George Jones：Meaning of (We're Not) The Jet Set Songmeaning

The song "(We're Not) The Jet Set" by George Jones tells a story about a couple who are not living a luxurious and extravagant lifestyle like the "jet set" or the wealthy elite. Instead, they find happiness and love in simple, everyday experiences. The song mentions various locations like Rome, Athens, and Paris to symbolize the romantic and glamorous image associated with those places. However, the couple in the song is not actually living in those fancy cities. They are in Rome, Georgia, Athens, Texas, and Paris, Tennessee, which are small, ordinary towns. The lyrics also emphasize that the couple is not interested in materialistic pleasures. They don't desire the fancy cars or luxurious lifestyles, but instead, they identify themselves as part of the "old Chevrolet set." Their idea of sophistication is having steak and martinis, which they replace with draft beer and hot dogs. The song contrasts the classical composers Bach and Tschaikowsky with the country music artists Haggard and Husky. This juxtaposition suggests that the couple appreciates and finds beauty in simpler, traditional forms of art and entertainment. Ultimately, the song celebrates the love and contentment that the couple finds in their modest and unpretentious life. They may not have the wealth and glamour of the jet set, but they have each other and their love, which they consider to be more valuable than any material possessions or extravagant lifestyle.