I remember working on this song for what felt like ages, wrestling with each note and phrase. The music itself came together naturally—that’s usually how it goes for me. I tend to find the groove first, piecing together the melody and rhythm until they feel right, then circling back for the lyrics. But this time, the words just wouldn’t come. I found myself staring at blank pages, knowing that I wanted to say something but not quite sure what it was. It was one of those stretches where I felt unsure of everything, questioning where I fit in and what direction the world was even headed. Honestly, that’s a theme that shows up in my music a lot—this feeling of trying to carve out a place that feels like mine in a world that’s always shifting underfoot.
The breakthrough came during a visit to my sister’s farm. I went out there to get away from the noise, to just be in the quiet for a while. There’s something grounding about that place—walking along the property lines, letting the dogs run loose through the woods, breathing in the scent of earth and trees. While I was out there, the theme finally hit me: this song wasn’t about who I was, or even who I’d been; it was about who I wanted to be. And just like that, I knew what the song was really about.
Once I had the theme, the title “Good Man” popped into my mind, and it was as if a dam had burst. The lyrics flowed out faster than I could keep up with. I wrote seven or eight verses without even realizing it, pouring every piece of myself into those lines. I had too much, actually—more than I needed. So I went back, pulling out the lines that resonated most, tweaking and reshaping them until they fit perfectly with the melody I had been carrying around in my head. The moment I had those pieces aligned, I felt this jolt of excitement to finally lay down the vocals.
Sharing it with others was nerve-wracking, even though it was just a few trusted friends and mentors. I wanted to know if they’d feel the same pull that I did, if they’d hear the honesty in those lyrics. And the feedback I got back was everything I’d hoped for: they found it catchy, they loved the lyrics, and, most importantly, they told me how the song made them feel. That’s always been my goal with music—capturing that elusive feeling and sending it out to connect with someone else. So to hear that my people—who aren’t afraid to give me the truth—genuinely connected with this track was incredibly validating.
Even my sister, who mostly sticks to country music, gave it her seal of approval! That, for me, was the icing on the cake. To know that this song could resonate across different tastes, that people could connect with the desire in those lyrics to be a better person—it’s more than I could have asked for.