We Didn't Have Much

Album: Straight Outta the Country (2020)
Charted: 41
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by Jeremy Stover, Randy Montana and Paul DiGiovanni, this song is about growing up in simpler but happier times. The lyrics find Justin Moore traveling down memory lane as he reminisces about "Tonka trucks and G.I. Joes," ensuring his Sunday church clothes are kept clean and a "little bitty" home filled with love.
  • Though Moore didn't write the song, its message about simplifying our lives reflects how he and his family have been living in the coronavirus era. "Like I'm building a chicken coop right now," the singer said in a media conversation. "We'll have our own fresh eggs. We planted a garden, which has been fun for the kids but has been lesson-teaching - you put work into something, you get something in return. Relying on your neighbors, I mean this is all cliché, cheesy-sounding stuff, but it's true, and it's kind of been our life over the last four or five months."
  • The song's nostalgic look back at simpler times is a popular theme in country music in an era when many have been forced to slow down. Runaway June's "We Were Rich" and Travis Denning's "Goodyears" are two other 2020 singles that reflect on finding joy in simplicity.
  • Moore released this on October 9, 2020 as the lead single from his sixth album. An engineer came to his pool house in Poyen, Arkansas and set up a vocal studio allowing him to record all his vocals at home. Moore didn't have to leave his home for writing sessions either, co-writing several songs on Zoom.
  • Justin Moore told ABC Audio the song takes him back to his childhood in Poyen, Arkansas. "You know, the song really kinda reminded me of my youth and how simple we lived," he said. "And, you know, throughout this thing, especially early on, we were forced as a family to lead a much more simple life, you know, and I really thought the song kind of spoke to the beauty in that simplicity."

    "It reminds me of my dad and me going to baseball practice for hours," Moore added, "or being out in the yard and me begging him to play catch with me till it gets dark, or shooting basketball and he's rebounding for me, those kinds of things."

Comments: 1

  • Dave Mullinax from Benton ArJustin, love your music and you have wonderful in-laws. Proud of you, especially happy your a local boy. I’m sure you and I met at Everett GMC about a year ago. Keep the great music coming.Dave
see more comments

Editor's Picks

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Taylor Dayne

Taylor DayneSongwriter Interviews

Taylor talks about "The Machine" - the hits, the videos and Clive Davis.