Released: 2021
Features: Luke Bryan
“Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis, featuring Luke Bryan, taps into the heart of country music’s storytelling tradition, offering a narrative that’s both reflective and instructive. At its core, the song is a conversation between generations, sharing wisdom on what truly matters in life. It’s a masterclass in recognizing the value of simplicity, love, and hard work over the relentless chase for wealth.
The song kicks off with a vivid scene: a man nearing 80 years old, sharing his life-earned wisdom with a younger one, presumably the singer, who’s caught up in the hustle of making a living. The older man’s advice? “Buy dirt.” Now, he’s not just talking about purchasing a plot of land. He’s speaking to the idea of investing in what’s real and lasting—relationships, hard work, spiritual faith, and family. It’s about grounding oneself in the things that money can’t buy and recognizing the foundation of true happiness.
As the chorus hits, the song’s message is driven home with the call to “find the one you can’t live without” and “get a ring, let your knee hit the ground.” These lines are all about committing to love and family, suggesting that these are the real investments worth making. The notion of “do what you love but call it work” flips the script on the traditional pursuit of success, advocating for a life where passion and vocation are one and the same. The instruction to “throw a little money in the plate at church” and “send your prayers up and your roots down deep” evoke the importance of faith and community in building a fulfilling life.
As the song continues, it repeats these themes, reinforcing the idea that life’s true value is found not in its material aspects but in the intangible moments and connections we create. The final lines, “‘Cause the truth about it is / It all goes by real quick / You can’t buy happiness / But you can buy dirt,” sum up the song’s essence. It’s a reminder that life is fleeting, and the pursuit of happiness lies in the joys and relationships that ground us, symbolized by the metaphor of ‘buying dirt.’ Essentially, it’s a call to cherish and invest in the fundamentals of life that remain long after we’re gone.
In “Buy Dirt,” Davis and Bryan extend an invitation to listeners to reflect on what gives their lives meaning. Through a blend of country storytelling and reflective musings, the song captures the universal search for happiness in a poignant and grounded way. Its message is simple yet profound: invest in what lasts, love deeply, work passionately, and in doing so, you’ll find the happiness that money can’t buy.
