Country music is rooted in the American folk lifestyle. This style first emerged in the Appalachian region well over a century ago before becoming one of the most popular forms of music across the United States. Today, this type of music can be found from Seattle to rural Oklahoma, all the way down to Miami, and all the way up to Brooklyn.

In fact, country music has seen tons of evolutions since it first emerged from the hollers of Appalachia. There’s indie country, rap country, and almost every crossover in between. Even Americans who don’t regularly listen to the country are likely familiar with a few hits. They also probably know names like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and more recent stars like Luke Bryan.

But what about those evergreen references from country songs? Along with the iconic and twang-like singing style, instruments like the harmonica and banjo, and even fashion statements like cowboy hats, the activities, and sentiments communicated through country lyrics are profound and well-known. But do you know where they come from and why they’ve lasted so long?

Poker & the Open Road

Games of poker are common references throughout the country landscape—and that’s because poker is a distinctly American game. The modern version we know evolved in the city of New Orleans in the early 1800s before spreading west and becoming part of the American frontier. Today, variations like Texas Hold’em and Omaha are popular enough that they’re the subject of major competitions around the world.

For example, the recent European Poker Tour stop in Cyprus saw competitors from Hungary, Netherlands, Turkey, and beyond compete at the Main Table. But back when country music was first emerging, poker was a game commonly played by rugged individualists who had a penchant for the open road. The game itself is used to reflect the characters and adventures of these countrymen.

The game, much like life on the road, requires a balance of skill, determination, and experience. The ever-present risk of a bad beat, along with the chance to win big, are perpetual themes on the frontier.

A Reference to Fido

Poker summarizes the risks and rewards of life on the open road—but that doesn’t mean that all country folk go it alone. Along with horses, country music lyrics often reference beloved dogs. This harks back, once again, to the rugged independence that frontiers people once faced.

As any country music fan knows, lyrics often focus on heartbreak and love. Despite the country’s association with independence and rugged living, it also recognizes the need for a warm home and family to come back to. But, in many cases, home life can be complicated and, ultimately, unsatisfying.

Enter Fido, man’s best friend and the immortal companion of country singers. Once again, it’s worth pointing out that some artists make stronger references to horses, tractors, or their trucks—but they’ll all represent the same thing: having a partner in crime to tackle life’s tougher challenges with.

Must-Haves: A Truck & Boots

Trucks and boots are two of the most common elements of the country music identity. These aren’t always referenced in lyrics—but they’re often a part of an artist’s visual branding. For men, boots are about looking good while taking pride in hard work, if not manual labor. For women, boots are a statement of power, femininity, and influence.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, modern country ballads are likely to reference a truck at some point in time. The truck has myriad implications—and they’re only becoming more varied and popular in lyrical references. But not everyone is happy with the uptick in truck
references, hinting that it’s becoming overused along with buzz words like ‘jeans’ and ‘small town.’

Both trucks and boots harken back to country music’s roots. Though the genre has certainly gone mainstream, it was once only locally popular, meaning that most small towns had their own radio stations that played country music specific to their area. As it becomes more mainstream, references to trucks are a way to harken back to the country’s earliest identity.