Over

Album: Red River Blue (2011)
Charted: 43
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The fourth single from Blake Shelton's sixth studio album, Red River Blue, "Over" is a mid-tempo tune penned by Paul Jenkins and David Elliott Johnson. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, country songwriter Paul Jenkins has lived in Nashville since 1994. His other credits include the Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" and Thompson Square's single "I Got You." St. Augustine drummer/producer David Elliot Johnson was working with major label artists by the age of 17 and has performed live with such names as Don Henley, Bruce Springsteen, Glenn Frey and Sheryl Crow.
  • Johnson's father was a jazz drummer on Miami Beach who carved out a successful career playing with such greats as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. It was a tough act to follow, and for years David sought to meet his dad's approval. Johnson explained to Saint Augustine magazine Old City Life that he wrote this song for his father in homage. "I wrote the song in an effort to reach my father through the medium we were both cursed by, music," he explained. "It is in our blood, our hearts, in our breath, in everything we do. The song's opening line, If I could, I would dare, feed your dreams and starve your fears, was the most personal line I'd ever written. It was the truth. The chorus, Tell me what I have to do to win you over, was one of the more painful I'd every written. Since then, I've recognized my ability to know when I am writing from my heart and when I am just putting pen to paper to take up space. Writing from the heart is frightening, painful, even humiliating; much, much worse than a really bad hair cut."
  • The single was released on May 21, 2012, three weeks after Shelton performed the song live on The Voice.
  • The song was Blake Shelton's seventh successive single to top the country chart following "Hillbilly Bone," "All About Tonight," "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking," "Honey Bee," "God Gave Me You" and "Drink On It."
  • The visual was voted the Best Video of 2012 by GAC viewers. A couple of Carrie Underwood's clips came in second and third place with "Blown Away" runner-up followed by "Good Girl."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

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.

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.