Rally the troops, ring the bells, do whatever you have to do because Jamey Johnson is officially BACK.
While he’s never stopped performing, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard any new music from the Enterprise, Alabama native. Part of this was due to a concussion he suffered back around 2010 when he slipped on ice and hit his head, making it hard for him to access the creative part of his brain.
For years at this point we’ve been begging for some new Jamey Johnson music (his last original album was The Guitar Song in 2010 and last solo single was “You Can” in 2015) and as of today, we don’t have to wait any longer.
Johnson released a brand new single, “21 Guns,” today and man I was not prepared for emotions like that this early in the morning.
The song is an ode to the Marines of sorts and Jamey got the inspiration while attending too many funerals for young soldiers. Johnson himself served in the Marine Corps from 1994 to 2002 and reached the rank of corporal, which makes these lines hit even deeper:
“A preacher stammers through a nice verse
Does his best to eulogize
At times like this there ain’t no right words
The rifles fire and your life flashes right before my eyes
I don’t need no one to tell me you’re a hero
Hell I’ve known that ever since you were young
And there ain’t words to say how proud we all are of you son
Nothing says job well done like 21 guns”
Sonically, it’s right in Jamey’s wheelhouse. The baritone of the low notes resonates and his ability to surprise you with the melody while keeping it smooth is as impressive as ever.
In a press release, Johnson spoke about what this song means to him:
“I wrote it because I have gone to too many funerals of Marines I served with that were just too young. When they die young, you always remember them that way, which is unfair. Guys that heroic that die that young deserve the right to grow old and they didn’t get to.
But it is also being at those funerals and seeing their parents who seem much too young to have a child die in that way and wondering what must be going through their minds. This song is the answer to that question.”
My heart was aching reading that and giving the song a relisten only made it hit deeper.
Fingers crossed this means a brand new album won’t be too far off, but no matter what else comes, we need to all celebrate this day because once again we have a new Jamey Johnson song and it’s only fitting it comes right before Memorial Day weekend.
Thank you to all the service men and woman who would and have given their lives to keep us safe here at home. We’ll never forget the sacrifices you’ve all made and owe you a debt we can never repay.
Semper Fi.
