Released in 1979, John Conlee’s “Backside of Thirty” was a breakout hit that captured the working man’s blues. The former mortician-turned-country singer delivered it with a weary honesty—singing about lost youth, a failed marriage, and a life stuck between dreams and disappointment. The song climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart and cemented Conlee’s reputation for real-world storytelling. Its plainspoken lyrics and worn-in vocals made “Backside of Thirty” an anthem for folks

Backside of Thirty Song by John Conlee ‧ 1983 #andyperrinmusic | Andrew Perrin