MARYANNE by Doug Kleiner: A Powerful Country Ballad for Every Hard-Working Heart
- Editorial Board
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
“Maryanne” is the kind of country ballad that feels like it’s been here forever—timeless, tender, and utterly human.
Written by Doug Kleiner and produced by Wes McCraw at Creekside Audio Recording, Maryanne is a song that honors the quiet strength of everyday love, the kind that survives under pressure, between double shifts and sleepless nights.
The production is pure heartland, sweet and romantic acoustic guitars, pedal steel, steady drums, and warm bass all come together in a way that feels effortless but deeply intentional. Every instrument breathes, giving space to the story.
The pedal steel by Brandon Banks cries gently behind the vocals, while McCraw’s guitars and bass anchor the song with patient grace. The rhythm section, Jason Edwards on drums keeps time like a heartbeat, steady and sincere.
Lyrically, “Maryanne” captures the emotional weight of working-class life:
“I’m so busy trying to make a life, that I lost sight of hers.”
-Doug Kleiner
That line alone could sum up a lifetime of love and regret. The chorus, “Maryanne, you married a working man,” feels like both apology and promise, an acknowledgment of the sacrifices that love demands.
The performance is beautifully delivered, vulnerable yet powerful, the kind of song you play on the ride home while reminding yourself why you keep going. It’s resilience and strength woven into melody, proof that music can carry what words alone cannot.
Kleiner’s voice carries a raw honesty that cuts through the mix; you can hear the fatigue, the devotion, the prayer in every line. When the harmonies from Wes McCraw and Emily Benson rise in the background, it feels like a hymn, a quiet moment of grace in a life that rarely allows for rest.
By the final verse, when he sings “Not for money, fame or fortune, just the strength to get the day done,” the message is clear: this isn’t just a song about work, it’s about love as endurance, as faith, as the truest measure of a life well-lived.
This is what Goathead stands for, artists who put real effort into their craft. “Maryanne” is a huge-sounding song, built from honesty, heart and hard-work. It’s a love story that doesn’t just move you; it inspires you to be better, to hold on, and to keep building something worth believing in.
Beautiful, grounded, and deeply American, “Maryanne” is more than a ballad, it’s a tribute to everyone who keeps showing up and loving through the struggle. Maryanne herself must feel lucky to have someone like Doug turn their story into something this tender, this timeless.
Follow Doug Kleiner on Instagram @dougmusik and stream “Maryanne” on all platforms.
