Ol' Church Hymn

Album: Carolyn's Boy (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Ol' Church Hymn" is a redemptive love song where Darius Rucker uses gospel language to show how much he adores his sweetheart. The singer testifies how he "saw the light" and was "born again" because of their romance. His lady is his rock and blessing as she soothes his soul "like an ol' church hymn."
  • "Ol' Church Hymn" is rooted in the deep-seated ties between country and gospel. Other Nashville artists that recorded songs where they use devotional terminology to show their love for their romantic partner include:

    Keith Urban on "God Whispered Your Name."

    Kane Brown on "Heaven" and "Worship You."

    Also, Maren Morris did the same on "My Church" to illustrate her love for music.
  • Family act Chapel Hart harmonizes with Rucker on the song. The Mississippi trio, comprising sisters Danica and Devynn Hart along with cousin Trea Swindle, first came to the country star's attention on the 2021 America's Got Talent series. Their audition performance of "You Can Have Him Jolene" blew away the host and four judges, earning the group a Golden Buzzer.

    Rucker watched their Golden Buzzer moment; he was recording "Ol' Church Hymn" at the time and visualized it becoming a duet once he'd heard their voices.

    "He said, 'I have this song and I think I hear you guys doing the harmonies, Y'all just take it and do Chapel Hart. I'd love to work with you,'" Swindle recalled during an interview at the Opry. "So we took it and Chapel Harted it right up, put down the vocals and sent it to the producer. We were waiting for the response and the producer just goes, 'Got it, thanks.'"
  • Chapel Hart advanced to the AGT finals where Rucker joined them for their cover of Bonnie Raitt's "Something To Talk About." They finished in fifth place.
  • Rucker wrote "Ol' Church Hymn" with Ben Hayslip (Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee," Luke Bryan's "I Don't Want This Night To End"), Josh Miller (Bebe Rexha's "Meant to Be," Florida Georgia Line's "Long Live") and Greylan James (Chris Young's "If That Ain't God," Kenny Chesney's "Happy Does").

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.