Dissecting "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" by Keith Whitley - 1988

It's 1988(-ish), and we're finally getting to the ultimate Gone-Too-Soon artist of our era. It's always a little sad to listen to Keith Whitley, and that's especially true on the last of his singles to be released in his lifetime: "I'm No Stranger to the Rain". Or is it? Reality and fiction blend in this classic of 80s neotraditionalism, but how does this song manage to tackle its heavy subject matter with a distinct lightness of touch? And what does that combination of light and dark portray about the complexity of this singer's struggles?