Yes, George Strait's lyrics do start going through my mind whenever I hear this word, but it is a word I associate, for the most part, with musicians "leading" the way in music...like a minstrel "leading" a procession.The definition mainly refers to the Middle Ages and strolling minstrels and love lyrics, but for me Kurt Cobain was a troubadour. He and his band Nirvana lead the grunge scene to a new level in this country.
Troubadour = person making their way by leading...that's what I think, and that's how I use it.



