Blessings

Album: Can't Say I Ain't Country (2019)
Charted: 118
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Brian Kelley started this tender ballad with his songwriting buddies Jordan Schmidt and Ernest K. Smith back in January 2016. Kelley had invited them over with their wives for an informal writing vacation on St. John Island in the US Virgin Islands. They got the chorus going during that initial session and sent their demo to Kelly's FGL bandmate Tyler Hubbard, who was in vacation in Africa.

    Kelley recalled to Billboard: "We were both in, like, life-changing places, probably doing a little bit of soul-searching, also doing a lot of looking back. We sent it to Tyler and were like, 'Yeah, when we get back, we gotta finish this.'"

    When Kelley got back to Nashville the following month, they gave Tom Douglas a call, and he came over to their tree house and helped them wrap most of the song up.

    Kelley and Hubbard still felt "Blessings" needed fine-tuning so they tapped songwriter Jesse Frasure to do some extra work on the demo. He slowed down the tempo while keeping it simple, organic and raw.
  • This song of gratitude is the most biographical song on the Can't Say I Ain't Country album. Hubbard told The Boot its message is one of always having a thankful attitude and counting your blessings.

    "Even when you wake up, no matter what happens, no matter how bad it is, you still got to wake up, and that's a big deal," he explained. "And so, we're super thankful for all the blessings: Our families. The fact that we get to create for a living, touch a bunch of people's lives and provide jobs. We just feel extremely fulfilled, so it's just a good reminder to always count your blessings, and never forget [how lucky you are], no matter what happens."
  • Directed by Justin Clough, the song's music video shows Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley's wives, children, parents, and even dogs, in Florida and Nashville. There are also scenes from Arizona's Lost Dutchman State Park, which were filmed during 2019's Can't Say I Ain't Country Tour.

Comments: 1

  • Beverly Heaney from Maryland How can I get a copy of the sheet music for the song “Blessings” by FGL ? I need it for my daughter’s wedding.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.