Everything you need to know about 'The Old Guys,' Dan + Shay's newest song with Cody Johnson.

The Background:

Country music duo Dan + Shay have just released their newest feature 'The Old Guys' with neo-traditional country artist Cody Johnson. The song acts as the 8th track off of Dan + Shay's 2026 album release, Young. The sole collaboration song on the album, Johnson records with the duo after a 13-yearlong industry friendship with Dan + Shay.

The song is also the first country subgenre crossover, to this extent, in the duo's history working together. Past releases, such as '10,000 Hours,' with pop icon Justin Bieber, have demonstrated the duo's aptness for pop country - bringing Johnson into the studio, however, gives the duo a brand-new look of country flair.

The Sound:

The song begins with classic picking on an acoustic guitar. The guitar is used as the sole instrument in the song's introduction - slow and steady, but full of the emotion the song is seconds away from embracing. The picking carries into the first verse of the song, and all throughout as Dan + Shay set up the song's story within that verse.

As they break into the emotional ballad that is the chorus of the song, the picking quickly turns into strumming, as the sounds of a steel guitar begin to play. Along with some light drumming, like many Dan + Shay hits, the pair's harmonies act as major instruments in the track.

The second verse belongs to no other than Cojo - as he breaks into the second verse, the sound continues, adding a light piano melody. We can't help but notice how the sounds of this track are so unmistakably Johnson - the track's emotional instrumentals sounding similar to hits like 'Human' and 'Til You Can't.' Along with the other sounds in the array of instruments, a violin is also introduced between choruses and verses - complementing both Dan & Shay and Johnson.

The Meaning:

Right off the bat, Dan + Shay open with the true nature of the song - the grief that comes with even thinking about losing the one you love most and being forced to continue life without them afterwards. Imaginative on where they would be without that person by their side, they sing:

God forbid you go before I do
That'd be the start of the hell that I'd go through
I'd be three sheets deep in Boston
Maybe lost in Baton Rouge
God forbid you go before I do

The chorus of the track cleverly references country music history, each lyric being an easter egg, honoring legends such as Keith Whitley, George Jones, and Merle Haggard. Some of these lyrics directly reference classics such as Jones' 'He Stopped Loving Her Today,' and Haggard's 'Merle,' while others reference country phrases such as I'd be lonely as the crow flies.

In the midst of belting about the emotion behind losing their greatest love, these artists found a way to compare it to our greatest love: country music. Towards the end of these iconic callbacks, the artists state where they'd likely be if they lost their love: In a bar, with nothing but a jukebox full of classics and older folk who have likely experienced the same thing.

I'd be The Possum in the ground
I'd be Whitley on the brown
He stopped loving her today
I'm no stranger to the rain
I'd be Merle locked in San Quentin
I'd have a real damn hard time quittin'
I'd have no reason and no why
I'd be lonely as the crow flies
I'd be a goner on a stool
With a jukebox and a few of the old guys

Johnson comes in with a second verse that expands on the concept of having to sit in a bar, heartbroken beyond measure and venting the aches of his heart to someone that may understand. He explains how he just can't move on, and he doesn't want to, as he sings:

Next to some broke heart out getting drunk
I'd tell him 'bout the girl I got to love
And how I'd never find another
And I sure wouldn't want to
God forbid you go a single day before I do

Between the final two runs of the chorus, a sort of bridge is introduced, referencing country sounds that Johnson is quite fond of in his music, indirectly touching on what makes this song different from other Dan + Shay hits. The lyric I'd be a long slide on a steel guitar is sung as an actual slide on a steel guitar plays directly after it.

I'd be a long slide on a steel guitar
Another long night in another bar

The ballad then goes back to the chorus, and emotionally caps off with the opening, and now closing line: God forbid you go before I do.

For the full lyrics of Dan + Shay's 'The Old Guys' feat. Cody Johnson, see below:

God forbid you go before I do
That'd be the start of the hell that I'd go through
I'd be three sheets deep in Boston
Maybe lost in Baton Rouge
God forbid you go before I do

I'd be The Possum in the ground
I'd be Whitley on the brown
He stopped loving her today
I'm no stranger to the rain
I'd be Merle locked in San Quentin
I'd have a real damn hard time quittin'
I'd have no reason and no why
I'd be lonely as the crow flies
I'd be a goner on a stool
With a jukebox and a few of the old guys

Next to some broke heart out getting drunk
I'd tell him 'bout the girl I got to love
And how I'd never find another
And I sure wouldn't want to
God forbid you go a single day before I do

I'd be The Possum in the ground
I'd be Whitley on the brown
He stopped loving her today
I'm no stranger to the rain
I'd be Merle locked in San Quentin
I'd have a real damn hard time quittin'
I'd have no reason and no why
I'd be lonely as the crow flies
I'd be a goner on a stool
With a jukebox and a few of the old guys

I'd be a long slide on a steel guitar
Another long night in another bar

I'd be The Possum in the ground
I'd be Whitley on the brown
He stopped loving her today
I'm no stranger to the rain
I'd be Merle locked in San Quentin
I'd have a real damn hard time quittin'
I'd have no reason and no why
I'd be lonely as the crow flies
I'd be a goner on a stool
With a jukebox and a few of the old guys

God forbid you go before I do