The latest in a string of EDM-infused country-crossovers from Norwegian DJ Kygo, ‘Take Me Back‘ features a soulful set of vocals from folk-country up-and-comer, Max McNown.

Their respective sounds blend perfectly, with McNown retaining his sense of sincerity and yearning that permeates so many of his folk anthems, while Kygo injects an added sense of hazy summer nostalgia through his infectious, galvanising production. ’Take Me Back’ follows the arrival of Kygo's ‘Heaven On Your Mind’ with bluegrass legend - and the vocalist behind Avicii's ‘Hey Brother’ - Dan Tyminski.

Somewhat hilariously, Kygo shared ‘Take Me Back’ just days after he released a remix of his fellow Norway native and football phenom Erling Haaland's early rap song, ‘Kygo Jo’, in honour of Norway making it to the Quarter-Finals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

‘Take Me Back’ leans into Kygo's sun-soaked, EDM-driven aesthetic, with the ‘Firestone’ hitmaker serving up some energising, cascading keys following the beat-drop in the chorus. McNown, meanwhile, provides the vocals throughout, with the ‘A Lot More Free’ singer-songwriter helping to give this club-ready hit a slightly folky ambience. ‘Take Me Back’ is a fantastic example of the blossoming YeeDM wave in country music, and we're hoping Kygo continues his foray into the space.

‘Take Me Back’ pivots around a clever play on words, with McNown lamenting how, whenever he hears an ex's name, he is transported right back to the moment they parted ways. He describes how these moments end up ‘taking him back’ to that painful time, before using a double-entendre as he begs his ex to ‘take him back’.

McNown shares an array of colourful, rose-tinted yet bittersweet imagery of the hotel in which he messed things up with his old flame, highlighting how he cherishes this time, and longs to return. Our protagonist's description of how the relationship ended implies it was a sudden, explosive argument, rather than something that deteriorated over time, hinting that they both may still have love for one another.

“I get to bed nostalgic every time I hear your name
Pull one or two drinks in me, it always goes the same
I start to reminisce and take a trip down memory lane
'Bout how I had all of your love and flushed it down the drain
-
I know I, I can't unring that bell
That bar in that hotel
That's where I watched you go
-
If you could take me back
To the night that you left
Oh then I'd be running after you
If you could take me back
I'd take back what I said
Honey, I'd be changed
I'd be begging you to take me back
Back to your heart
Won't you take me back
Back to the start
Won't you take me back
Back to that night at the bar
Where it all fell apart
Take me back
-
Back to that night at the bar
Where it all fell apart
Take me back
-
Seems like every time I get a little whiskey in my glass
I can't talk about my future without bringing up my past
I won't conversation escalate, get out of hands so fast
Just storming out, I'd never should of let you go like that
-
I know I
I can't unring that bell
That bar in that hotel
That's where I watched you go
-
If you could take me back
To the night that you left
Oh then I'd be running after you
If you could take me back
I'd take back what I said
Honey, I'd be changed
I'd be begging you to take me back
Back to your heart
Won't you take me back
Back to the start
Won't you take me back
Back to that night at the bar
Where it all fell apart
Take me back
-
Back to that night at the bar
Where it all fell apart
Take me back
-
I'd be begging you to take me back
Back to your heart
Won't you take me back
Back to the start
Won't you take me back
Back to that night at the bar
Where it all fell apart
Take me back”

Max McNown

Artist

Kygo

Artist