Dierks Bentley’s latest single, “Living,” is about appreciating each moment of every day, whether you’re doing something amazing or just going through the mundane routines of life.
As Dierks sings in the first verse of the song, ‘living’ could be as simple as waking up in the morning and enjoying the sunrise. While this is the first time Dierks has said this directly in a song, the idea of ‘living’ has graced his music throughout the years.
Here are five other times when Dierks encouraged us to get living.
1. “Lot Of Leavin’ Left To Do”
While this song from Dierks’ second album Modern Day Drifter is sung from the perspective a single guy who has a seemingly questionable record with relationships, it has the ability arise the rambling spirit in everyone. Lines like “these old boots still got a lot of ground they ain’t covered yet” and “there’s a least another million miles under these old bus treads” inspired me to travel and explore the world while I still can. And that is, in my opinion, a great way to get living.
2. “Free And Easy”
The song “Free and Easy” from Dierks’ third album, Long Trip Alone, celebrates the feeling of being free on the open road. All he has is a pair of jeans and a sack of clothes, he might not even know exactly where he’s going (“Ain’t no telling where the wind might blow,”) but he couldn’t be more content. In the second chorus Dierks sings, “If you only get to around one time, I’m gonna sit back and try to enjoy the ride.” This song inspires the listener to get busy living or get busy dying.
3. “Am I The Only One”
“Am I The Only One” finds Dierks trying to rally up his buddies, like ‘Wild Man Willie’ and company, for a Friday night out on the town. He ends up going out alone where he meets a ‘country cutie’ (who also happens to have a rock ’n roll booty.) While this is definitely a MUCH lighter message than that of “Living,” it shows that you should take the opportunities life throws at you (even IF ‘Idol’ is on TV, in Wild Man Willie’s case.) Who knows, there might just be something great on the other side.
4. “I Hold On”
Quite the departure from “Am I The Only One,” Dierks’ 2013 single “I Hold On” is an emotional and personal song about holding on to the important things and people in life. In each verse, Dierks sings about things he holds onto: his beloved truck, his beat up guitar, and his relationship with his wife. And what better way to get the most out of life than spending it cherishing the things and people you love.
5. “Riser”
Finally, Dierks taught us how to get living in his anthem, “Riser.” The idea of being a riser is being a survivor. It’s about being determined to get through whatever obstacles life may throw at you, no matter how hard. An especially inspiring lyric in the first verse says, “The hard times put the shine into the diamond / I won’t let that keep us in the ground.” The thing about “living” is that it’s not always glamorous. Sometimes it downright sucks. But if you can keep your head down and make it through the hard times, something truly beautiful might just come out of it.
