Pick Up the Oars and Row (Jamie O'Hara)
"Sometimes, when Kyle [Lehning, producer] and I listen to demos, we have to go back, listen over and over, and talk about it: 'Is this good for us? Should we record it?' Well, this wasn't one of those. The first time we heard it, we were like, 'Oh, yeah. Let's do this one.' I think it pulls off what 'Diggin' Up Bones' did: The melody and the rhythm feel great, and even though it's a sad subject matter there's a positive spin on it. It's sad but done in a fun way."
Four Walls (Don Rollins / Harry Stinson / D. Vincent Williams)
"This is such a well-written song, but more than that, the story is what drew me in. It did make me think of my grandparents. A few songs we've done in the past have had that same affect, in particular 'He Walked On Water.' And I think you can compare it to 'Pick Up the Oars'; in a roundabout way, they both get to the same message with 'simple words of wisdom.'"
That Was Us (Tony Lane / Craig Wiseman)
"I'm sure there were people down in Marshville, North Carolina, who hated me for doing the crazy kinds of things that happen in this song -- 'cuttin' donuts in the field.' I didn't have the right influences in my formative years -- influences that could have taught me patience and kindness, for instance. I guess some kids feel they have to sow their wild seeds, but I don't think that's always true. You don't have to get beat up as many times as I did to come to your senses. Certainly I wish I'd come to mine earlier than I did."
Angels (Buck Moore / Troy Seals / Harvey McNalley)
"I've written with Buck Moore, who's a writer on this one. You remember that song from years ago, 'The Box'? We did that one together. And Troy Seals has obviously written hit after hit for years. I don't know Harvey McNalley, but the three of them came up with 'Angels,' and it's a phenomenal piece of writing. It takes me back maybe twenty years, to when people like George Jones, Porter Waggoner, Red Sovine, and Hank Williams would do these incredible recitations. I love it when you can find a song today that lets you do that. They're not written too often these days, but this one is a classic."
Running Blind (Roger Ferris)
"Kyle calls 'Running Blind' one of those 'left of center' songs, and that's a good way to describe it. The melody is so playful and the words go by so quickly that if you don't pay attention you'll miss the message -- and there really is a message in this song. Some people may have to listen a couple of times to catch it, but because it's such a fun song they'll want to anyway."
Daddy Never Was (Tony Lane)
"I don't know Tony. I don't know his situation. But having been around alcoholics and having been in fights with many different people in my early years, I've been through exactly what he writes about in this song. He nailed it; it couldn't have been written any better. It brought up memories of things I've done in my past that were really wrong, like that line about knocking a hole through the front door: I've seen that and, unfortunately, I've done that too. This was a very emotional song for me, to be honest with you. But there's redemption in it too, which is why Kyle and I both knew that I had to record it."