GOTTA HIKE THAT 9%:

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: COUNTRY MUSIC HITS AND THE ODDS OF TRAINS, PRISON, MAMA, AND TEARS (Ouisie Shapiro , John Florio, 12/02/09, Book of Odds)

What does it take to write a hit country song? Judging by some of country’s most beloved tunes, it seems one needs to include lyrical references to your Mama ( Mama, He’s Crazy), trains ( I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry), prison ( Folsom Prison Blues), tears ( He Stopped Loving Her Today), and/or alcohol ( Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’).

But what are the actual odds that a country song will feature these references? Judging by Country Music Television’s list of the Top 100 country music songs of all time, the odds are quite high. The odds a Top 100 country song will refer to alcohol are 1 in 5. The odds one of these songs will contain a reference to “mama” are 1 in 7.14. The odds one will contain a reference to the word “train” are 1 in 11.11 and the odds one will contain a reference to the word “prison” are 1 in 33.33.