The song manages to find beauty and even a little bit of grandeur in someone's frailty. One thing that bobby braddock told me in passing that i think about a lot, is that he thought of the character in his song as a bad roll model. The man was obsessed. He couldn't let go. Only death could end his love. But that's the point, right? That's why we cry,. It's totally over the top, maudlin, sentimental, kitchy. Call it whatever you want, just don't fight it.