About The Song
“That Just About Does It” was written by Vern Gosdin and recorded in 1985. The song was released as a single on Compleat Records and reached #18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, marking another solid hit during Gosdin’s mid-1980s career resurgence.
The song was recorded during Gosdin’s period with Compleat Records, an independent label that helped revitalize his career after he had experienced commercial struggles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This period marked a creative renaissance for the singer-songwriter.
Gosdin wrote the song himself, showcasing his abilities as both a performer and songwriter. His self-penned material often drew from personal experiences and emotions, which contributed to the authenticity and emotional depth that characterized his best work.
The track exemplified Gosdin’s traditional country style, featuring his distinctive vocal delivery that could convey both vulnerability and strength. His approach to country music remained rooted in the classic honky-tonk and traditional country sounds that had influenced him throughout his career.
The song dealt with themes of relationship frustration and reaching a breaking point, subjects that Gosdin explored frequently in his songwriting. His ability to articulate complex emotional situations made him a respected figure among both fans and fellow musicians.
The recording was part of Gosdin’s successful run with Compleat Records, which included other notable singles like “I Can Tell by the Way You Dance” and “If You’re Gonna Do Me Wrong.” This period demonstrated his resilience and artistic growth after earlier career setbacks.
Gosdin’s performance style on the track reflected his background in both country and gospel music. He had started his career singing gospel with his brother Rex, and those influences remained evident in his phrasing and emotional delivery throughout his solo career.
The success of “That Just About Does It” helped maintain Gosdin’s momentum during the mid-1980s, setting the stage for his later major hits with Columbia Records including “Chiseled in Stone” and “Do You Believe Me Now.”
Video
Lyrics
Every night you go to bed crying
There’s nothing left to do when love is dying
So before the whole world knows, how we’re hurting
Don’t you think it’s time we pull the curtains’
So many times, I talked you out of leaving
And so many times you’ve tried to fight the feeling
I guess we’ve tried and failed once too often
Now the suitcase down the hallway does the talking
That just about does it, don’t it
That’ll just about kill it, won’t it
Maybe we should call a truce
We could but what’s the use
That just about does it, don’t it
It’s sad to think that words could come between us
And what I said, God knows I didn’t mean it
It’s time we realize this time it’s over
It’s tearing us apart to stay together
And that just about does it, don’t it
That’ll just about kill it, won’t it
Maybe we should call a truce
We could, but what’s the use
That just about does it, don’t it
Maybe we should call a truce
We could, but what’s the use
That just about does it, don’t it, don’t it