For every genre of music there’s some type of stereotype that is either about the music itself or the people who listen to it. In my opinion, the genre of music that is stereotyped the most is country music. Too much country music can simply be characterized as hillbillies, playing banjos and singing about beer, women, trucks and farming. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of songs that fit this stereotype, but as someone who has grown up on country music, I hear something different. Instead, I hear songs about finding love and commitment. Here’s a list of country songs, past and present, that I feel exemplify the deeper meaning of country music.

1. Don’t Take the Girl-Tim McGraw

Lyric: “Johnny hit his knees and there he prayed… God, please don’t take the girl”

2. Wanted-Hunter Hayes

Lyric: “You’re more than everything I need, you’re all I ever wanted”

3. Die a Happy Man-Thomas Rhett

Lyric: “If all I got is your hand in my hand, Baby, I could die a happy man”

4. It’s Your Love- Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill (This one's even more cute, because they're husband and wife!)

Lyric: “And if you wonder about the spell I’m under, it’s your love”

5. Austin-Blake Shelton

Lyric: “If you’re callin’ ‘bout my heart, it’s still yours…can’t you tell, this is Austin and I still love you”

6. I Don’t Dance- Lee Brice

Lyric: “I don’t dance, but here I am spinning you round and round in circles, it ain’t my style, but I don’t care, I’d do anything with you anywhere”

7. Forever and For Always-Shania Twain

Lyric: “ ‘Cause I’m keeping you forever and for always, we will be together all of our days”

8. Amazed-Lonestar

Lyric: “I wanna spend the rest of my life with you by my side, forever and ever. Every little thing that you do, Baby I’m amazed by you”

9. Remember When-Alan Jackson

Lyric: “Brought back the love, we found trust, vowed to never give it up. Remember when”

10. From the Ground Up- Dan+Shay

Lyric: “And we’ll build this love from the ground up, for worse or for better”

11. Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square

Lyric: “Look at all the love that we got, it ain’t never gonna stop, are you gonna kiss me or not?”

12. What I Never Knew I Always Wanted-Carrie Underwood

Lyric: “I didn’t know there was a hole, something missing in my soul, ‘til you filled it up with your love”

13. Just A Kiss-Lady Antebellum

Lyric: “Just a shot in the dark that you just might be the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life. So baby I’m alright, with just a kiss goodnight”

14. Who I Am With You-Chris Young

Lyric: “Because of you, I’m a lucky man, you’re the best part of who I am”

15. Check Yes or No- George Strait

Lyric: “Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend? And if you do, well don’t be afraid to take me by the hand if you want to. I think this is how love goes, check yes or no”

Call me a hopeless romantic if you want, but these songs paint a sweet story of finding true love and making a commitment to that person for life. Which is something I believe to be an extremely important and special part of life. All of these country songs describe love and romance; they are a far cry from the songs that people normally use to classify country music as. So, I challenge you to give these songs a try and open your ears to a different side of country music.