My Sunday Song #89 is going Country with Lady Antebellum’s song “Need You Now”. The song is the title track to their sophomore album and the single was released on April 11, 2009. The song became one of their biggest hits selling millions of copies and garnering a Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year a feat which not many Country Artists have ever been able to do. Only one other Country Artists has ever done that and it was the Dixie Chicks just two years earlier.
The song was written rather quickly according to one of the co-writers of the song Josh Kear. He stated the following (Songfacts.com):
“Actually, it was the second song we wrote that day,” he said. “We were only together for two-and-a-half hours. We finished the first one in the first 45 minutes. Charles had a guitar thing and an opening line for a song and we wrote ‘Need You Now’ really fast and went, ‘great, that was fun.’ It was the first day I’d ever spent with them. They went their separate ways: it was Charles wife’s birthday, I went home to my wife. Next thing you know it, it’s on the record, title track, first single and here we are. It was actually the very last song they played for the label for deciding what songs were going to put on the album.”
The song is about that late night hook-up. You get so lonely and you yearn to be with someone so you pick up that phone and the next thing you know…booty call. The record label was not real keen about one of the lyrics “It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now”. They had an issue with the little drunk part. Smart heads prevailed and the lyric remained and thankfully so because it does add a bit of truth to the whole story. Who hasn’t done that when they were drunk? Hell, that was probably when most people did it.
The song is played as a ballad with Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley trading vocals with each verse. With a piano, guitar, drums all with a country flair is magical. The song pulls you in to the story and you instantly connect especially since it feels so familiar. It is a favorite song between my wife and I. It makes me think of her every time I hear it.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think. Enjoy and Happy Sunday!!!
“Need You Now”
Reaching for the phone ’cause I can’t fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time
It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn’t call but I’ve lost all control and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
Another shot of whiskey, can’t stop looking at the door
Wishing you’d come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time
It’s a quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn’t call but I’ve lost all control and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
Oh, whoa
Guess I’d rather hurt than feel nothing at all
It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn’t call but I’m a little drunk and I need you now
And I don’t know how I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh, baby, I need you now
I needed a break from this song when it came out (I think due to its crossover appeal, like you mentioned, it was inescapable) – but now that I’ve had a solid 8 year break or so, I can enjoy it again!
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Yes, a break from this song at the time was warranted. Glad you are now able to enjoy it again.
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Loved it then, still love it today!
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A name that’s been on my radar, but I’ve not yet explored any stuff. I quite like this…
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Cool. I can’t say I like everything they do, but I like more than I don’t.
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I love this song and I Run To You. I enjoy how they go about making their records. Ok, today is definitely now turning into a Lady Antebellum afternoon here.
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A Lady Antebellum day every now and again is a good thing!
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This song has kept me company on many dark days and I absolutely love it… as did everyone surrounding me in traffic yesterday whilst I sang along to it as it came on in the car
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Nice! We all sing in the car. I would be worried if you didn’t!
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Great song!
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