'What Kinda Man' by Parker McCollum – Lyrics & Meaning

Earlier this month, Parker McCollum began hinting that new music was on its way, alerting fans, via social media, to something arriving on Friday, Sept. 13.

In a video post, McCollum was seen cooking up something in what appeared to be a recording studio. "I could chase that or...," he said in the reel, seemingly asking for advice from someone off-camera. The faceless voice responded with, "Man, I would do whatever you want to do."

"I don't know. I want to do them all," the artist replied before the footage flashed to him laying down a track.

That track was the brand new 'What Kinda Man', the star's latest single and next radio offering. The new song offers a return to McCollum's early sound, a venture he's been consistently teasing in regards to his forthcoming material.

'What Kinda Man' has a layered sound as sharp acoustic and electric guitar give way to a symphony of assertive drum and bass, a harmonica adding even more texture to the back end of the neon-tinted tune. It's a calculated mix that makes for a rich listening experience but one that still evokes that stripped-back feel of the star's early work.

Look at that I done stayed up all night again
I know I swore the last time would be the last time but here I am
I ain't too sure what they want me to do
Clean up my act, I been thinkin' 'bout you
Ah baby here we go one more time
You know it's harder than it looks to walk that line

Have mercy on Parker McCollum's rough and rowdy ways. 'What Kinda Man' finds the star contemplating his wild tendencies, staying out all night and dirtying up his act.

It's not what he strives for, but as he sings, "it's harder than it looks to walk that line." He admits he's been this way for a while. Never having found someone or some reason to settle him down, he guesses he'll be this way all his life – "Wilder than a bat out of hell / Off the rails and blazin' through town". That is until...

But then you walk in floatin' on air
And you look across the room at me
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?

The artist sings about meeting someone who makes him want to be different, makes him want to strive to be the man they need.

Suddenly, he's cleaning up his act, going back to church and setting out on the straight and narrow. He's finally found that special someone worth bettering himself for, singing, "I know damn well what I ought to do / I have to have you, I just can't stand to lose / Ah baby here we go one more time / You know I'll love you if you let me 'til the end of the line."

Yeah, I've been running so damn long
There ain't a woman who could settle me down
Wilder than a bat out of hell
Off the rails and blazin' through town
But then you walk in floatin' on air
And you look across the room at me
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?

Back in May 2024, the artist confirmed his fifth studio album, the follow-up to 2023's Never Enough, was “half way done”. He confidently added that he would “put these songs up against anything I’ve ever written”.

He echoed that excitement in a statement regarding his forthcoming work, sharing, “Could not be more excited to share this new music with the world, especially this new single ‘What Kinda Man’."

He added, "Lately, I’ve been coming back to this sound and the roots of where I started out. I think this new song is my way of revisiting that and creating something that feels like home to me and my fans. I hope the world loves it."

Look at that I done stayed up all night again
I know I swore the last time would be the last time but here I am
I ain't too sure what they want me to do
Clean up my act, I been thinkin' 'bout you
Ah baby here we go one more time
You know it's harder than it looks to walk that line

Yeah, I've been running so damn long
There ain't a woman who could settle me down
Wilder than a bat out of hell
Off the rails and blazin' through town
But then you walk in floatin' on air
And you look across the room at me
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?

I swore that I would never step foot back
Inside the union valley church again
But here I stand just north of Oklahoma
Tryin' to wash away my sins
I know damn well what I ought to do
I have to have you, I just can't stand to lose
Ah baby here we go one more time
You know I'll love you if you let me 'til the end of the line

Yeah, I've been running so damn long
There ain't a woman who could settle me down
Wilder than a bat out of hell
Off the rails and blazin' through town
But then you walk in floatin' on air
And you look across the room at me
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?

I've been running so damn long
There ain't a woman who could settle me down
Wilder than a bat out of hell
Off the rails and blazin' through town
But then you walk in floatin' on air
And you look across the room at me
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?
Forget the man I am, what kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?
What kinda man do you need?

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For more on Parker McCollum, see below: