Clay Walker - “She Likes it in the Morning”
I’m not a songwriter, but I do know a thing or two about the craft. One of the most important elements of a song is the title, and when you’re marketing the song to a radio audience that’s going to be requesting it and talking about it, the title becomes even more important. With limited exception, song and title exist in symbiosis: few good songs are written from a title and good titles are emergent properties of good lyrics.
The first time I listened to “She Likes it in the Morning,” two related problems were apparent. Problem number one is that the song pivots on multiple and rather unimaginative hooks. There was no doubt what the hook and the title of “Fall,” Walker’s recent surprise hit, were; when I listen to “She Likes it in the Morning,” I feel more like I should be singing along to “As Much as I Love Her.” Problem number two is that “She Likes it in the Morning” has nothing to do with what Walker’s going for here. That line is the consequence of a completely dispensable narrative choice that the songwriters (Walker and M. Jason Greene) made and doesn’t encapsulate the song’s message. When I read “She Like it in the Morning,” the first thing that came to mind was something a lot less polite than what Walker’s crooning about.
In a way that’s a shame, because “She Likes it in the Morning” really is nice sounding. However, perhaps we should be thankful that a few bad songwriting choices greatly reduce the probability that this song will catch on at radio, because there’s really nothing to this song. “Fall” barely passed my test for substance and imagination; “She Likes it in the Morning” says nothing more than “we love each other,” and how many times have we heard it done better?
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to our feed or receive updates via email.
Popular Stuff
Sponsor
We've labored long and hard to come up with our list of the Top 10 Country Albums of 2008. Click here to see who claimed the honor of the year's top album, as chosen by The 9513's staff and writers.
Don’t confuse disappointing with worst, as that list would most likely be dominated by obscure indie knockoff bands along with a couple of mainstream releases. There has to be a modicum of expectation that’s dashed upon the release of an album for it to qualify for the year’s most disappointing.
Join host Kelly Dearmore as he shines the light on several noteworthy album releases you might have missed and interviews various artists, from Sarah Borges to Trent Willmon and Reckless Kelly to Wade Bowen, in the first two episode of The 9513 podcast.
Jim Malec counts down the top 20 country music news stories of 2008. How many times do you think John Rich will be mentioned?Tagged In This Article
Current Discussion
- Nicolas: I think "I Told You So" was a good choice for a single... the only song I would've preferred would've ...
- Leeann Ward: Wow, if his point of view is from the eighties, I really don't know where he was coming from at ...
- Rick: Ooops, I meant Trent. I wish we could edit our previous posts. Darn....
- Rick: The fact that a formulaic "list" song would come from the pen of Tom Shapiro shocks me! (lol) Trent does ...
- dudley: "You acknowledge that “the choice of ‘I Told You So’ has potential strategic implications for Carrie’s positioning in country music” ...
- Vicki: NorthTexas, I'm a fan and about 25 years older. I didn't like all of her CR album and ...
- Leeann Ward: I've seen Carrie fans still be pretty enthusiastic about this song outside of the private message boards; they put on ...
- northtexas: "I love the song. I just hate the way Carrie sings it." Fair enough! I have no problem with ...
- northtexas: "North Texas, you just proved Brady’s point. Carrie Underwood’s uber fans didn’t like the song choice, yet they’ll still support ...
- Leeann Ward: The Key and These Days are my favorites of Vince's. I liked When Love Finds You back when it ...
14 Comments
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
January 12, 2008 at 1:19 pm Permalink
I disagree with you here.
I absolutely love this song, mostly for its simplicity. A lot of people will say its “boring” and lacks “substance”. But honestly, sometimes I’m not always looking for something new and dfferent.
You’re right.. this song simply says “We love each other”, but why do we need anything more? Simplicity has always been a mainstay of country music, and this is a great example of that.
The title struck me as a little odd too…
January 12, 2008 at 4:42 pm Permalink
I think simplicity is fine, though there is a line into simplistic that is often crossed. And cliche is not fine, but so often the simple is often cliche.
So simplicity is fine when it expresses a new idea or if it expresses an old idea in a way interesting enough to overcome its familiarity.
If a song’s message is “We Love Each Other” and nothing more, then, yes that is boring. Excrutiatingly so. So if that’s all the lyrics contain, the song better make up for it with an amazing melody and great vocals.
January 13, 2008 at 8:10 pm Permalink
i have to agree….i clicked on this review because i found it hard to believe a nashville label would release a song with this title and i needed to read about it because of that…haven’t heard the song but i know what my first thought was when i read the title!
January 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm Permalink
omg! i think this person is WAY wrong about this song! i love this song! my boyfreind sings it to me all the time! i love it!so ya
January 24, 2008 at 2:44 pm Permalink
i agree with this person! this song is so a thumbs down! when i go to work i hear it almost ever single hour! i hate this song!
January 29, 2008 at 12:46 pm Permalink
I saw him peform this song live last week…this is the sweetest song and the most heartfelt song I have ever heard. I could care less about the name of it. I love this song…..keep rockin Clay.
March 25, 2008 at 8:40 am Permalink
I am absolutely in love with this song!! It defintely says “I’m in Love with you” the title is a lil different from any other country song but it’s perfect especially in my relationship my boyfriend dedicated this song to me Last weekend on Saturday!! and I absoultely love it! that’s my ringtone when I call him! <3
March 27, 2008 at 12:03 pm Permalink
Recently saw Clay perform this song at the Houston Livestock show. It got the biggest response of any song. People were literally slow dancing in the aisles of Reliant stadium. and FYI-”She likes it in the morning” wasn’t the original title of the song. After it was written, everyone kept referring to it as the “she likes it in the morning song” and so it was changed.
March 31, 2008 at 3:05 pm Permalink
I totally love his song ” she likes it in the morning”…. and i was at the reliant stadium when he performed… he was GREAT!!!! and yea people were dancing in the aisles…. even tho i was in the west club on the 3rd floor…. you could still see so many people dancing to this song… I LOVE YOU CLAY!!!!!!!! <3<3<3
March 31, 2008 at 4:25 pm Permalink
I think even Clay Walker has had more compelling ballads than this one. He’s got a great voice, but I like his older stuff better–”Live Until I Die” and “Where Do I Fit In the Picture”, especially the latter.
March 31, 2008 at 6:18 pm Permalink
Yea… his old stuff is awesome too!!!! he has some great music!!!
April 22, 2008 at 12:13 pm Permalink
It’s an amazing song and I do think the title is strange but it’s his song and I think he delivers it beautifully. The lyrics are relatable and heartfelt. Love the song
July 27, 2008 at 5:36 pm Permalink
Pinpoint observation about the title, although I’d give it a thumbs up, as the song itself I actually really like… and I think Clay Walker in general is a very good vocalist which he shows again in this single. But I just have no idea why they named it as such.
August 4, 2008 at 1:40 pm Permalink
This is a really romantic song!! I love it. The first time i herd it was when my boyfriend deadicated it to me an i thought that it was the most prefect song i have herd so far!!! Exspecially at the times like this, my uncle just recenetly died an i just go back to the memories an all the good times i had with him But i give a thumbs up to this one an cause clay has a really sexy voice!!!!!
Leave a Comment