'Yearnin’ For You' by 49 Winchester – Lyrics & Meaning

On April 8, bombastic country band 49 Winchester shared a photo via social media of a billboard that referenced the number in their band name, reading “Tomorrow is 4/9. Are you ready?”

Aside from Russell County, Virginia declaring April 9 “49 Winchester Day,” the six-piece band revealed that their highly-anticipated fifth studio album, Leavin’ This Holler, will hit all music streaming services on August 2, as well as dropped the record’s first single: 'Yearnin’ For You.'

Promising “the biggest and best 49 sound yet” in the caption of their social media post, this is proven throughout 'Yearnin’ For You,' already becoming a fan favorite amongst the country music community.

“‘Yearnin’ [For You]’ slaps so hard. It’s been impossible to get out of my head,” one fan wrote in the comment section.Another exclaimed, “This could possibly be your best track yet!” “Love the new song, love the new artwork, can't wait for the new album,” a third fan gushed.

'Yearnin’ For You' showcases the classic, country-rock sound that 49 Winchester is known for, weaving their rootsy vocals throughout the entirety of the track.

Despite staying true to their Appalachian roots, the boot-scooting foot-stomping sound might cause the song to turn into a mainstream success for the Virginia-based band, consisting of a banjo-based beat that's sure to be a summer staple for country music lovers all across the globe.

With just one listen, we can already imagine cracking open an ice cold beer while sunbathing by the lake.

"Well the coffee in my hotel
Ain't as good as yours at home
It's always weak as water
And you always made yours strong
And I ain't strong enough to go without
You're lovin’ for too long
Damn I miss you"

While it might not be the most relatable song, 'Yearnin’ For You' discusses the dark side of being a musician – primarily leaving your loved ones for extended periods of time – which the listener can substitute with their own longing feeling.

Opening up the song, the narrator admits that “the coffee in my hotel / Ain't as good as yours at home / It's always weak as water / And you always made yours strong,” describing how something as simple as coffee can make him miss home.

"You made this boy a promise
That you'd never break his heart
And you ain't broke it yet babe
So I reckon that you start
Start of my forever
And the end of my whole life
Oh I could kiss you"

The narrator continues singing to a significant other in the second verse, admitting that, while she promised to never break his heart, he feels as though she should anyways, as she deserves so much more than someone who is constantly on the road and away.

Naturally, this is not what he would want, as he loves his significant other dearly – only asking her to break his heart due to his superstar lifestyle getting in the way – expressing said love in the chorus.

"I love you like I always watched my daddy love my mama
I miss you cuz you always make me feel the way I wanna
And I don't when I'm not with you
But you know that I'll be home
In a day or two
Oh keep them home fires burning
Cuz baby I'm yearnin' for you"

Admitting that he loves her and he misses her, the narrator advises that his significant other “keep them home fires burning,” as he will be stepping away from his superstar lifestyle and returning in just “a day or two” after missing her too much.

"Well I wasted half a decade
That's way too much damn time
I tried with all my might
To see the light but I was blind
Oh since I met you baby
My vision is just fine
Dropped a nickel on the pavement
Took two steps and found a dime"

The narrator transitions to a different story in the second verse, sharing that he was seemingly in a relationship for “half a decade,” wasting a great deal of time before meeting the woman who he loves so dearly.

“Dropped a nickel on the pavement / Took two steps and found a dime” the narrator sings to reference the first time meeting his significant other after leaving his previous relationship, followed by an instrumental break and two more choruses.

"And I could try to go without you
But you know that I'd be lying
If I said I didn't love you
Waking up on me at night
I've been waiting just the same
To rekindle that old flame
In a day or two"

To close it out, 49 Winchester make a callback to the second verse, admitting that while he asked her to break his heart, he did not mean it whatsoever, as he sings “I could try to go without you / But you know that I'd be lying / If I said I didn't love you.”

The narrator then makes a callback to the third verse, expressing that he is eager to “rekindle that old flame / In a day or two,” followed by an extended outro.

As mentioned, 49 Winchester announced the release of 'Yearnin’ For You' – as well as their fifth studio album – in a social media post on April 9, also known as “49 Winchester Day” in Russell County, Virginia.

Aside from this post, band member Issac Gibson spilled the story behind 'Yearnin’ For You' as a whole in a statement.

“When I wrote this song, I felt like it really encapsulated what it’s like to be a musician, and more specifically that other side of the coin that fans don’t see as often," he noted. "The people you miss so badly, the sacrifice that it takes to forge out a living. I think more importantly it’s a love song. It’s about reuniting with the one that holds you down, and how great it is to finally be back where you are loved.”

Concluding with the phrase, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” these words of wisdom are evident throughout the entirety of 'Yearnin’ For You.'

Well the coffee in my hotel
Ain't as good as yours at home
It's always weak as water
And you always made yours strong
And I ain't strong enough to go without
You're lovin’ for too long
Damn I miss you

You made this boy a promise
That you'd never break his heart
And you ain't broke it yet babe
So I reckon that you start
Start of my forever
And the end of my whole life
Oh I could kiss you

I love you like I always watched my daddy love my mama
I miss you cuz you always make me feel the way I wanna
And I don't when I'm not with you
But you know that I'll be home
In a day or two
Oh keep them home fires burning
Cuz baby I'm yearnin' for you

Well I wasted half a decade
That's way too much damn time
I tried with all my might
To see the light but I was blind
Oh since I met you baby
My vision is just fine
Dropped a nickel on the pavement
Took two steps and found a dime

I love you like I always watched my daddy love my mama
I miss you cuz you always make me feel the way I wanna
And I don't when I'm not with you
But you know that I'll be home
In a day or two
Oh keep them home fires burning
Cuz baby I'm yearnin' for you

I love you like I always watched my daddy love my mama
I miss you cuz you always make me feel the way I wanna
And I don't when I'm not with you
But you know that I'll be home
In a day or two

And I could try to go without you
But you know that I'd be lying
If I said I didn't love you
Waking up on me at night
I've been waiting just the same
To rekindle that old flame
In a day or two

Oh keep them home fires burning
Cuz baby I'm yearnin' for you
Oh keep them home fires burning
Cuz baby I'm yearnin' for you

––

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