Morgan Wallen claims #4 on the latest Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Been By Now,’ the lead single from his upcoming album. This song, which peaked at #2, is Wallen’s 21st top ten hit and his tenth to reach the top five. Wallen has had four #1 hits in the past four years.
Country has been having more than a moment the past several years. A couple of months ago, five country songs claimed the top five spots of the Hot 100 for the first time in the chart’s history. Wallen held two of those spots, with this song and a duet with Ella Langley (‘I Can’t Love You Anymore’).
Now that Billboard includes streaming data in their calculations, loyal country fans across the U.S. are seeing their dedication reflected in the charts. And young stars like Wallen and Langley are hitting a nerve with their modern spin on classic country, crossing over to mainstream audiences.
Even Taylor Swift, who rules the charts no matter what she releases, is returning to her country roots. Her ‘I Knew It, I Knew You’ was one of those five record-breaking hits.
Time will tell if this is a permanent shift or just a trend. A few years ago the Hot 100 was dominated by rap, and lately that genre is almost absent from the chart.
In the meantime, here’s another catchy Morgan Wallen tune.
What the Kids are Listening To
Check out the archive of a middle aged man trying to stay relevant.
No need to act surprised, I’ve seen it in your eyes
I feel it when we lie here, worlds apart
It’s easier to stay, it’s easier to say
That there’s gon’ come a day it won’t be this hard
[Pre-Chorus]
Nah, we don’t even fight like we used to
We don’t even care ‘nough to cry no more
It’s been a hundred nights since I knew you
How long we gonna keep lookin’ at that door?
[Chorus]
If it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
We wouldn’t have to keep tryna work things out
Yeah, baby, we’re a breeze when the lights go down
It wouldn’t be so hard when we ain’t in the dark
If we were in the stars, they’d have lined right up
Yeah, maybe from the start, we’ve been tryin’ too much
I know you wanna think that it’s what we found
But if it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
Been by now
[Verse 2]
If I could go and find, the moment or the night
My heart went cold as ice, I’d light the match
Don’t wanna draw the line, don’t wanna say goodbye
But we’re just wastin’ time, girl, that we don’t have
[Chorus]
If it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
We wouldn’t have to keep tryna work things out
Yeah, baby, we’re a breeze when the lights go down
It wouldn’t be so hard when we ain’t in the dark
If we were in the stars, they’d have lined right up
Yeah, maybe from the start, we’ve been tryin’ too much
I know you wanna think that it’s what we found
But if it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
Been by now
[Pre-Chorus]
Nah, we don’t even fight like we used to
We don’t even care ‘nough to cry no more
It’s been a hundred nights since I knew you
And I can’t spend another lookin’ at that door
[Chorus]
If it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
We wouldn’t have to keep tryna work things out
Yeah, baby, we’re a breeze when the lights go down
It wouldn’t be so hard when we ain’t in the dark
If we were in the stars, they’d have lined right up
Yeah, maybe from the start, we’ve been tryin’ too much
I know you wanna think that it’s what we found
But if it was meant to be, we’d have been by now
Been by now
Been by now
