Buy Dirt
by Jordan Davis (featuring Luke Bryan)

Album: Bluebird Days (2021)
Charted: 22
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jordan Davis wrote this vulnerable song with his brother Jacob Davis and the brothers Josh and Matt Jenkins a few months into the global pandemic. With his entire world turned upside down, Davis could slow down and recognize he still had his family, friends, faith and the piece of dirt where he lives.
  • Unable to tour and perform his music due to the COVID lockdown, Davis gleaned insight to what is really important in life. "Everything was at a standstill," he said. "I came to the realization of man, all you need is your faith, your family and your friends. And music's great and I love it and I'm happy I get to do it, but at the end of the day those are three things that I need to always keep at the top of my list, and 'Buy Dirt' is my kind of pledge to that."
  • Luke Bryan contributes a verse halfway through before accompanying Davis for the rest of the song. After meeting at an awards show, the two became buddies; the "Almost Maybes" singer both likes and respects his fellow country star. "Luke isn't just a great entertainer; he's a great dad, a great husband, and a great friend, too. That's what 'Buy Dirt' embodies," said Davis. "When I wrote 'Buy Dirt,' I knew he could relate to the song's message. I took a chance and asked him to join me on the recording, and he said yes."
  • Other collaborations between Jordan Davis and his fellow singer-songwriter brother Jacob include "Take It From Me" and "Detours."
  • When lockdown started, Davis thought it would be the perfect opportunity to write a lot of music. But the singer didn't get off to the start he'd imagined, so he stopped writing and instead spent time just listening to the music he loved.

    This gave Davis the motivation and inspiration he needed to get back on track, and "Buy Dirt" was the first fruit of his renewed zeal for songwriting.
  • Davis found it intimidating asking someone like Luke Bryan to accompany him on a track. He texted him the song, telling the superstar how much it meant to him, and fortunately he was up for it. "You don't want to be the guy that just peddles songs to one of the biggest names in the genre," Davis told Audacy's Coop. "I was on pins and needles."
  • "Buy Dirt" went viral on TikTok after fans used the chorus to share their own "Buy Dirt" experiences using the song's chorus.
  • Davis garnered his first Country #1 when the song climbed to the summit of the chart dated January 29, 2022. His previous best placings had been "Singles You Up," and "Take It From Me," both at #4.
  • The songwriting session took place in a cabin Davis rented right outside of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Matt Jenkins suggested the "Buy Dirt" idea the night before.

    "I actually heard someone say or heard it somewhere, 'Buy dirt they ain't making any more of it,'" Jenkins recalled to American Songwriter. "And so we had talked about that, talking about buying the farm and all that stuff kind of led to 'Buy Dirt' and I think that's where we were like, 'Hey, let's write that.'"
  • The song came together quickly. "I remember in that kitchen it was probably from the moment we were all sitting around drinking coffee we were out there in the word, passing scriptures talking about life," said Josh Jenkins. "I feel like from that moment the guitar was grabbed and we transitioned to the kitchen it was probably like 30 minutes and that verse and chorus was written. I remember looking up being like, 'Whoa, what has happened."
  • Davis and his co-writers spent three days at the rented cabin. "We started every day with coffee on the back porch, and Josh would lead us in some type of devotional," said Davis. "He would find some scripture and then we would just kind of chew on it for a little bit. That day he had read, and I need to remember the exact scripture, but it was something about being planted, being planted in the dirt and having a strong root system so you can weather storms and rain. That is really the start of 'Buy Dirt.'"

    Davis is probably alluding to Jesus' Parable Of The Sower found in Matthew 13:1–23, Mark 4:1–20, and Luke 8:4–15. The passage tells a story of a farmer who sows seed indiscriminately. The seed that scattered on the path, among rocks, or thorns, failed to produce a crop. But the seed that fell on good soil grew and yielded 30, 60, or a 100 times what was sown because of its strong roots.

    Bruce Springsteen's 2012 Wrecking Ball track "Rocky Ground" takes inspiration from the same Bible passage.
  • "Buy Dirt" won Song of the Year at the 2022 CMA Awards. It became the first song in CMA history written by more than three songwriters to win that particular accolade.

Comments: 2

  • D from Dpencil marks mean to watch your kids grow taller kuala
  • Kuala from GeorgiaHow could you make pencil marks in grass and how could you see them? Makes no sense.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Daryl Hall

Daryl HallSongwriter Interviews

Daryl Hall's TV show is a hit, and he's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - only one of these developments excites him.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.