officer, a criminal … Bobby exchanged the gun for a wedding ring.
In the song, a young couple from Chicago, apparently very much in love, goes to a pawnshop to buy a ring for their next wedding. The man (both characters have no name in the song) laments that he can not choose a more expensive band, but is willing to buy it to show how much he loves his future wife, whom in the second song verse – he marries in a small wedding chapel later that afternoon. In the third verse, the couple has been fighting and, with the marriage clearly in trouble, the man accuses his wife of planning to leave the city. Soon after, the woman responds by telling her husband that she no longer loves him, throws the ring and leaves. The last verse presents the ring, once again in a pawnshop, waiting for its next owners.
Versions:
Lucky Star 1988 ( Jugoton Records )
Jason Sellers & Pam Tillis 1999 ( BNA Records )
Rex Hobbart & Misery boys 2002 (Blodshoot Records)
Dwight Yoakam & Kelly Willis 2002 (Reprise Records)
Trucker up 2006 ( Two Eleven Records )
Terri Clark & Dierks Bentley 2012 ( Emi Canada )
Adam Harvey & Beccy Cole 2017 ( Sony Music )
Rhonda Vincent & Darryle Singletary 2017 ( Upper Management )
George Jones And Tammy Wynette – Golden Ring lyrics
In a pawn shop in Chicago
On a sunny summer day
A couple gazes at the
Wedding rings there on display
She smiles and nods her head
As he says Honey that’s for you
It’s not much but it’s the best that I can do
Golden ring with one tiny little stone
Waiting there for someone to take it home
By itself it’s just a cold metalic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring.
In a little wedding chapel
Later on that after noon
An old up right piano
Plays that old familiar tune
Tears roll down her cheeks
And happy thoughts run through her head
As he whispers low with this ring I thee wed
Golden ring with one tiny little stone
Shining ring now at last it’s found a home
By itself it’s just a cold metalic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring
In a small two room apartment
As they fight their final round
He says tou won’t admit it
But I know you’re leavin’ town
She says One thing’s for certain
I don’t love you anymore
And throws down the ring
As she walks out the door
Golden ring with one tiny little stone
Cast aside like the love that’s dead and gone
By itself it’s just a cold metalic thing
Only love can make a golden wedding ring
In a pawn shop in Chicago
On a sunny summer day
A couple gazes at the
Wedding rings there on display
Golden ring…