Texas country mainstay Aaron Watson's "Silverado Saturday Night" reminds us that so-called "bro-country" artists never had the market cornered on songs referencing pickup trucks, backroads romances and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Fishin' in the Dark." The feel-good tune and its new music video also represent an alternative to addressing our current situation with patriotism or deep political statements, even the song teases a 2021 release titled American Soul.
The music video mirrors the songs' carefree, throwback feel by showing Watson and his band reconnect on Zoom and in person while wearing their best '90s country outfits.
"We just wanted to have fun with it," Watson told Wide Open Country. "And you know what? That's what music's supposed to be. In this day and age, everyone's trying to make a statement. I don't think you have to make a statement. Just give your fans something that makes them feel good."
The song's backing track, written by Watson, Monty Criswell and Phil O'Donnell, was originally intended for a different song.
"We recorded this song that's called 'Stay' the first day we recorded the new album, and I didn't like the way it turned out because I didn't feel like the music really matched the lyrics," Watson says. "So, we re-recorded that song the next day, and we just kind of trashed the track we had recorded the day before. Well, I was supposed to go back in the studio again and record some more songs, but the pandemic kicked in. We realized we'd have to finish the album from home, and I have a little studio. One day I realized, 'You know what? I'm going to get that track from the first Monday we recorded that we didn't use.' So, I got that music track and wrote new lyrics to it and it became 'Silverado Saturday Night.'"
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The new lyrics suited Watson's needs for his first new song since "Whisper My Name."
"Right now, I just wanted to give my fans something sweet and simple because music is just an escape," he adds. "Music is healing."
Watson's been one of country music's most successful independent artists since 1999, so don't assume he's another new face riding Luke Combs' wave of nostalgic success. Watson's own BIG Label Records issued Top 10 studio albums Real Good Time (2012), The Underdog (2015), Vaquero (2017) and Red Bandana (2019).
"Silverado Saturday Night" Lyrics
Those horses need to run like wheels need to roll
Where that rubber meets a red dirt road
I need your kiss like a cooler needs cans
Like your body needs my two hands
So baby climb on up and slide on in
High as a kite, feeling free as the wind
Find that buckle next to me in the middle
You can grind my gears but don't you play me like a fiddle
We can tie one on and come unwound
Turn up the heat when the sun goes down
No, they don't call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that's right
Nothing's better than a Silverado Saturday night
I got money to burn like gas in the tank
Got the perfect spot there down by the bank
Got my old Zebco with a ten pound line
So kick off your boots, now it's time to shine
So baby climb on up and slide on in
High as a kite, feeling free as the wind
Find that buckle next to me in the middle
You can grind my gears but don't you play me like a fiddle
We can tie one on and come unwound
Turn up the heat when the sun goes down
No, they don't call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that's right
Nothing's better than a Silverado Saturday night
Nothing's better than a Silverado Saturday night
It's just you and me underneath the moon
We'll be dancing with the stars
Yeah, I'll show you what they mean
When they sing about fishing in the dark
So baby climb on up and slide on in
High as a kite, feeling free as the wind
Find that buckle next to me in the middle
You can grind my gears but don't you play me like a fiddle
We can tie one on and come unwound
Turn up the heat when the sun goes down
They don't call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that's right
Nothing's better than a Silverado
They don't call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that's right
Nothing's better than a Silverado
They don't call it a truck bed for nothing, yeah, you know that's right
Nothing's better than a Silverado Saturday night
Silverado Saturday night
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