Don Williams – I Keep Putting Off Getting Over You: The Gentle Art of Lingering in a Sweetly Haunted Past
There is a specific kind of stillness that only Don Williams could capture—a quiet, resonant space where time seems to slow down, and the clutter of the world fades into the background. Released as a standout track on his 1982 album, Listen to the Radio, “I Keep Putting Off Getting Over You” is a masterclass in the “Gentle Giant’s” signature style. While the album itself climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, this particular song remains a cherished hidden gem for those who find solace in the deeper, more contemplative corners of his discography.
At its heart, this song is an honest confession of the heart’s stubbornness. It isn’t about the explosive, jagged pain of a fresh breakup; rather, it’s about the soft, rhythmic ache of a love that refuses to leave the room. For those of us who have lived through decades of change, we know that moving on is rarely a single event. It is a series of decisions—decisions that we often find reasons to postpone. Don Williams uses his velvety baritone to narrate that relatable human tendency to hold onto a ghost because the silence of their absence is simply too loud to bear.
The story behind the song reflects the peak of the Nashville Sound’s more relaxed, polished era. Written by Jeff House and James House, it found its perfect vessel in Don. He didn’t just sing songs; he lived inside them. In 1982, country music was shifting toward a more upbeat, pop-infused energy, yet Don Williams remained an anchor of traditionalism and emotional maturity. He understood that a man of a certain age doesn’t shout his grief; he whispers it to the four walls of an empty house.
The lyrical depth here is staggering in its simplicity. When he sings about “putting off” the act of forgetting, he is touching on a universal truth: memories are often more comfortable than reality. There is a profound nostalgia in his delivery, a sense of looking back at a life shared and realizing that the “getting over” part is the hardest chore of all. It’s a song for the quiet hours of the evening, for when the house is still and the mind wanders back to a face or a voice that used to be there.
For the listener who values reflection and the beauty of a well-told story, “I Keep Putting Off Getting Over You” serves as a mirror. It reminds us that our attachments define us, and that there is a certain dignity in being unable—or unwilling—to let go of a love that once meant everything. It is a timeless piece of music that continues to resonate with anyone who understands that the heart keeps its own schedule.
Oldies Songs