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Story Behind the Song: 'Joey,' Sugarland

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles talked to The Boot about the song she and Kristian Bush wrote with the legendary Bill Anderson.

'Joey' is a teen tragedy song. It's important to set the stage in the first few lines -- sort of when the curtain rises, it's what we see in the first scene. So the idea of, 'What if I had said yes? What if I had gone out that night? What if you had turned left, and everything would've turned out alright?' And then we just went from that into, 'Oh my God, this is a car accident, and this is someone who is lamenting the loss of this boyfriend.' When we were about halfway through it, Bill said, 'This is like the teen tragedy songs of the 50s and 60s.' It's like 'Last Kiss,' which even Pearl Jam did a cover of recently. Several of those songs came about around that time.

So from a music historian perspective, when you tie it with Bill Anderson, I think there is a beautiful irony that's in the influences that he might have had as a writer and then consequently that spilled into this song that's on a record in 2008. That's one of the things that is so wonderful about Bill -- he can remain totally himself, and yet keep himself completely relevant by being open to changing musically or appreciating music on a broader level. He doesn't box himself regardless of his tradition and how long he has been in this industry. It was pretty special to write with him.

Read the lyrics to 'Joey.'


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4 Comments

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im420angel

When i was 17 the love of my life was named Joe and i called him Joey. 6 days before my 18 birthday Joey died in a car accident and it completely crushed my world, i felt like no one felt my pain and i was alone. He was the most amazing person i have ever met and everything about this tragedy was unfair. About ten years later i was driving my car listening to the radio and that song came on and i cried like i have ever before. finally i knew that someone out there knew how i feel and have felt for so many years. although grieving seems to never end and for me i will forever remember my Joey, this song helped me to move forward with my grieving process and i felt i was opening up my own feelings that i have tried to bury for so long now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

March 16 2011 at 11:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cato

Bill Anderson is a cousin of mine, and I have been following his writing for well over 40 years....AND I was a VERY EARLY fan of SUGARLAND! So this combination is magical for me! Jennifer and Kristian make it easy for a 54 year old man....and his elder cousin to understand what is not only relevant in Country Music today, but to seriously enjoy the direction is it going!!

October 03 2009 at 1:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
now4real954

when I hear this song I think about the "Joey" song from Concrete Blonde...it feels to me like a continuation of that song...in a way

and it really makes me think about how that song had gotten me thru many different situations in life

August 31 2009 at 9:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Soccer Chick90

When I listen to Joey, it's a song that pulls at my heartstrings, but I seem to take it as a different meaning. I always feel a sense of sadness for the loss of my boyfriend. I mean, he's still alive, but the lack of closure and communication since then has made it feel like he has passed away, and I guess in a way he has.
I listen to this song because I want to feel the pain that he gave me and relive it, because those are my last moments with him: pain, suffering, and a stabbing knife through the trust in which I have for people.

August 31 2009 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply