Clayton Edwards

We’ve all heard that well-worn saying, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” Plenty of vintage items, from clothes to appliances, show how true that statement is. If you need any more proof, just browse through a list of old country songs. Sure, there are plenty of modern artists making great music. However, there’s something special about those songs that come from a bygone era.

In the first week of July 1996, Tracy Lawrence was at the top of the Hot Country Songs chart with “Time Marches On,” the second single and title track from his 1996 album. It spent three weeks at No. 1, the longest-running chart-topper of his career and remains one of his most popular songs. “Time Marches On” captures decades of a family’s lives in its three verses. The opening verse introduces a married couple and their kids.

The oldest members of the Millennial generation were born in 1981. The youngest were born in 1996. So, the entire generation was young when these songs dominated the country charts and airwaves in 1989. Despite that, these songs made a lasting impression. Whether you heard them in the backseat of the family car or playing from the stereo that took up a chunk of your living room, the lyrics to these songs are stored somewhere deep in your memory. This is especially true for the elder Millennials.