Diving deep into Leather Deluxe Edition.
Cody Johnson‘s favorite song off the expansion of his 2023 record, Leather, is not the heartfelt love song “I’m Gonna Love You” featuring Carrie Underwood or the tender father-daughter song “C’mon Cowgirl,” but rather a bluegrass-inspired boot-stomping anthem.
It’s no surprise that Cody Johnson loves to get out on stage and two-step around as he plays the guitar and puts on a show for his crowd, so it should be no surprise that a song with that kind of beat would be one of his favorites off Leather Deluxe Edition, however, given the number of stellar love songs, or songs like “Country Boy Singin’ The Blues,” where he leans into his soulful side, it’s surprising those are not at the top of his list of favorites from the second side of the album. In fact, Johnson’s favorite song from this collection of songs has not yet hit mainstream popularity.
Johnson can’t get enough of “Georgia Peaches.”
During a sit-down with CMT, Johnson explained that the track had just come to him and his co-writers, practically writing itself.
“My favorite song off the record is ‘Georgia Peaches.’ I wrote it with Jake, my guitar player, and Jody, my fiddle player because we might have had a big ole jug of Georgia peach moonshine.
Let’s just say we had three or four glasses a piece, and the song just fell out.”
Sometimes, songs that are made like that are some of the best, and I can only imagine the time these men had writing this one after a few glasses of that good moonshine.
Songs just fall out when Georgia peach moonshine is involved 😜 🍑 🥃@codyjohnson pic.twitter.com/zUWifETcxf
— CMT (@CMT) January 5, 2025
Given what the men were consuming as the song came to life, the lyrics detail a man who has started making moonshine to provide for his family. Although he has a past criminal record, he knows that the only way to make a proper living when you have a felony attached to your name is to keep pushing illegal items.
The tune of “Georgia Peaches” follows a traditional bluegrass melody. The rich sound of the fiddle takes control of the melody and captures your attention from the start, as it’s much different from the traditional Texas sound Johnson is known for. “Georgia Peaches” reminds me heavily of Blue Highway’s “Don’t Weep For Me,” one of my favorite bluegrass murder ballads.
Although no one is getting murdered in the story of “Georgia Peaches,” it still has the same crime-ridden lyrics that country music fans gravitate toward.
I can see why this is Johnson’s favorite. It’s easy on the ears, and although he was out of his comfort zone, his confident vocal delivery suggests that he’s been singing bluegrass for years.
