Tracy Lawrence

Track Listing

1. 1. Find Out Who Your Friends Are

   We talked a great deal about which song would be the leadoff single, and it was a tough call but the message of this one really stood out. As you look behind you, you can tell who your friends are by who's been there when times are a little bit tough. This song feels autobiographical and, at the same time, it's a very universal message I felt like everyone could relate to. 

2. 2. Just Like Her

   I wanted something that was a little more nostalgic, and this kind of had that old Buck Owens feel to it. I've never done anything like that, the true honky-tonk shuffles. I knew it would add real spice to the album. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. 

3. 3. You Can't Hide Redneck

   I think this has got strong commercial appeal. It's edgy in a rock kind of way, and I think it's got a huge appeal to large portions of the country, especially in the South and Southeast. It’s sort of a reality check that many can identify with whether they choose to admit it or not.
   

4. 4. For the Love
   with Brad Arnold from Three Doors Down)

   This is a fresh sound. It feels more contemporary with a pop edge than, I think, anything on the album, yet it doesn’t veer so far off the path that it clashes with the rest of the material. It’s a real good fit, and lyrically it's right where I want to be going. Its message is about being passionate about what you do, about caring about the craft, and what you've chosen to do with your life, being happy with that and proud of a job well done. Brad Arnold and I have become good friends. We’ve been searching for a song that made sense to record together. This song seemed to fit both our genres and our respective musical styles.
    
   
   

5. 5. As Easy As Our Blessings

   This may be my personal favorite on the album. For so long now, I've been a fan of Mark Nessler's writing, and this song is another reason why. It's the most reflective of where I am in my personal life right now, and what it is I'm so thankful for. 

6. 6. Speed of Flight

   I've been trying to write more on my own, but it often takes more structure than I have by myself—my schedule keeps me pretty scattered. But out on the road one day, with the quiet all around me, I got an idea and thought, "I'll just pick up my guitar and see if I can wrestle this thing down." The melody started coming, the hook line was good, and I worked on it about four hours. I was able to finish it by myself and I was proud of that. 

7. 7. Rock and a Soft Place

   A lot of people I've played this for tell me it reminds them of some of my earlier songs. I don't know that I really saw that originally, but I can see now where it's reminiscent of songs like "Better Man, Better Off" and "Can't Break It To My Heart." It's a groove I slip into sometimes when I'm producing myself.

8. 8. Til I Was a Daddy Too

   I tried every way possible while we were writing this song to make it about girls because I don't have any boys yet, but when we got on a roll with it, it took on a life of its own. It turned out to be about a father and a son, and it still hit a nerve with me just as a parent. It actually reminded me a lot of my own dad. 

9. 9. You're Why God Made Me

   We cut a smoking track on this, and it's one of the most fun things on the entire album. It all started off with fiddle player Aubrey Haynie in his little room in the studio noodling around on the instrument, and the thing he came up with became the intro riff, a massive gang lick that's just amazing. It's wonderful to watch that kind of thing unfold, and it's something I've never tired of being a part of…those magic studio moments when real creativity takes place. 

10. 10. Just Like That

    This is just one of those fun songs I had in my publishing catalog. I remember doing the demo, and when I went in with my band to cut some sides, we did this one and I really loved how it turned out. People love to dance to swing tunes like this in clubs, so I thought it would be something fun to include on this CD.