'Way Out Here' by Riley Green – Lyrics & Meaning

After a blowout year in 2023, the stage was set to see what Riley Green had up his sleeve for the new year.

One of the buzziest artists in country music, the Alabama native kicked off his year of new music with an interesting choice: a cover of Josh Thompson's 2010 opus, 'Way Out Here.'

The heartfelt ode, paying tribute to small-town America and blue collar, country upbringings, served to further reaffirm Green's unapologetically southern way of life that he's become synonymous with.

Set to be included on his 2024 record, Don't Mind If I Do, the revamped cover fits in nicely to Green's already glowing discography, so much so that you could be convinced it was his song from the beginning.

Since this is a cover, it's important to note how it fares compared to the original, which peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, as well as No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 2010.

Thompson's first take of 'Way Out Here,' which he penned alongside Casey Beathard and David Lee Murphy, takes on a firm tone of patriotism as a rumbling drum set carries the tune. On the whole, though, Green's 2024 version falls mostly in line with its predecessor.

Clocking in at nearly four minutes, it's a toned down anthem that sees the Platinum-selling talent pace through what makes a country lifestyle. In a way that can only be classified as a classic 2010s country anthem, a band of guitars – both acoustic and electric, work together with a pedal steel, bass and aforementioned drum kit to get the job done. Not really adding anything in the way of bells and whistles, Green's consistently impressive vocal prowess shines with conviction.

"Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome, son
Our necks are burnt, the roads are dirt and our trucks ain't clean
The dogs run loose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything
Out here, way out here"

Taking us through what makes this group of people who they are, the singer starts with their pride in their firearms and their lack of fear to use them, if needed.

Way out in the country, you'll find rednecks, dirt roads and old, dusty trucks in ample supply, as well as some stray dogs running around if you're lucky.

Though some of these lines feel pretty stereotypical, the narrator continues on about their habits of chewing tobacco and deep frying just about everything they eat on a daily basis.

"We don't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight, brother, we pull our own
If it's our backwoods where you live and you're concerned with
Well, you can leave us alone
'Cause we're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here"

Getting into more of the beliefs of country folks, Green sings about the hardworking spirit and pride found in the blue collar community, explaining that they'll only take what they've earned and they'll shoulder their share of the weight when it comes to their job and responsibilities.

Noting that if you don't like their way of life then you can mind your own business, he adds that their holy trinity, of sorts, consists of John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere, and that's just the way they like it.

"We've got a fighting side a mile wide but we pray for peace
'Cause it's mostly us that end up serving overseas
Hell, if it was up to me I'd love to see this country run
Like it used to be, like it ought to be and just like it's done
Out here, way out here"

Continuing on, Green sings that they'll never back down from a fight, but at the end of the day they will ask the Lord above for peace whenever they can. The main reason for this, he explains, is that it's often those people out in the sticks that will end up putting their lives on the line to go serve overseas.

Pleading for the country to take a step back and return to the ways of old when things weren't so complicated, he continues to praise the southern lifestyle with pride.

"We don't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight, brother, we pull our own
If it's our backwoods where you live and you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
'Cause we're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
Way out here"

All in all, Green hasn't shared too terribly much about 'Way Out Here,' in particular apart from his announcement of the song's release.

“I’ve always loved this song," Green shared simply on socials. "Hope y’all like it!”

When it comes to the larger project, Don't Mind If I Do, Green has also remained pretty tight lipped, only offering a bit of information when he announced the album during the grand opening of his new Nashville bar, Riley Green's Duck Blind, in September.

“My brand-new album Don’t Mind If I Do will be out October 18," he shared with the small group of family, friends and music industry partners. "It feels fitting that it’s coming out on my birthday because this project feels very true to who I am, where I come from and what I’ve learned along the way.”

Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome, son
Our necks are burnt, the roads are dirt and our trucks ain't clean
The dogs run loose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything
Out here, way out here

We don't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight, brother, we pull our own
If it's our backwoods where you live and you're concerned with
Well, you can leave us alone
'Cause we're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here

We've got a fighting side a mile wide but we pray for peace
'Cause it's mostly us that end up serving overseas
Hell, if it was up to me I'd love to see this country run
Like it used to be, like it ought to be and just like it's done
Out here, way out here

We don't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight, brother, we pull our own
If it's our backwoods where you live and you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
'Cause we're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
Way out here

We don't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight, brother, we pull our own
If it's our backwoods where you live and you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
'Cause we're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
About John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
Way out here

Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome, son

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