For more than three decades, country music fans have been listening to (and loving) songs written by Mark Narmore. His first cut, 90s country staple “The Moon Over Georgia” for Shenandoah, kicked in motion a songwriting career chock full of hits and favorites for the likes of BlackHawk, Ty England, Reba McEntire and countless others.
A decade and a half after “The Moon Over Georgia,” the Muscle Shoals native co-penned Craig Morgan’s four-week chart-topper “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” a song that deserves its own chapter when writing about 2000s country music.
With such an impressive resumé of songs to his name, we asked Narmore about songs he admires and wishes he had a hand in writing, and he didn’t disappoint!
“The Load Out” – Jackson Browne (written by Jackson Browne & Bryan Garafalo)
This song came out at the same time I was playing in local garage bands in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, overnight at the skating rink and so forth. Being a piano player and baritone ballad singer, this song struck me musically and lyrically; a true double whammy. I would imagine myself as the rockstar, leaving it all on the field, then the lonely, sad song of the roadie grabs you by the heart.
“If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong, Do It Right”- Vern Gosdin (written by Vern Gosdin & Max D. Barnes)
I first heard this song about the time the Nashville songwriting bug bit me good: some time around 1984. I was studying these cleverly twisted songs; almost every line was a double entendre, and I was simply bowled over at the lyrical songwriting genius of Nashville. Right in the epicenter of such was Vern and Max D. They had a great run together.
“Dark Eyes”- Bob Dylan
When it comes to gleaning song ideas, I’ve always been a crazy brainstormer. I guess that’s why Bob Dylan’s lyrics spoke to me. There was always a seeming random, wild, stream of consciousness poetry there that was so imaginative, childlike and brilliant. This song is right in that vein, and I always imagined this song was from Christ’s viewpoint from the cross. But Dylan’s lyrics are so wonderfully nebulous, they could literally be about anything you want them to be about.
“Same Old Lang Syne”- Dan Fogelberg
Just a masterpiece through and through. I hung onto every line, every note, every chord and every detail the first time I heard this song, and the same is true every time I’ve listened to it since. The story is woven so wonderfully and tugs at the heart with every word, from top to bottom.
“Last Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning”- Willie Nelson (written by Gary P. Nunn & Donna Farar)
Nashville was my songwriting college, and I was studying night and day. This is one of those brilliant pieces that I really tuned into, and still do to this day. The hook had the wonderful Nashville double twist, and the lyrics and melody were just so soulful, which bore witness with my Muscle Shoals upbringing. The Wurlitzer piano and Willie’s vocal on this are etched in the fabric of my soul.
Pro Country 
You may not have written those but you have written some great song
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