Back When Country Cut Deep

[Verse 1]
We wore holes in our boots
Turned that dial ‘til it bled
Steel guitar told the truth
Didn’t care who got upset
Every song was a bar fight
Every line drew a starched-up sigh
You could lose your spot on the playlist
But you kept your pride
[Chorus]
Back when country cut deep
Not clean
Put mud on the boots
Not a filter on the screen
You said what you meant
Took the licks you were sent
Yeah
It hurt
But at least it was real
Now it’s bubble wrap hearts on a velvet wheel
I miss the time when a song
Could hit too hard
Back when country cut deep
Not soft and safe in the yard
[Verse 2]
We heard cheatin’ and drinkin’
And folks clawing out of hell
Didn’t hide from the hurt
We just sang it and we yelled
Now it’s careful little letters
All approved before they fly
Everybody gets a ribbon
While the truth walks by
[Chorus]
Back when country cut deep
Not clean
Put mud on the boots
Not a filter on the screen
You said what you meant
Took the licks you were sent
Yeah
It burned
But we learned how to feel
Now it’s pillows around every rough deal
I miss the time when a song
Could hit too hard
Back when country cut deep
Not soft and safe in the yard
[Bridge]
I don’t want the old wrongs back
Or the hurt we never named
But I’m tired of folks doin’ bad
Then scrollin’ off the blame (oh come on)
We could call out the cowards
We could stand on a stage
Now it’s “like and forget it”
And the world turns the page
[Chorus]
Back when country cut deep
Not clean
Put mud on the boots
Not a filter on the screen
You said what you meant
Took the licks you were sent
Yeah
It cut
But the scars made us strong
Now we sand every edge off a song
I miss the time when a voice
Could go too far
Back when country cut deep
Not soft and safe in the yard

rock, Gritty country rock with a driving backbeat, twangy electric riffs, and big hooky choruses; verses sit in a storytelling pocket with steady kick and warm bass, chorus explodes with stacked gang vocals and slide guitar fills, bridge strips back to half-time drums before a final full-throttle outro. Male vocals with a little rasp, bar-band energy and arena-sized chant in the hook., soft, country, country rock