Joe Diffie is one of my all time favorite artists.

This afternoon I’ll be seeing Joe live in concert for the very first time. He’s playing the 5pm slot at Country Jam in Eau Claire, WI. It’s the third time the country legend will hit the stage in Eau Claire. He previously appeared in 1998 and 2007. I know Joe’s a favorite of mine and once he hits the stage I’m sure he’ll instantly win over the fans. Wisconsin folks know their country music and Joe has a huge collection of hits to choose from. It should be nonstop entertainment.

Knowing Joe was playing today I was a little curious and I looked back on his career. There was something peculiar about his single history that stood out to me. Joe’s second single – [easyazon-link asin=”B00137QUDK”]If You Want Me To[/easyazon-link] – from 1990 reached #2 on the country singles charts, but I don’t recall ever hearing it. It’s not a song that’s played on radio today. It’s not played like Joe’s other huge hits [easyazon-link asin=”B00137X4J8″]Home[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link asin=”B002TJN31S”]Pickup Man[/easyazon-link], [easyazon-link asin=”B002TJL8BU”]John Deere Green[/easyazon-link], and [easyazon-link asin=”B00136Q6Z8″]Third Rock From The Sun[/easyazon-link].

After a couple listens it turns out this is, as expected, another classic from Joe. I don’t think he’ll have room for the song in today’s show, but I thought it deserved a little flashback here on CML.

Listen to [easyazon-link asin=”B00137QUDK”]If You Want Me To[/easyazon-link]…

If You Want Me To – Joe Diffie

This is what country music is about.

Joe Diffie has the perfect country voice. With [easyazon-link asin=”B00137QUDK”]If You Want Me To[/easyazon-link] we hear the somber story of a guy trying to hang on to the last piece of his broken relationship with a girl. She’s ready to give up on them and move on. He’s ready to do anything he can to keep things together. We get a glimpse of what may have happened because the guy is willing to do whatever the girl wants him to. Sometimes girls want their man to stand up for himself and do what he wants to do.

Perhaps the guy is finally realizing it’s over for good. Maybe he’s seeing the situation for what it is and moving on and finally giving up on things. She doesn’t love him and even though he’s not over her he realizes he needs to move on and let her live her life. It’s a difficult situation no doubt.

Joe does a stand up job as always on the track. It makes me crazy yet happy thinking I’d never heard this song up until recently. It’s such a great track. As I said before, I don’t think Joe will find time for this one in his set today since he has so many others to choose from, but if you’re a fan of his be sure to listen to this one.

It’s a Joe Diffie classic.

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