The studio version is perfect… not that I expected anything less, but Luke Combs nailed it. Today, his new album The Way I Am, which was produced by Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Chip Matthews.
And of course, the first one I had to listen to was “Ever Mine,” a song he has teased and played for years now and has the only feature on this record as Alison Krauss provides background vocals. Vocally, they’re a match made in heaven, and we all know Krauss is one of the greatest singers alive. Combs has a much more gritty and powerful voice, while Krauss has an incredible pure and stunning kind of delivery, and it really is a perfect pairing.
Combs first debuted “Ever Mine” back in 2020 with with Hailey Whitters and Charlie Worsham, and they wrote it from the perspective of a solider writing a letter to his wife while he’s off fighting a war, not knowing if he’ll ever see her again.
He relies on her memory to get him through the darkness of war, and while in many ways, it tells a beautiful love story, it’s also an important reminder of the sacrifices so many of made for our freedom:
“My dearest darling,
I miss you more than words can tell,
I hope the garden’s growing tall,
You’re in good spirits and good health,
We’ve traveled far now,
With a long way to go still,
I know not yet when I’ll return or if I ever will,
Each day grows colder,
Filled with powder, smoke and steel,
I worry before it’s over, I’ve forgotten how to feel
I keep your picture in the pocket of my coat
I sometimes find when I’m alone
It’s my last bit of hope”
While country music is probably the most patriotic genre out there, I’ve never heard a song about a soldier or war like this, and that unique perspective in almost making it sound happy to drive home how deep the love really was makes it such a cool song that really resonates.
There’s some lovely production this one too, plenty of fiddle and it almost feels like a bluegrass song, which makes so much sense with the Krauss feature and works really, really well here. Honestly, the studio cut is even better than I thought it would be because up until now we’d only heard it with an acoustic guitar. I loved it that way too, but you just never know how an unreleased song will translate when it’s cut for an album in the studio, and “Ever Mine” is perfect.
This entire album is full of classic Luke bangers like “Back in the Saddle,” as well as plenty of love songs like “Be By You,” but it’s all pure country and really finds Luke at his absolute best. He’s back and better than ever, and I highly recommend giving this one a spin. It’s perfect:
“Ever Mine ft. Alison Krauss”
THE WAY I AM TRACKLIST
1. Back in the Saddle (written by Luke Combs, Dan Isbell, Jonathan Singleton)
2. My Kinda Saturday Night (written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
3. Days Like These (written by Luke Combs, Brent Cobb, Aaron Raitiere)
4. 15 Minutes (written by Luke Combs, Trey Pendley, Rob Pennington, Grant Vogel)
5. Alcohol of Fame (written by Luke Combs, Dalton Dover, Dan Isbell, Reid Isbell)
6. Daytona 499 (written by Luke Combs, Erik Dylan, Wyatt McCubbin, Drew Parker)
7. The Way I Am (written by Chris Gelbuda, Rob Snyder)
8. Wish Upon a Whiskey (written by Luke Combs, Dan Isbell, Drew Parker)
9. Soon As I Get Home (written by Luke Combs, Jessi Alexander, Tony Lane, Jonathan Singleton)
10. Rethink Some Things (written by Luke Combs, Jacob Davis, Dan Isbell, Reid Isbell)
11. Giving Her Away (written by Gary Garris, Josh Mirenda, Josh Phillips)
12. Seeing Someone (written by Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Lalo Guzman, Michael Tyler,
Allison Veltz-Cruz)
13. Sleepless in a Hotel Room (written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton)
14. I Ain’t No Cowboy (written by Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jake Mears)
15. Ever Mine (feat. Alison Krauss) (written by Luke Combs, Hailey Whitters, Charlie Worsham)
16. Can’t Tell Me I’m Wrong (written by Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, Pete Good, Lydia Vaughan)
17. Miss You Here (written by Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Dan Isbell, Ben Stennis)
18. Tell ‘Em About Tonight (written by Luke Combs, Erik Dylan, Ray Fulcher, James McNair)
19. Be By You (written by Dan Alley, Sam Banks, Nick Walsh)
20. The Me Part of You (written by Luke Combs, Jason Gantt, Dan Isbell, Reid Isbell)
21. Rich Man (written by Luke Combs, Jacob Davis, Lori McKenna, Rob Snyder)
22. A Man Was Born (written by Luke Combs, Thomas Archer, Ray Fulcher, Jordan Rowe, Michael Tyler
