THE STATLER BROTHERS – “THINK OF ME”
There are songs that entertain, and then there are songs that linger — the kind that stay with you long after the music fades. The Statler Brothers’ “Think of Me” is one of those rare songs. It’s not just about love lost; it’s about remembrance — the quiet, unspoken kind that lives in the corners of the heart.
Released in 1985 as part of their Pardners in Rhyme album, “Think of Me” came during a period when The Statlers — Don Reid, Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, and Jimmy Fortune — had already solidified their place as one of country music’s most beloved harmony groups. But this song was different. It didn’t boast the humor of “Do You Know You Are My Sunshine” or the nostalgia of “Bed of Roses.” Instead, it offered something softer, more intimate — a moment of vulnerability wrapped in harmony.
From the very first line, Don Reid’s warm, steady lead invites the listener into a world of memory and quiet longing. The lyrics read almost like a letter written but never sent — simple, honest words asking for one small favor: “When you think of me, think of me kindly.” Behind him, the other three Statlers weave their signature harmonies — rich and tender — turning those words into something eternal.
Musically, it’s classic Statler Brothers: understated, pure, and beautifully arranged. The steel guitar sighs softly in the background, the piano moves like a heartbeat, and the blend of voices — that unmistakable Statler blend — fills the space between loneliness and grace. You can feel Harold’s deep bass anchoring the sound, Phil’s and Jimmy’s harmonies cushioning every phrase, and Don’s delivery carrying the weight of both sorrow and peace.
What makes “Think of Me” timeless isn’t just its melody — it’s its message. It speaks to that universal human wish: to be remembered not for perfection, but for love. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever parted ways, for those who’ve watched love slip quietly into the past but still hope it’s remembered with warmth instead of pain.
In many ways, “Think of Me” captures what made The Statler Brothers so special. They could take ordinary words and turn them into a prayer. Their music always carried a sense of home — of small towns, faith, and the bittersweet beauty of life as it really is.
When Don Reid sings the final verse, there’s no grand crescendo, no dramatic farewell. The song ends the way it began — gently, truthfully, like a conversation between hearts that never stopped caring.
Decades later, “Think of Me” still holds its quiet power. Fans return to it not just for the sound of harmony, but for the feeling it leaves behind — a reminder that love doesn’t need to shout to be heard, and that sometimes the softest goodbye is the one that lasts the longest.
It’s more than a song; it’s a keepsake. And every time it plays, you can almost see the Statlers standing shoulder to shoulder once more — singing not just to the audience, but to all of us who have ever loved, lost, and remembered.
Because when you think of them — and this song — you can’t help but do exactly what they asked: think of them kindly.