Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”
“As She’s Walking Away,” the lead single from the Zac Brown Band’s upcoming You Get What You Give, is a fetching, fiddle-driven, harmony-soaked treat that finds country music’s favorite jam band joined by a fellow Georgian named Alan Jackson. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?
While the hook, “Don’t be falling in love as she’s walking away,” would seem to lend itself to a relationship with a longer story arc–one where the guy has known the girl long enough to start taking her for granted–this song is actually all about the beginnings of romance. Specifically, it’s about trying to meet women in bars and learning to stay in the game even when your heart won’t tell your mind to tell your mouth what to say and you’re feeling like a jackass. Cast as an older guy who watches young Zac trip over his tongue before getting her name, much less her number, Jackson offers some kindly words of encouragement: “Don’t you let regret take place of the dreams you have to chase, ask her to dance/You might fall down on your face, roll the dice and have some faith.”
It’s a spur to positive action that succeeds as much for the way it sounds as the words it uses. With a driving, organic arrangement that allows for only forward momentum and vocals that play up the fraternal element–the interplay between Brown and Jackson is delightful, as are the sweet harmonies behind them–it sounds like friends helping friends, like a band of brothers drawing strength from a common bond.
Who could have guessed that the marriage of Stetson and skull cap would produce one of the finest country singles of 2010? Only the Zac Brown Band, and that’s why these guys are Exhibit A in how mainstream country can maintain its basis in tradition even as it expands to include an ever-broader range of influences.
It’s hard to imagine a more enticing preview of their upcoming album.
Listen: Zac Brown Band feat. Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”
Columns
- Barry Mazor's "Scanning the Countryside"
- Chris Neal's "Belly of the Beast"
- Drew Kennedy's Column
- On the Road
Categories
Sponsors
Tagged In This Article
Current Discussion
- Jimmy: Taylor Swift is no Clint Black.She is okay.She writes some good songs,yet there is a major difference between solitarative writing ...
- Marcus: Country is the tales of the life in the south and west. It's a story to tell the world ...
- Paula Gluck: As good as she is George strait is better!
- Paula Gluck: Carrie Underwood who hasn't't put in her time is a member of the grand ole opry but George isn't - ...
- Steve: Like it - like the nostalgia, the bridge and delivery. More Kip!
- dean robinson: Somewhere around 1953 I had a 45 rpm record with Webb singing --I heard my mother call my name in ...
- Hi: when did they join together
- Bill: Did anyone mention Jims "Lights of Albuquerque," I love that song, dang and after all.. he still sounded great on ...
- sharon crumrine: well, i've been a fan of sammy's since he first came out in 1991 and i was widowed 3 years ...
- Know What I'm Talking About: Seriously, this is a great song, and I think the reviewer should know the genre and idiom - understand the ...
2 Pings
Trackback URI for this postAugust 4, 2010
August 6, 2010
20 Comments
RSS for comments on this post
August 17, 2010 at 11:33 am
This is excellent as an individual track, though I have to admit I’d only rate it fourth among their six singles to date (below “Highway 20 Ride”, “Free” and “Toes”) because it lacks that little something that gets stuck in my head, thus seems to work better as an exemplary album track than an effective single with lasting appeal.
I’ve heard some already note how Jackson’s vocals make Brown’s vocals seem much more drowned out in comparison. I believe that’s the point, for the reason you mentioned in that Brown is the student and Jackson is the mentor, which gives the track some emotional depth.
August 17, 2010 at 1:02 pm
This is by far the most intriguing song that’s come across my desk in a really really long time. When this came into work for our consideration, I was stopped dead in my tracks from the opening guitar part. The harmonies of John Hopkins, Zac Brown and Alan Jackson are as pure as genuine as any you’ll ever hear.
Flat out, this is the best song I’ve had the pleasure of spinning on my radio station in months and months.
Thank God for the Zac Brown Band.
August 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Excellent single. Thus far, I have liked very few of the Zac Brown Band’s singles, but I am totally on board with this one. I love how Alan Jackson fills a definite role in the song, as opposed to the merely decorative role that duet partners often fill. It’s like the song would not have worked without him.
August 17, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Noah,
I’m in your camp on this.
MAJOR ANNOUCEMENT:
This marks the first time this year, according to my records, that the “UP” rating has exceeded the “DOWN” rating. The thumbs up sits at 45 and the thumbs down sits at 44.
As mentioned previously, the “mainstream” artists have many more thumbs down than the non-mainstream.
The above information is no more nor less useful than anyone else’s opinion here; nonetheless it is my personal public service rendered to 9513. Just trying to help.
August 17, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I can’t wait to here this one! And also, fedoras can make anyone look silly. :P
August 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm
If they make a music video, then Alan and Zac should trade hats for the shoot! Well after Zac’s watch cap has been washed a few dozen times anyway…
August 17, 2010 at 5:57 pm
This may grow on me, but I’m kind of bored by it so far. Great review though.
August 17, 2010 at 6:12 pm
It’s a solid song. I’m not in love with it, but it’s a pretty good song. My only qualm with it is that it doesnt seem to have much meat to it, when I first heard it, it kinda ended and I was left with a “that’s it?” thought.
Not that that’s an uncommon thought when it comes to most of the Zac Brown Bands singles to date.
August 17, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Musically (as opposed to lyrically) this is the most interesting thing I’ve heard in a really long time. There’s something about the guitar part to this song that reminds me of late 80s/early 90s Alabama, which is VERY exciting.
FWIW, Zac’s hat is called a TOQUE in Canada, just so you know :) We wear them a LOT.
August 20, 2010 at 12:56 am
In America, we call Canada “America’s Hat”
September 18, 2010 at 9:19 pm
As solid as Zac Brown Band’s debut album was, I think this may be their best song yet. Love the fiddle… and the catchy melody tells a great story that nearly everyone can relate to. Alan and Zac sound great together — I think this is easily a multi-week #1 song!
October 15, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Awesome song. Enough said!
October 23, 2010 at 5:15 am
Heard this whilst on holiday in the US – loved it instantly…now back in the UK can’t buy it anywhere [not on itunes or Amazon] and with the airing of country music on the TV non existant I don’t get to see it either!
October 24, 2010 at 8:39 am
This is a great song love Alan Jackson Zac’s Brown Band is growing on me. They are great together in this song.
November 15, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Has anyone besides me noticed the uncanny similarities between this “new” single and plain white t’s song “Hey there Delilah” Sorry guys but it’s a total rip off. I really expect more from such a seasoned artist Alan Jackson and from the Zac Brown band, one of my personal favorites.
November 18, 2010 at 6:27 pm
i noticed instantly that this sounded exactly like the plain white t’s “hey there delilah”!!!! would love to hear them played side by side.
February 23, 2011 at 10:22 am
Sounds just like Hey there Delilah. I like Zac Brown Band but come on. Their next sound will sound like Free Bird but be called Freedom Feathers.
February 23, 2011 at 11:13 am
Similar but after playing these side-by-side, there’s nothing to suggest that the melody was ‘stolen’.
July 2, 2011 at 9:42 pm
This was a great song for them to sing together, thier voice’s go together like chicken fried. They both have a remarkable harmony that enhance’s one another, both icon’s and good ole country boys with a heart of gold. I love Alan Jackson and the concept of him giving advice to Zac Brown was the making of him being a legend in his time,and I love Zac Brown and the song with Alan Jackson will make him a legend in his time. Many years between them,but so much alike,I think that’s what made this song so wonderful………
August 27, 2011 at 9:42 am
Hey there Delilah.
Leave a Comment