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Brad Paisley, 'Welcome to the Future': Story Behind the Song

Brad Paisley talked to SiriusXM about the recent Top 10 hit, 'Welcome to the Future,' which he co-wrote with Chris DuBois.

This is a song that is my hopes and dreams, captured in three generations. You have my grandfather's generation mentioned in the second verse, which fought World War II. He went to the Philippines to fight the Japanese in some of the most horrific times. The Great Depression, World War II, he had to think it was the end of the world. If you were to go back in time and tell him, 'Your grandson is going to play Japan on tour. Twice.' He would have thought you were out of your mind.

Fast forward to my generation, our idea of fighting was fighting for a place in line to play Pac-Man. The greatest attraction in my hometown was the Pac-Man game at the Kroger. It was a different time. And tell me one of these days I'm going to have a thing called an iPhone that has Pac-Man on it and I can play it any time I want!

Then you've got my kids' generation, where you can explain to them that the President is black, and that's a remarkable thing. They're never going to understand, they're going to think 'Why is that a big deal?'

When I was making this record, it was one of the last written. It became the glue of what made this an album to me. It didn't feel like a fully formed album until we wrote this. Then I thought, 'OK, this album is done.'

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greg

Grandma Betty, Thank you! I work with both teenagers and older employees. I sometimes am amazed when we have discussions about the past and now. Our mom's did not have cell phones to keep up with us but they did anyway, I was the remote control for my father's TV. The kids today do not know what it was like to use an out house. So when they don't understand why somethings are remarkable or an advancement I just smile, hope the best for their generation and in some cases pray. Mr. Paisley seems to be a good person and his family seems to be very important to him. You don't read of him going to rehab or cheating on his wife. His music does not require a warning lable now that is commendable.

September 26 2009 at 12:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stacey

its a song,love it or put your head in the toliet,and don'tlisten.

September 26 2009 at 12:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lisalongshot1

luv this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 26 2009 at 11:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Grandma Betty

SueAnn, you missed his point. For those who lived through the attrocities of World War II, when the Japanese were the enemy, touring Japan would have been unthinkable. For those who remember when people of color were arrested for sitting at a "whites only" lunch counter, or had attack dogs set on them for protesting segregation, it is truly amazing to have a Black President.
It is too bad that most young people are not aware of our history, but kudos to this young man who connects our past with our present and makes the point that things change.
And by the way, while your generation and his may not have been around in the 40's or 50's, it is still your history. Understanding the events of the past which shaped our present is important because it will give your generation the tools to shape the future. Good luck!

September 26 2009 at 11:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SueAnn

Please explain to me Brad why is it a big deal that the president is black?This is not the 1950's which by the way was not your generation either.It's stupid thoughts like that that just keep fueling the fire.

September 26 2009 at 8:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to SueAnn's comment
bold4644

Sueann u must b black or ignorant, oops oxymoron

September 26 2009 at 9:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SANDY

YOU are an idiot. Can you NOT read and understand what has been written. Brad says in his fathers generation his father fought in Japan and it would have been terrible for the father if his son did a tour in Japan. In Brads generation it would have been strange to have a black man as President. Come on, in the 1950's who would have thought a black man would become president. He goes on to say that in his childrens generation it is accepted. Which means MORON, that people are changing and the children of today do NOT see color on peoples skin. They just see the person.

September 26 2009 at 12:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
katydid579

Drat, I was hoping he was FINALLY going to come out of the closet!!!

September 26 2009 at 8:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply