Ain't My Daddy's Town

Album: Until My Voice Goes Out (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Jaren Johnston and Rodney Clawson penned song, sung from the perspective of a man who had just lost his father, was originally pitched to Josh Abbott on February 3, 2017. The very same day the songwriters sent Abbott their demo via email the singer's father's health began to take a turn for the worse. However Abbott was unaware of this at the time. He recalled to Taste of Country:

    "I listened to it and I loved it, and so my reply to them was, 'Man it's a really touching song … but our albums have always been so autobiographical that I don't know that I can put a song out about my father dying, because he hasn't died.'"

    Six days later Charles Abbott suffered a fatal stroke, and within a month he'd passed away. Abbott kept listening to the track and after a few months he decided to record it, tweaking a couple of lines in the second verse to make the lyrics more autobiographical.
  • The song's music video was filmed in early June 2017, the night that the Josh Abbott Band recorded the song. As Abbott sings, he's holding his father's favorite hat.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.