It’s often said that country music is three chords and the truth. When listeners can connect with the stories, emotions, and experiences in the lyrics of a song that’s when the magic happens.
For country artist and songwriter Jordan Davis, it was a song about the importance of planting roots that connected with audiences in an authentic way and took his career to the next level, landing him his first CMA Award for Song of the Year. “Buy Dirt,” the song that has been so big for Davis’ career as an artist, was even more special because it was co-written with not only his own brother Jacob Davis, but another pair of songwriting brothers, Josh and Matt Jenkins.
The song depicts the narrative of a wise older man on the cusp of his 80th birthday, giving advice to someone younger who may not have their priorities in the right place. Encouraging them as only someone with years of life experience can, to not place so much importance on accumulating wealth and climbing corporate ladders that they let the things that really matter like family, faith, and pursuing your passions fall to the wayside.
“Buy Dirt,” as the song’s chorus shares, gives sage advice about finding a sense of home and a deeply-rooted connection, not only in a physical place but also in people and in doing the things you love.
The four songwriters shared in an exclusive American Songwriter video that “Buy Dirt” was one of those rare songs that came to them quickly within about 30 minutes and they knew instantly that it was special. “Sometimes those are the best songs,” shared Matt Jenkins. “When you almost feel like they are there waiting to be written, just for you to pick up the pen and start writing it.”
“Well, they’re 100% a gift,” added Jacob Davis. “I think they’re a gift from the Lord, man. We’ve talked about that since we wrote that song. There was something about that morning.”
When working on the demo a few days after writing it, Josh Jenkins knew there was something different about the song. “[All] I know is every time I listen to this song I feel like the hairs on my arm stand up,” Josh Jenkins remembered telling his brother. “I don’t know what this means, but there’s something special.”
At the 2022 CMA Awards this past November, the four brothers took home the award for Song of the Year, which was a first CMA Award win for all four songwriters. The award, which goes to the songwriters rather than the artist—however in this scenario with Jordan being both—is one of the most prestigious awards in the country genre for songwriters. To win would be a monumental moment for any songwriter, but to win with your brother is a
unique event that not many people get to experience.
Jordan Davis said the win was unexpected when he the four songwriters got up onstage to receive the award. 'We wrote a song about faith and family, and if that’s not country music, I don’t know what is!,' he said on stage in his acceptance speech.
The song, which features country superstar Luke Bryan, became the title track for Jordan Davis’ album in 2021.The values and sentiment of the poignant song connected so deeply with listeners that Davis decided to include it as the closing track of his most recent album "Bluebird Days," which was recently released last month. The 17-song album includes multiple tracks written by both the Davis and Jenkins brothers, “Tucson Too Late” and “One Beer In Front Or The Other.” JordanDavisOfficial.com