‘NOTHING ELSE’ by Forrest Frank & Thomas Rhett - Lyrics & Meaning

Since taking a step back from his breezy, summer-inspired duo with Colin Padalecki, Surfaces, Forrest Frank has been leaning into themes of faith and spirituality on his solo material, while still dipping into this uplifting, sun-soaked and lo-fi palette.

After sharing the lead singles from his CHILD OF GOD (Deluxe) follow-up, ‘DROP!’ and ‘SUNRISE’, Forrest Frank announced a surprise collaboration with country hitmaker, Thomas Rhett.

The duo have linked up for the infectiously jubilant ‘NOTHING ELSE’, with this joyful earworm serving as their second duet, following the laidback, feel-good ‘C'est La Vie’, which dropped as part of Surfaces’ much-loved 2021 Pacifico (Deluxe) record.

The mission of ‘NOTHING ELSE’ is to impart a sense of joie de vivre and celebration to the listener, with Forrest Frank utilising his trademark combination of bright, playful keys and cushioning, energising drums to build a light, serene atmosphere.

Thomas Rhett's captivating, charismatic vocals bring a feeling of warmth and familiarity, with Rhett and Frank's respective deliveries complementing one another seamlessly.

The layered, choral ambience of the hook sends an additional burst of verve coursing through the track, ensuring Forrest Frank and TR achieve their objective of crafting a sonic caffeine shot to help you start your day off on the right side of the bed.

“Hmm, yeah

This world is always trying to tell me I need more (You need more)

A bigger house, a couple cars will fill the void (Alright)

But then I get it, and I still feel just as poor

So I tell all that to head right out the door”

Forrest Frank begins by outlining how he's grown jaded by being bombarded by the idea that we need “more” in order to be happy - more money, more clothes, more status, etc. He emphasises that when he got a bigger house and more expensive cars, it still didn't fill the emptiness in his soul, describing how he felt spiritually “poor”.

The Texas native concludes the opening verse by determining to reject this messaging about constantly yearning for more in order to achieve happiness. Rather than looking for material objects to bring him satisfaction, he chooses to shift his focus towards what he already has, basking in the immense, soothing gratitude this brings him.

“'Cause I woke up with a good thing laying by my side

I woke up to some birds singing, "Hey look, I'm alive"

I got my family, Jesus, and my health

And if I got all that, I really don't need nothin' else, nothin' else”

Throughout the euphoric hook, Forrest Frank lists some of the reasons he has to be grateful - including the fact that he is alive and healthy, surrounded by a loving family and has a strong relationship with Jesus through his faith. The line about the birds singing, “Hey look, I'm alive”, could be a tip of the cap to Bob Marley's ‘Three Little Birds’.

“This life is always tryna get me in a rush

Keep moving quicker and one day you'll be enough

But if I do that, I won't stop and smell the roses

And end up being soulless, and hope nobody notices”

Thomas Rhett echoes Forrest Frank's sentiments, as he stresses how frustrated he's grown with the pace that modern society moves at, making him feel constantly hurried. TR dismisses the notion that if you go at a faster pace through life, you'll eventually feel like you're “enough” and you'll overcome your niggling self-doubts.

Thomas Rhett underlines that, if he was to opt for this path, he wouldn't be able to “stop and smell the roses” and truly appreciate each day for the blessing that it is.

TR highlights that, if he continued down that route, he would end up “soulless” and ashamed. The ‘Look What God Gave Her’ singer-songwriter touches on a similar idea of rebelling against the relentless pace that others set for us on his 2021 gem, ‘Country Again’.

“I'm getting sick of endless scrolling on my cellphone

I want to go back to the place I had myself known

The enemy can try to kill, rob and destroy

The onе thing he cannot take is my joy”

Thomas Rhett doubles-down on this idea of “unplugging” from the rush of contemporary living, with Rhett conveying how he's grown tired of scrolling on social media as he searches for his next dopamine hit. He then drops a Biblical reference, citing John 10:10, where Jesus depicts the Devil as, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”. TR gleefully underlines that the Devil can do his worst, but he will never be able to remove his deep-seated, spiritually-grounded joy.

Forrest Frank and Thomas Rhett are yet to delve into how ‘NOTHING ELSE’ came about, but when Frank announced the duet, TR responded, ‘C'mon bro’, with both collaborators clearly excited to finally be able to share this joint track with the world.

A slew of fellow artists have taken to the comments section on Forrest Frank's Instagram to express their anticipation ahead of ‘NOTHING ELSE’s arrival, with Jordan Davis gushing, “This is gonna go crazy”, while Conner Smith simply shared, “Huge”.

“Hmm, yeah

This world is always trying to tell me I need more (You need more)

A bigger house, a couple cars will fill the void (Alright)

But then I get it, and I still feel just as poor

So I tell all that to head right out the door

-

'Cause I woke up with a good thing laying by my side

I woke up to some birds singing, "Hey look, I'm alive"

I got my family, Jesus, and my health

And if I got all that, I really don't need nothin' else, nothin' else

-

This life is always tryna get me in a rush

Keep moving quicker and one day you'll be enough

But if I do that, I won't stop and smell the roses

And end up being soulless, and hope nobody notices

-

I'm getting sick of endless scrolling on my cellphone

I want to go back to the place I had myself known

The enemy can try to kill, rob and destroy

The onе thing he cannot take is my joy

-

I woke up with a good thing laying by my side

I woke up to some birds singing, "Hey look, I'm alive"

I got my family, Jesus, and my health

And if I got all that, I really don't need nothin' else

-

‘Cause I woke up with a good thing laying by my side

I woke up to some birds singing, "Hey look, I'm alive"

I got my family, Jesus, and my health

And if I got all that, I really don't need nothin' else, nothin' else (no)”

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