Morgan Wallen has been a controversial figure in the music world, but there is no denying the success of his albums, breaking records and topping the charts with numerous hit songs. Wallen is set to release a new 36-song album, One Thing at a Time, on March 3rd, 2023, which will surely continue his rise to the top of country music industry. Before his new album releases, I will be looking back on his previous double album that shot him to the top tier of music, his 2021 album Dangerous.
The album features many traditional country themes that are presented in a new, more figurative way. The theme of heartbreak and regret mixed with alcohol resonate strongly in 865 and Only Thing That’s Gone. 865 is the area code for Knoxville, Tennessee, likely where he had a previous relationship. While trying to resist the urge to contact his old flame, he admits: “I know I told you I wouldn’t call, and I tried / But this bottle tastes like 865-409-1021“. In Only Thing That’s Gone, Wallen struggles with the thoughts of losing his love: “Bartender pour me one more / Make it quick and make it strong / ‘Cause buddy, my last drink, yeah / Ain’t the only thing that’s gone“.
The most heartfelt song of the album is Sand in My Boots, describing a love away from home that is unable to continue past Morgan’s stay. He describes spending time on the beach, cracking jokes, and developing a sincere bond with this girl that he meets. This streak of love was short-lived, however, as Wallen returns home: “Yeah, but now I’m dodging potholes in my sunburnt Silverado / Like a heart-broke Desperado, headed right back to my roots“. The idea of the sunburnt Silverado creates a contrast between the sunny world that Wallen departed from and the gloomy hometown to which he returns. Before leaving, Wallen tries to take this girl back home with him before leading into the final refrain: “I said ‘Meet me in the mornin’ ‘/ And she told me I was crazy / Yeah, but I still thought that maybe she’d show up“.
In Livin’ the Dream, Wallen speaks on the struggles that come with money and fame, often viewed as a desirable life: “Sippin’ and bitchin’ about a spot where / People would kill to be, kill to be, kill to be / But y’all, it ain’t as good as it seems, this livin’ the dream is / Killin’ me, killin’ me, killin’ me” This counters the belief that Wallen, as one of the top artists of our generation, is living a perfect life when this lifestyle is truly accompanied by high expectations and anxiety.
Finally, Silverado for Sale, conveys the love that Wallen has developed for his truck but that he must trade for his love for his significant other as he aims to buy her an engagement ring. This song details Wallen’s pitch to a potential buyer about the benefits of this truck: “This truck will get the prettiest girl in town / Sittin’ right beside you when you’re ridin’ around /It’s got a pretty good radio / If you wanna get her dancin’ down an old dirt road“.
Overall, it is understandable why Wallen’s album had so much success, addressing traditional themes with his unique, raw style. The hype for this next album will be even larger, and the expectations will be higher than ever. It may determine if Wallen is truly living the dream.
Hi Emmanuel! I love how you explained this album and the deeper meaning that can be derived. As someone who always shies away from country music, I found this blog really interesting. I am personally not a huge fan of country, and because of that, I feel like I often misunderstand what the genre really is. I find it intriguing that he is able to mix traditional themes with more modern concepts that could make it both personal and relatable.
Being a huge Morgan Wallen fan myself, I’m glad to see you do a review of an album that certainly captured a lot of hoopla upon its release. I’d love to hear your thoughts of One Thing At A Time which he released last week. His style is certainly so unique from any other country artist I have ever listened to, thus why he draws me in so much. I heard someone recently compare his run right now to Garth Brooks in the 90’s and I can see some consistent parallels. His albums are jam-packed and you do a really nice job of dissecting the different themes within the album through your distinguished song analyses. Really good work and I look forward to the next review!
I think your commentary on the song “Livin’ the Dream” is a pretty accurate one. Despite the title, the song itself makes it seem like the singer is struggling with something and rather than “living the dream”, it feels more like he is getting suffocated by it. Especially the line “it ain’t as good as it seems”. That really spells it out.
“Silverado for Sale” reminds me of this music genre stereotype breakdown I saw a couple years back where someone said that many country songs liked to include the artists’ vehicles (mainly a tractor or a truck) and their significant others. This song pretty much covers both. It’s really funny for me since I’m not a country music person myself so to see this really stood out to me. I know that most country songs aren’t all about trucks and girls (as seen by the previous songs), but this one did and I like it.