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Ole 60 - ‘smoke & a light’
Label: Red Door Records / Grey Area Music
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Songwriters: Jacob Ty Young, Justin Eckerd, Ryan Laslie & Tristan Roby
The Background:
Sharing a great deal of covers on social media, singing songs by country superstars like Zach Bryan and Dylan Gossett, Ole 60 – consisting talented singer-songwriters – is making waves with some music of their own, notably their recently release 'smoke & a light'.
Stemming from their debut EP, three twenty four, which also consists of the songs 'walls,' 'insane' and 'dust 2 dust', the Kentucky-based band has been launched into the limelight after the release of this smash hit, amassing over 12 million streams and counting on Spotify alone.
Describing themselves as “not your father’s country band,” Ole 60 has been compared to Muscadine Bloodline and Treaty Oak Revival in the past, with their soon-to-be stardom surely to take off after the success of 'smoke & a light'.
The Sound:
Reminiscent of some of Zach Bryan’s greatest songs, Ole 60 is known for having somewhat of a rock influence within their tunes, and 'smoke & a light' is no exception.
Featuring a strong drumbeat throughout the track, lead singer Jacob Ty Young incorporates his signature rasp in the chorus, certain to captivate each and every listener from start to finish.
The Meaning:
"Late night, wide awake, laying here alone
One o'clock on the dot, when I called, and she ain't picking up the phone
A couple hours later, get a call from her saying
That she'll be home in the morn
Says she's staying with some friends for the night and she's alright
But drank way too much to drive home
I should've known better"
The storytelling within 'smoke & a light' is truly top notch, detailing what appears to be a heartbreak.
Kicking off the first verse, the narrator tells the story of a night that he spent alone, despite attempting to call what seems to be a love interest over and over again. Failing to answer the phone for a few hours, the woman tells him that “she's staying with some friends for the night and she's alright but drank way too much to drive home,” ultimately raising some red flags.
"Woah-oh, I don't wanna be home tonight
Woah-oh, anybody got a smoke and a light?
Woah-oh, don't you worry
Don't stress that pretty head
I'll write some songs about whiskey, cigarettes
And wishing I was dead"
Assuming that his significant other is spending the night with another man – opposed to her friends like she told him – the narrator begins a cycle of self-destruction in the chorus, looking for “a smoke and a light” to numb the pain, all while simultaneously writing some not-so lovey dovey songs regarding smoking, drinking and more.
"Now she's hot breathing on another man
Scheming about what she's gonna say to me
'Cause she knows I wanted more
But now her clothes are on the floor
And his hands are where my hands should be
And it's too late or maybe it was fate
I should've seen it coming all along
Because a good girl, well, she can only be good until
All that's good is gone, yeah"
The second verse describes the woman’s whereabouts, in more detail, confirming that she is spending the night with another man with the lines “now she's hot breathing on another man” and “now her clothes are on the floor and his hands are where my hands should be.”
Admitting that he should have seen this coming, the narrator admits that he feels like a fool before delving into a a second chorus.
What has Ole 60 said about ‘smoke & a light’?
While Ole 60 has yet to speak to the media about their smash hit, they have shared dozens and dozens of Instagram reels singing 'smoke & a light,' garnering quite a few comments from country music lovers all across the globe.
“I’m a metal guy about 90% of the time, but that was sick. Most lyrics seem cheesy in songs lately, but that was great storytelling. Killer voice too. Bravo,” one listener gushed.
“One of the better songs I’ve heard come out in the past 2 years,” another Instagram user admitted.
“This song has been on REPEAT for weeks. Need to see y’all in concert,” a third spilled.
Given the fact that 'smoke & a light' stems from their debut EP and has already become a fan favorite, it is safe to say that Ole 60 has a big and bright future ahead of them within the country music industry.
For the full lyrics to Ole 60’s ‘smoke & a light', see below:
Late night, wide awake, laying here alone
One o'clock on the dot, when I called, and she ain't picking up the phone
A couple hours later, get a call from her saying
That she'll be home in the morn
Says she's staying with some friends for the night and she's alright
But drank way too much to drive home
I should've known better
Woah-oh, I don't wanna be home tonight
Woah-oh, anybody got a smoke and a light?
Woah-oh, don't you worry
Don't stress that pretty head
I'll write some songs about whiskey, cigarettes
And wishing I was dead
Now she's hot breathing on another man
Scheming about what she's gonna say to me
'Cause she knows I wanted more
But now her clothes are on the floor
And his hands are where my hands should be
And it's too late or maybe it was fate
I should've seen it coming all along
Because a good girl, well, she can only be good until
All that's good is gone, yeah
Woah-oh, I don't wanna be home tonight
Woah-oh, anybody got a smoke and a light?
Woah-oh, don't you worry
Don't stress that pretty head
I'll write some songs about whiskey, cigarettes
And wishing I was dead
For more on Ole 60, see below:
