Hello, Nathan! You sent Candace some lyric ideas rooted in a real experience. How much of yourself do you usually put into a song before handing it off to a collaborator, and where did you draw the line with this one?
I had jotted down several lines over time for this song that came to me in moments and had put together a verse and pre-chorus. I had this and a couple of other songs started when I started working with Candace. I sent her my unfinished ideas to see if any of them would inspire her. She put my lines and my story together to say exactly what I wanted to and helped me complete the song. I think that’s the beauty of working with another writer. A lot of times I will have ideas or bits of songs started and I think it helps to have another mind jump in and expand on it from their point of view. Candace is a very talented writer, and we have good creative chemistry, so this system has worked well for us.
Candace wrote the song on a flight and sent you essentially a first pass that already felt finished. What was your reaction when you read it, knowing it was your own story reflected back at you?
She took my lines, and my explanation and turned it into exactly what I wanted to say. I loved the chorus and how it depicted the character already being “Gone Since Texas.” She made it all make sense and told the story with the lyrics.
The line “I’m in misery, while she’s in Missouri” is the kind of thing that sounds simple but hits hard. Did that land immediately when you read it, or did it take a moment to sink in?
That was one of my lines that I had jotted down when coming up with lyric ideas. I just thought it was clever. In my home state of Missouri, it’s common for us to call it Misery. I had never heard anyone use it in a song.
The song doesn’t offer any resolution, which is a brave creative choice. Was there ever a version where you considered giving listeners something more conclusive, or did it always feel wrong to tie it up neatly?
We considered giving it a resolution but we both agreed strongly that it was better left unresolved.
You’ve built your reputation on high energy, blues driven rock. What does it feel like to stand on stage and deliver something this emotionally exposed to a crowd that may be expecting something louder?
I love songs that tell a story and lyrics that grab you. A powerful storytelling ballad is something I’ve always wanted to write and perform. It feels good to have that now and I love performing it!
Photo Credit: Nathan Bryce.