Clint Black
In 1989, a quartet of new artists ushered in an era of country music that built on the neo-traditional sounds of Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Reba, and George Strait and led to an unprecedented boon for the genre. Their rising tide of success would lift countless boats in the sea of ‘90s country and earn them the collective nickname of the Class of ‘89.
Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt introduced themselves to the masses with Killin’ Time, Garth Brooks, Here In The Real World, and Country Club, respectively. Their sound and songwriting were steeped in tradition: Musically, they leaned heavily on fiddles and steel guitar, and lyrically, they honored the classic country themes of heartbreak and home, with plenty of drinking references thrown in for good measure.
But their contemporary spin — from blending traditional instruments with electric guitars and keyboards to more narrative-driven songwriting styles — made country music sound new. And when Garth won over audiences with live shows influenced by rock legends like KISS, country music morphed into a bankable commodity few thought possible.
Their songs are the soundtrack of my youth, and all these years later, I’m still singing along to their impressive catalog of hits. So, taking the group in alphabetical order, let’s dive into Clint Black — a modern-day poet and gifted musician obsessed with time.
“State of Mind”
When I first considered starting Roots & Rhinestones, lyrics from Clint Black’s “State of Mind” weighed heavy on my heart:
Ain’t it funny how a melody can bring back a memory/ Take you to another place in time/ Completely change your state of mind
I was 12 years old when the song came out, and I can still remember watching the music video: Clint walking down a desert highway, guitar case in hand. Later, the scene shifts to Clint and his band, dressed in Western ribbon ties and cowboy hats, playing under the stars to a small crowd of couples dancing in the dirt.
I didn’t understand why the lyrics to this simple song hit me so hard at the time, but they stuck with me, as did my love for what can only be described as Clint Black’s poetry. Clint was fortunate to find a kindred spirit and songwriting partner in Hayden Nicholas, a fellow Texan who also plays lead guitar in Clint’s band. Together, they have written more than 60 songs, sending 15 of them to the top of the charts.
In fact, their first three singles were No. 1 hits, and Black’s self-penned “Nobody’s Home” was his fourth consecutive No. 1. Not a bad way to start a career.
I could quote Clint Black lyrics all day, but allow me to give you a just a sampling of favorites:
When you find another friend who’ll light your candle up again/ You can burn one down for me (“Burn One Down”)
I still comb my hair the same/ Still like the same cologne/ And I still drive that pick-up truck/ That the same old bank still owns (“Nobody’s Home”)
It’s a little and a lot to ask/ An endless and a welcome task/ Love isn’t something that we have/ It’s something that we do (“Something That We Do”)
No time to kill, but time to change the kind of hurry I’ve been in/ And quit this work and worry looking back at where I’ve been/ If you don’t look ahead, nobody will, there’s no time to kill (“No Time to Kill”)
Early in his career, Clint impressed critics and fans with the emotional precision of his songwriting. In his debut single, “A Better Man,” Black reaches out to a former love to explain how their failed relationship had an unexpected positive result. It’s a sweet tribute to lost love that he followed with “Killin’ Time,” a song that continues to define his career.
You were the first thing that I thought of/ When I thought I drank you off my mind/ When I get lost in the liquor/ You’re the only one I find/ And if I did the things I oughta/ You still would not be mine/ So I’ll keep a tight grip on the bottle/ Gettin’ loose and killin’ time
Clint’s first three albums tell us a lot about the music he grew up listening to — Haggard, George Jones, and the Western swing music pioneered by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Even his music videos showed his honky-tonk roots. Both “A Better Man” and “Killin’ Time” have the feel of watching TNN’s “Club Dance.”
Though his songwriting was fresh, his music videos were mostly “live” performances wrapped in loose storytelling until he experimented with “When My Ship Comes In.” In a white dress shirt blowing in the wind and without his signature cowboy hat, Clint navigates a sailboat through the Rocky Mountains, faithful dog at his side, eventually arriving in a sunny, tropical destination.
We’re willing to take that trip with Clint because, even though everyone knows you can’t “sail right out of Colorado,” we can relate to cabin fever and loneliness and that feeling that there’s something better waiting out there for us.
His personality shines in the cameo-filled “Summer’s Comin’” starring Howie Mandell. Clad in a wetsuit and cowboy hat, Clint shows off his impressive electric guitar licks. “Blossom” star Joey Lawrence closes the video with his signature “Whoa” catchphrase in a brilliant piece of ‘90s pop culture adoration.
But nothing defines Clint Black’s career like the theme of time.
