Red Rag Top
{{Infobox song
| name = Red Rag Top
| cover = Red Rag Top single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tim McGraw
| album = Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
| released = September 16, 2002
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Country
| length =
- 4:43 (album version)
- {{duration|m=4|s=9}} (radio edit)
| label = Curb
| writer = Jason White
| producer =
- Byron Gallimore
- Tim McGraw
- Darran Smith
| prev_title = Unbroken
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = Tiny Dancer
| next_year = 2002
}}
"Red Rag Top" is a song written and originally recorded by Jason White. It was later recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw and released in September 2002 as the first single from McGraw’s album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. McGraw's version peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart in early 2003 and reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Background and writing
The song was written by Jason Sandbrink White in 1997 and released on his independent album in 2001. White told USA Today that it was a song about an abortion but not an "abortion song". He went on to say that he was "trying to tell a story about a relationship that didn't work out, period."{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2002-10-09-mcgraw-abortion-_x.htm|title=Abortion lyric leads to static on the radio |last=Mansfield|first=Brian|date=2002-10-10|work=USA Today|accessdate=2011-03-22|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905224347/https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2002-10-09-mcgraw-abortion-_x.htm|archivedate=September 5, 2008}}
Content
The song's narrator recalls a past lover. He reflects on bittersweet memories from a youthful relationship, including a surprise pregnancy and the decision to get an abortion. This song was the subject of controversy due to the lyric that mentioned abortion ("We decided not to have a child"), and some radio stations banned the song.{{cite news|last=Ferman|first=Dave|title="Ragtop" raises red flag — for a while|date=2002-12-21|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}
Critical reception
Rick Cohoon of AllMusic reviewed the song favorably, saying that the song is "wistful enough to have you tearing up right along with him". Cohoon says that "a simple and memorable chorus surrounded by innovative lyrics make this a recipe for success."{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/song/red-ragtop-t5799908|title="Ragtop" Allmusic review |last=Cohoon|first=Rick|date=2002|work=Allmusic|accessdate=2011-03-15}}
Chart positions
"Red Rag Top" debuted at number 34 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the chart week of September 21, 2002.
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Chart (2002–2003) !scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|5|artist=Tim McGraw|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|40|artist=Tim McGraw|rowheader=true}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Chart (2003)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2003/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 2003: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=2003| accessdate=July 13, 2012}}
| align="center" | 60 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tim McGraw singles}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Byron Gallimore
Category:Song recordings produced by Tim McGraw
{{2000s-country-song-stub}}