"Ol' Red" is a country song recorded by George Jones in 1990. The song tells the story of a man who is imprisoned in Georgia after catching his wife with another man. He is sentenced to take care of a dangerous dog named Red as part of his punishment. The protagonist realizes that Red is a skilled tracking dog who can catch anyone trying to escape the prison. The man then hatches a plan to escape with the help of his cousin, who brings him a beautiful blue tick hound. The man keeps the female dog hidden from Red until the time is right. Finally, he makes his run for freedom while Red is let out for his evening run, causing the dog to chase after the female dog instead. The man successfully heads north to Tennessee while Red goes south, creating a diversion that allows him to escape. The central theme of the song is the power of love and the lengths one is willing to go to break free. The protagonist's love for his wife pushes him to escape, and he cleverly uses the love between dogs to create his opportunity for freedom. Overall, "Ol' Red" is a story of betrayal, imprisonment, and a daring escape, with love playing a crucial role in the protagonist's journey. The song showcases George Jones' storytelling abilities and his knack for capturing the emotions and struggles of his characters.
