More Country Lyrics

Today at work, I was listening to Conway Twitty (as good, mellow, recover-from-a-cold music). When "The Games That Daddies Play" came on, it reminded me of a book about country music I'd read several years ago. The author claimed that part of Conway's genius was his knack of leaving the listener wondering if song was about something much more dark than it's putative subject -- adding an illicit thrill to music with very strict rules about how it could sound and what subject matter could cover. For example, the author claimed that the first verse of "The Games That Daddies Play" was designed to make you think it could be about incest (I don't know if I would have ever picked that up, if I hadn't read about it):

He put his arms around her shoulder,
And with a voice that sounded older,
He said, "Mom, I got something on my mind.
I don't want to bother you,
But I sure need to talk to you,
If you can only spare the time.
And Mom I hope you understand
How much I love and need you,
And I don't want you to take this the wrong way.
But don't you think I'm old enough
And big enough and strong enough
To play the games that daddies play?"

Of course, the second verse makes clear that the son just wants to go camping overnight with his friend's dad and bond. But I think the most subversive lyrics are the last verse, when the mother explains why her son doesn't have a father:

She quickly turned to hide the tears
From her son of seven years.
He didn't know she'd read between the lines.
He'd never really known his dad,
And although he'd never ask,
She knew exactly what was on his mind.
She searched her mind in desperation,
Six long years of separation
Dimmed the words she knew she had to say:
"I hope you're never big enough
Or old enough or bold enough
To play the games that daddies play.
I know you need and want his love,
But, son, you're the victim of
Another kind of game that daddies play."