Released: 2015
Eric Church’s ‘Record Year’ is a clever play on words, using the term ‘record year’ to mean both a significant year and a year spent listening to vinyl records. The song is a poignant tale of heartbreak and healing, using music as a metaphor for recovery.
Church begins by expressing his loneliness after a breakup, but he’s not wallowing in self-pity. Instead, he’s ‘steady and learnin’ lonely,’ suggesting he’s growing from the experience. He’s keeping his ‘turntable spinnin’,’ listening to everything from George Jones to Waylon Jennings, two legends of country music. This line underscores the therapeutic role of music in his healing process.
The chorus ‘I’m havin’ a record year’ is a clever double entendre. It could mean he’s having a significant year due to the breakup, or it could mean he’s spending a lot of time listening to records. Either way, it’s clear that music is helping him cope.
‘One bourbon, one scotch, one beer’ is a reference to a famous song by George Thorogood, suggesting that Church is using both music and alcohol to numb his pain. The line ‘Quarter notes and Hank’s half time’ refers to the rhythm of country music, specifically songs by Hank Williams, another country music legend.
The line ‘Your good-and-gone keeps me up all night, along with Songs In The Key Of Life’ is particularly poignant. ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ is a famous album by Stevie Wonder, suggesting that Church is finding solace in a variety of music genres, not just country.
Towards the end, Church thanks his ex for leaving, as it led him to rediscover great music like ‘Red Headed Stranger’ by Willie Nelson, ‘old James Brown,’ and ‘New Grass Revival,’ a progressive bluegrass band. He’s not just surviving post-breakup, he’s thriving, having a ‘record year’ in more ways than one.
