If only…
If only Sam Hunt would do an entire album like the first song on his new album, SOUTHSIDE.
“2016” is a country song through and through (it was written by Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, and Josh Thompson).
It kicks off with a strum reminiscent of “Friends in Low Places” before going in a completely different direction. “2016” is a somber breakup ballad, and the best song on this album. You have steel guitar, very little production, and lyrics that prove Sam can do this style of song very well.
As we all know by now, Hunt likes to record breakup songs – there’s a lot of them on this album. And a lot of the songs are straight out of the Montevallo playbook.
There’s undoubtedly a bunch of catchy songs on this album, but putting “Downtown’s Dead” and “Body Like a Back Road” and “Drinkin’ Too Much” on this 12-song record seems like a waste. SIX YEARS have come and gone since Hunt’s last album.
You would hope to get more from this album after six years, and not have three slots taken by songs that have already done their thing.
Over the last couple years, Sam Hunt got people excited with his comments about traditional country and the artists he was listening to. Many, like myself, hoped we’d get a body of work completely country and fresh. For the most part, that didn’t happen. But, we got a taste of what’s possible in “2016.”
Maybe the next album will lean more that way. His fans are just hoping it doesn’t take six years.
Lyrics
I’d put the whiskey back in the bottle
Put the smoke back in the joint
Look up at the sky and say
“Okay, okay, okay, think you made your point”
I’d cover up the pool at Skymont
I’d take some girls out of my phone
Give the nightlife back to Nashville
One night at a time ’til all the regret’s gone
And I’d drive a thousand miles to your house
Walk in like I walked out
Put the tears back in your eyes
‘Cause all my lies could still come true
I’d tell you everything was alright
And hold you, baby, all night
When your heart was all patched up
And our love was good as new
I’d take 2016
And give it back to you
I thought I wanted my freedom
I told myself I’d have a ball
But it turns out going out and chasing
Dreams and lonely women
Ain’t freedom after all
If I could go back now
And take it back somehow
I’d drive a thousand miles to your house
Walk in like I walked out
Put the tears back in your eyes
‘Cause all my lies could still come true
I’d tell you everything was alright
I’d hold you, baby, all night
When your heart was all fixed up
And our love was good as new
I’d take 2016
And give it back to you
If I could wrangle all my sins
Take ’em back and make amends
And do it all over again
I’d take the wrongs and make ’em right
All the lonesome, lonely nights
Pack ’em up and haul ’em all back home to you
And I’d drive a thousand miles to your house
Walk in like I walked out
Put the tears back in your eyes
‘Cause all my lies could still come true
I’d tell you everything was alright
I’d hold you, baby, all night
When your heart was all patched up
And our love was good as new
I’d take 2016
And all the lonely nights in between
And give ’em back to you
Give it all back to you
