Cody Johnson Surprises Fans with a New Single ‘Blame Texas’

Cody Johnson, like his spontaneous performances, seemed to surprise fans by dropping a new single unplanned. The song just appeared on CoJo’s YouTube channel yesterday, March 2. And before you think this proud Texan suddenly started singing a different tune, the track, despite the title, is something else.  

Johnson posted on Instagram that even without the usual promotion, they had fun recording the track: “We had so much fun cuttin’ this one in the studio, I couldn’t keep it to myself. Had to let y’all have it.” The song is actually a heartbreak song. It follows the singer singing about his lover who left him because he did her wrong.  

The first verse paints a picture of someone whose quirks and preferences were influenced by their Texas upbringing. “If I chase my tequila with an ice-cold beer, blame Texas / If I swear there ain’t no better place than here, blame Texas / If you think I say a few words wrong / And find a way to put fiddle in every song / If I take George Strait over Elvis, blame Texas.”  

Before the listeners thought the song was some ode to Texas, the chorus sings a heartbreak that can’t be blamed on the state. “But if you wonder why she packed all her things /Left me back here alone in the Lonestar state / Yeah, I messed up a good thing again / Guess I just can’t help it / She loved the wide-open skies, no she didn’t wanna leave / Did her wrong, now she’s gone and it’s all on me / Coming back, naw, she ain’t / Wish I could but I can’t blame Texas.”  

Fans shouldn’t be surprised that the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year is releasing new music; after all, he did say he’s working on a new album. Johnson confirmed that fans can also expect collaboration with Luke Combs, Brothers Osborne, and more.