When I think of Texas, three things usually come to my mind. Rodeos, the Dallas Cowboys and Cody Johnson. Johnson’s pride in Texas runs deep and it makes it known in a lot of his songs.
And recently, Johnson released another Texas-themed song in Blame Texas on March 2. The song is a perfect mix of upbeat and fun themes while also singing of heartbreak.
This song truly came out of nowhere as it was released on a Monday, Johnson himself said that, “We had so much fun cuttin’ this one in the studio, I couldn’t keep it to myself. Had to let y’all have it.”
And CoJo fans warmly welcomed the new single.
In the first few lines of the track, Johnson sings, “If I chase my tequila with an ice-cold beer, blame Texas. If I swear there ain’t no better place than here, blame Texas.”
From those lyrics alone, the listener can assume that the song is going to be a certified two-stepping CoJo hit, but it takes a sad turn, but still keeps the quick tempo, making it an interesting and different sound.
“She loved the wide-open skies, no, she didn’t wanna leave. Did her wrong, now she’s gone, and it’s all on me. Coming back, no, she ain’t. Wish I could, but I can’t blame Texas.”
To accommodate the lyrics, we have an appearance of a fiddle and a steel guitar, making it a classic CoJo song.
Johnson’s songs still bring the retro sound that his fans adore. In the midst of the song, there is a killer steel guitar solo that we as fans rarely get from mainstream country artists. But Johnson will always have it and will always stay true to the authentic Texas sound.
Another critical part to the song and another example of Johnson’s pristine song writing is this clever line, “I can hold my own on a pissed off bull, but I can’t hold on to a woman at all.”
Throughout social media also, people are saying that this is the perfect song for the man’s perspective of Choosin’ Texas by Ella Langley. Even Johnson said it himself on his TikTok. Some themes are similar. Both artists are singing of Texas as well as heartbreak and relationship struggles.
Johnson and Langley are set to co-headline at Braves Country Fest in Georgia this summer. So, maybe we will see them perform this song together?
With this single, CoJo fans are now patiently awaiting for another release and maybe an album or EP? I will be patiently waiting.