Hearts I Leave Behind

Album: A Whole Lot More to Me (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This poignant tune was written by Nick Sturms and Travis Meadows. It was originally recorded by former Navy Seal Pete Scobell in memory of American Sniper subject Chris Kyle. "I saw a YouTube version. It was toned down and we really picked it up because I felt like it's a positive message in this song, not a negative, and it's not a dark subject," Morgan told Rolling Stone. "For me, it's kind of like reading the Bible - you shouldn't feel despair. You should feel excitement and that's what this message is in this song for me."
  • Though Morgan was instantly drawn to the tune, it almost didn't make it onto the A Whole Lot More to Me album. "We heard it in the very beginning of the song selection process," he recalled to The Boot. "It kind of hung in there, and then it would drop off, and then we would go back and do another listening session, and go, 'Man, we really should have this song back in.' We'd put it back in," he recalled. "It went back and forth, off and on, for the whole year."

    Morgan eventually decided to record the song as he already had the studio booked to cut "Living on Memories."
  • Morgan's gritty voice is accompanied here by the soulful tones of Third Day singer Mac Powell. "We got to talking about it, and Powell's name came up. I said, 'I love that guy's vocal,'" he recounted. "I went back and listened to Mac, and he had cut a country record. It blew me away, but I was scared to death, because I didn't know, on the record, what it would sound like, going from my record to his record, that transition, whether it would be too harsh."

    "It wasn't until we got into the studio and I started cutting his vocals on the record that it floored me, emotionally," Morgan added. "This is a huge, huge song now. I feel like his participation elevated that song to a whole new level."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

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

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.