Lyrics Uncovered

Jana Kramer's 'Whiskey' lyrics -- penned by songwriters Catt Gravitt and Sam Mizell -- were just too good to resist for the newcomer, who chose the song as the second single from her debut album. And as Mizell tells Taste of Country, the hit began as just a title.

Chris Young's 'I Can Take It From There' lyrics fit the singer's sound and style to a tee. That's exactly what songwriter Ben Hayslip was hoping for when he began to outline the song, which he finished with Young and Rhett Akins.

Brad Paisley — simply put — is a musical genius, especially when it comes to creating lyrics to some of his biggest hits. Paisley’s ‘Southern Comfort Zone’ lyrics are no exception. The singer took his time penning the tune with two of his best songwriting pals, Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois, for his forthcoming album, which is slated for release in April.

Like with many of their tunes, Zac Brown Band‘s ‘Goodbye in Her Eyes’ lyrics were birthed with help from Wyatt Durrette. The songwriter began to write the tune over a decade ago, before taking the song to Brown to finish.

Gloriana‘s ‘Can’t Shake You’ lyrics and melody fit together like a hand and glove. However, that reality was almost not realized. Hit songwriter James T. Slater had the piano melody in his back pocket for nearly a year, but never found the perfect word marriage until he linked up with Gloriana’s Tom Gossin and fellow songwriter Stephanie Bentley.

The best songs on country radio typically stem from co-writes where everybody has a good time. That was the case for Dierks Bentley‘s ‘Tip It on Back’ lyrics. Penned by Tully Kennedy (who is also the bass player in Jason Aldean‘s live and studio band, as well as co-producer of Thompson Square), Jon Nite and Ross Copperman, the tune came to life as the latest single from Bentley’s ‘Home’ album.

It’s easy to count on a hit when Toby Keith and Bobby Pinson write together, a fact which holds true with the ‘I Like Girls That Drink Beer’ lyrics. The song is the singer’s first single from his forthcoming new album.

The day songwriters Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley and Vicky McGehee sat down to write Randy Houser‘s ‘How Country Feels’ lyrics, they knew the singer was looking for material, so it was their job to come up with the right words to fit his style. And that’s just what happened that day, as Houser dropped the song as his latest single.

If Phil Vassar‘s ‘Don’t Miss Your Life’ lyrics sound like they’re from the heart of a dad, it’s because they are! The singing father of two wrote the touching and tender new single with good friend and frequent collaborator Charlie Black, following a plane ride that changed his outlook on the way he was living his life.

Brantley Gilbert ‘Kick It in the Sticks’ lyrics were penned by the singer and two-thirds of Nashville’s hottest writing team, the Peach Pickers (Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins). While all three have writing credits for crafting the song — Gilbert’s latest single — Hayslip and Akins were surprised by the outcome, seeing how the threesome were never in the same room together when the hit was born.

Everything about ‘Take a Little Ride, from the lyrics to the melody, sounds just like a Jason Aldean hit should. That’s exactly what the song’s three writers — Dylan Altman, Rodney Clawson and Jim McCormick — were hoping for when they turned in their demo after penning the song.

We all knew when Tim McGraw delivered new music, he would come armed with something that would make an impact. The ‘Truck Yeah’ lyrics, penned by Preston Brust and Chris Lucas of LoCash Cowboys, along with Chris Janson and Danny Myrick, do just that.