Introduction
Rory Feek’s “Out on a Limb” appears on his first solo album, Gentle Man, released June 18, 2021—a deeply personal project created after the 2016 passing of his wife and musical partner, Joey Feek . Though officially recorded in that post‑Joey period, Feek actually first encountered the song decades earlier: he heard Phillip Coleman perform it at Nashville songwriter rounds in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and it resonated so strongly with him that he included it among the handful of songs he carefully culled for Gentle Man .
“Out on a Limb” is not just a song—it’s a philosophical statement. Feek explains that the phrase symbolizes stepping beyond comfort and familiarity into riskier territory, “because that’s where all the great fruit is.” He reflects that many remain stuck “at the trunk of the tree,” avoiding vulnerability, while true reward lies in venturing forth . This metaphor aligns perfectly with the album’s theme: a man returning to his roots—his childhood on a farm, his story-driven approach to music, and the resilience forged through grief.
Recorded at Nashville’s Ben’s Den Studios, Gentle Man showcases Feek’s gentle vocals and acoustic simplicity, themes that carry into “Out on a Limb”.The song’s essence—embracing bravery, introspection, and the quest for deeper living—resonated profoundly as Feek navigated life without Joey, realigning his identity and art through storytelling and faith .
“Out on a Limb” thus serves as both a personal declaration and universal invitation: to risk vulnerability, to harvest the profound, and to trust that sometimes, the scariest branch leads to the sweetest fruit.