Introduction
“This Song’s for You” is a heartfelt country track by the duo Joey + Rory, featuring the Zac Brown Band. Released on July 20, 2010, it served as the lead single from their second studio album, Album Number Two, which debuted on September 14, 2010.
The song was co-written by Rory Lee Feek of Joey + Rory and Zac Brown during a collaborative tour. They penned it as a tribute to their fans, aiming to express gratitude for their support. Rory Feek noted, “It was written specifically for our fans, telling them how we feel about them.”
Musically, “This Song’s for You” is a mid-tempo track characterized by traditional country instrumentation, including steel guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. The lyrics honor everyday Americans, acknowledging their hard work, patriotism, and love for authentic country music. The chorus emphasizes that the fans are the real stars and the reason artists record music.
Critical reception was mixed. Marc Erikson of Roughstock praised the duet’s vocal dynamics, considering it a “downright ‘breakthrough’ for the husband and wife duo.” Leeann Ward of Country Universe awarded the song a B+ rating, highlighting its sincerity and traditional production. Conversely, Juli Thanki of Engine 145 critiqued the lyrics as “cringe-inducing” at times, despite acknowledging the pleasant vocals and production.
The accompanying music video, directed by Darren Doane, was filmed in Pottsville, Tennessee, and released in August 2010.
While the single did not chart on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, it resonated with fans for its genuine appreciation of their support and its reflection of traditional country values.
Video
Lyrics
If you got up this morning then you went to work today,
This song’s for you
And if you put eight honest hours in,
For eight hours worth of pay, this song’s for you
If it’s taking all you got these days just to make ends meet,
You’d like to give a piece of your mind
To those fat cats on Wall Street, this song’s for you
If you go to church on Sunday
And you try to do what’s right, this song’s for you
If you’ve been known to drink a beer,
And raise hell on a Friday night, this song’s for you
If you wish we didn’t have to go,
And send our boys to war,
But you still think this country of ours is sure worth dying for
This song’s for you, you know who you are
We’re up on this stage, but you’re the star
You’re why we, do what we do
We want you to know, this song’s for you
Now if you love country music,
As real as it comes, this song’s for you
And if you came here tonight,
Hoping you might hear you some, this song’s for you
If you paid your hard earned money to that bouncer at the door,
To hear the kind of songs that you don’t get to hear much anymore
This song’s for you, you know who you are
We’re up on this stage, but you’re the star
You’re why we, do what we do
We want you to know, this song’s for you
You might’ve lost a friend, a job,
Or someone broke your heart
But just like you might need it to,
The healings in the tune
This song’s for you, you know who you are
We’re up on this stage, but you’re the star
You’re why we, do what we do
We want you to know, this song’s for you
You deserve so much more it’s true,
We want you to know, this song’s for you