George Jones Imagines “A Picture of Me (Without You)”

Produced by Billy Sherrill, “A Picture of Me (Without You)” is a country song originally written by Norro Wilson and George Richey. It was performed by George Jones and released in October 1972 under the Epic Label.

A Song Intended for The Possum

“A Picture of Me (Without You)” was actually intended and written for George Jones. According to Rich Kienzle’s notes, the song was meant for Jones to sing. Co-writer Norro Wilson sang the song for George “imitating the Jones style to show how he wanted it sung. Even with the string arrangement, the country feels remained undiminished.”

Interestingly, the song has similarities with “That’s Me Without You,” an older Webb Pierce song.

Originally recorded by George Jones, his version reached no. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1972. In his 1995 autobiography I Lived to Tell It All, Jones quoted lines from the song to describe his own sadness at the passing of his brother-in-law W.T. “Dub” Scroggins in 1993.

Other Fun Facts About the Song

According to some sources, the producer, Billy Sherrill, pushed and motivated Jones to new vocal heights in the studio. Nowhere is that more apparent than in this 1972 classic that Norro Wilson and George Richey specifically wrote for George. Interestingly enough, just a few years later, Richey would be feeling these lyrics as he married Tammy Wynette.

In addition, the song was covered by Lorrie Morgan on her 1991 album Something in Red. In June 1991, Morgan’s version was released as the album’s second single. It peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in November 1991.

In the song, the narrator tells his lover to imagine incomplete things, like “a world where no music is playing, a church where nobody’s praying, a sky with no blue, and by seeing this, she can see his picture without her by his side.”

Watch George Jones’ performance of “A Picture of Me (Without You).”

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