To say that Morgan Wallen has had a wild year might be a bit of an understatement.
Between punching a guy out on Aldean’s tour, getting arrested at Kid Rock’s bar in downtown Nashville, fathering a son with his ex-fiancée that was, for the most part, a surprise to the general public, and getting axed from Saturday Night Live after swapping spit with every sorority girl in Tuscaloosa, he’s seen his fair share of headlines in 2020.
And at the end of the day, that’s just the way it is when you’re one of the fastest rising stars in country music and your life is constantly put under a microscope.
That rockstar lifestyle might look like a lot of fun (and at times it is), but it seems to be eating away at Morgan.
Written by Morgan, along with Ben Burgess, Jacob Durrett and Hardy, “Livin’ The Dream,” is essentially a confession from Morgan that the path he’s on isn’t the one that he wants to be on.
“One of, if not the, most personal songs on my new record. Never thought I’d release it, but here we are. I know I’m super blessed and usually damn happy, but not always. This came from the not always part. I bet some of y’all can relate. Thanks for always supporting me and my music. This one is called ‘Livin’ The Dream.’”
It’s heavy… it opens with the line:
“Mama don’t pray for my success anymore, yeah but mama still prays for me.”
Seein’ the world ain’t really seein’ the world through windows from A to B
Between alcohol and women, Adderall and adrenaline, I don’t ever get no rest
Signed my life away to be the life of the party.”
That mama line will get ya…
Ultimately, I don’t see Morgan cashing his chips in anytime soon, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I’ve felt that feeling… life moving a little too fast, the party is raging a little too hard… a lot of things that look like fun aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
‘Livin’ The Dream” also finds Morgan with one of his most pop-leaning songs to date, but with 30 songs, I’m sure this new record is going to be all over the map. I really hope we see Morgan lean a little harder into his country roots (more like his “Cover Me Up” cover”) on the rest of the album, but only time will tell.
Dangerous hits shelves on January 8th, 2021.