Killin’ it and spendin’ it
Even as a teenager, I understood the importance of Clint’s reflections on time. From 1989’s Killin’ Time to 1993’s No Time to Kill, it was clear he had given a lot of thought to the seconds and minutes that measure our days.
If I’m not mistaken, No Time to Kill was the first Clint Black album I owned, and I listened to it faithfully. I loved the vocal acrobatics of the title cut — which when done correctly as Clint does, and I never could — require breathing exercises to train the diaphragm.
While I was more focused on my breathing back then, it didn’t take too many years for me to grasp the wisdom of Clint’s words and the poetry of his lyrics.
After a four-year break from recording, Clint revisited the theme of time with 2004’s Spend My Time and accompanying title track. Reading those lyrics now, I get chills. “Spend My Time” is another philosophical reflection on life:
I’ve many miles behind me, maybe not so much ahead/ It seems I made good time with the directions I misread
Even without a No. 1 hit since 1999’s duet with his wife Lisa Hartman-Black, songs like “Spend My Time” prove his songwriting skills are as sharp as ever. As I’ve said before, charts aren’t the only — or even the most important — measure of success. Clint Black is still writing and recording music, touring and connecting with fans across the world. I was fortunate to see him at the Soybean Festival in Martin, Tennessee in 2017, and he filled my ‘90s country heart with joy.
Clint also hosts a Circle TV series called “Talking In Circles,” inviting some of his friends in the entertainment industry to “talk shop” about music, movies and more. I’ve watched a few episodes, but one that’s especially relevant to Roots & Rhinestones is his sit-down with Travis Tritt, which you can watch here.
To Travis, Clint says, “I think the whole industry exploded in ‘89. It wasn’t just us, but we were in that first wave.” That first wave boosted the careers of established stars and brought a host of like-minded new artists to Nashville.
For that — and for all the melodies that bring back memories — Clint Black deserves to join his fellow 1989 “classmates” Garth and Alan in the Country Music Hall of Fame. And I can prove it with five of my favorite songs.
My Top 5 Clint Black Songs
1. “Nothin’ but the Taillights”
From his 1997 album of the same name. Written by Clint Black and Steve Wariner. No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
When it comes to songwriting and playing guitar, Clint Black and Steve Wariner are two titans of their industry. Their sizable talents in both departments are easily showcased on this up-tempo break-up song served with a side of sweet revenge. This is, hands down, my favorite Clint Black song.
2. “Killin’ Time”
From his 1989 album of the same name. Written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas. No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
When the Country Music Association Awards celebrated its 50th anniversary show, they brought out all the stops for the opening medley of hits. Generations of stars — Charley Pride and Roy Clark, Alabama and Dwight Yoakam — performed some of their biggest songs. When Clint took the stage to sing “Killin’ Time,” it was cool to see Reba, Carrie Underwood, and Alabama behind him on the stage singing along.
3. “One Emotion”
From his 1994 album of the same name. Written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas. Peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
He has better songs, but there’s something about this one that pulls me in every time. I wish I had the musical vocabulary to describe why “One Emotion” feels like peak ‘90s country to me.
4. “When My Ship Comes In”
From his 1992 album The Hard Way. Written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas. No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Clint’s headed to “Puerta No-One-Knows.” I didn’t know Puerta was door or gate in Spanish, but I understood the spirit of adventure when Clint declared he would “catch a ride on a warm trade wind” to that peaceful destination.
5. “Put Yourself in My Shoes”
From his 1990 album of the same name. Written by Clint Black, Hayden Nicholas, and Shake Russell. Peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
From the bluesy harmonica intro to the clever lyrics to the Texas twang, this one is playful without being condescending. He goes into a higher register on the final chorus, which is something he rarely does, lending a touch more gravitas to his plea for another chance. What woman wouldn’t let Clint walk right back to her?
Bonus Album Cut
I typically give you three bonus album cuts, but doing so in this case would be disingenuous. His singles are my favorites, and holding that list to five was difficult. There is one album cut that readily comes to mind for Clint. It’s both a tribute to his heroes and peers and a great example of his craftsmanship as a songwriter.
“Tuckered Out”
From his 1993 album No Time to Kill. Written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas.
Check it out live from the 1993 CMA Awards to see his country music references come to life on the big screen behind him.
What Clint Black melody brings back a memory for you? Share it in the comments.
Up next is Garth Brooks, a bona fide superstar who took country music to new heights and can still sell out a stadium in mere minutes.
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