'Losing Hope' by Gavin Adcock – Lyrics & Meaning

In the last year, as Gavin Adcock's star has steadily been on the rise, he's inundated fans with a number of rowdy party anthems that portray a larger-than-life country carouser. Heart-on-the-sleeve, vulnerable, tender–these descriptors have rarely come to mind in that time. Until now.

His new studio album, Own Worst Enemy, shows a much different side to the raucous performer we've come to know. Of the collection's 24 tracks, the song, 'Losing Hope', is one of the most anguished of them all, so full of bitter longing and ceaseless despair.

While other tunes on the release explore this artist's depths, none do it quite like 'Losing Hope', a song that adds one more layer to the already multidimensional Own Worst Enemy.

Of the album, which arrived on Aug. 15, the artist has shared, "Over the last 4 years I’ve spent my life writing, traveling, and trying to find time to breathe. It doesn’t always add up on paper like it would seem, but through the happiness, hard times and self destruction I’ve found the best part of my job is letting out music for my fans. I can’t thank y’all enough for sticking with me for this long. I’m the furthest thing from perfect and I don’t ever plan to be."

Here, we are diving into one of the new album's most desperate tunes.

The composition of 'Losing Hope' carries the weight of its words, the song drenched with emotion in every note. Beginning with a wash of earnest strings, searing electrics and swelling keys, it's obvious a forlorn number is ready to unfold, but that emotional dam doesn't burst until the chorus when the tune becomes wracked by impassioned drums and weepy riffs.

"I can't take the sound of the silence
It's cutting right on through
I'd go retrace my steps
But I've already lost what I had to lose
I wasn't made for the long haul
I'm just a rolling stone
She's built for something better
And I'm just built for being alone"

Like many of the album's more emotionally wrought offerings, 'Losing Hope' finds Adcock in deep distress after a romantic relationship has turned sour.

At the start of the tune, we find the artist trapped in uneasy silence, reflecting on exactly what, in their romance, went awry. We soon discover the answer. It appears Adcock has commitment issues, unwilling–or perhaps unable–to let someone in fully and allow himself to be tied down.

By the end of the opening verse, listeners are ultimately led to believe that he's better off alone.

The chorus, however, says otherwise, with Adcock singing, "She's burning up that highway / I'm burning down this smoke / I wish you'd turn back my way / And come save me, cause I'm losing hope."

He's desperate for his love to return despite being resolute about his solitude and his instance for goodbyes.

Throughout the song, he sends his regards to his former partner's family and bidding farewell to the life they shared together. It all seems very cold until the refrain when he allows his trues feelings to be known.

"She's burning up that highway
I'm burning up this smoke
I wish you'd come back home
Come save me, cause I'm losing hope"

I can't take the sound of the silence
It's cutting right on through
I'd go retrace my steps, but I've already lost what I had to lose
I wasn't made for the long haul
I'm just a rolling stone
She's built for something better
And I'm just built for being alone

She's burning up that highway
I'm burning down this smoke
I wish you'd turn back my way
And come save me, cause I'm losing hope

I breathed on right in a deep one
Then the rain fell right on cue
God knows where I might be
If the bad times flow like the good times do

She's burning up that highway
I'm burning down this smoke
I wish you'd turn back my way
And come save me, cause I'm losing hope

Just tell your mama I'm sorry
I let your old man down
Take care of our old dog
Hope he don't recall me being around

She's burning up that highway
I'm burning down this smoke
I wish you'd turn back my way
And come save me, cause I'm losing hope

She's burning up that highway
I'm burning up this smoke
I wish you'd come back home
Come save me, cause I'm losing hope

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For more on Gavin Adcock, see below: