Released: 2023
Zach Bryan’s ‘Holy Roller’, featuring Sierra Ferrell, is a deeply personal song that explores the themes of love, redemption, and spirituality. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist finds a divine connection through his love for a woman, symbolized by her eyes. The song also delves into the struggles of life, hinting at past mistakes and future hopes.
‘I ain’t never been a holy roller / But I found God in your eyes’ – This line suggests that the singer isn’t traditionally religious, but he’s found a spiritual connection in his love for this woman. Her eyes, with their ‘greens and browns’, are compared to a mountainside, symbolizing the vastness and depth of his feelings.
‘We can stop for gas on our last trip out of town / All these songs about nothing / And straight-faced bluffin’s got me down’ – Here, Bryan is expressing dissatisfaction with superficiality. The ‘songs about nothing’ could be a critique of shallow, meaningless music, while ‘straight-faced bluffin’ might refer to people putting on a facade.
‘Cause old dogs bark way too loud / And talk shit on the weekend crowd’ – This verse hints at the singer’s frustration with judgmental people (‘old dogs’) who criticize others (‘the weekend crowd’). It’s a common sentiment in country music, reflecting a disdain for hypocrisy.
‘Comin’ down and comin’ up / There’s a place for good love on the river’s edge, darlin’ / And I know home’s not far from here’ – This verse seems to be about the ups and downs of life (‘comin’ down and comin’ up’). The ‘place for good love on the river’s edge’ suggests a safe haven, a place of comfort and love. The assurance that ‘home’s not far from here’ implies that despite life’s challenges, there’s always a place of refuge and peace.
‘And you’re grinnin’ like a vandal / After swiggin’ on a handle of Tito’s / Lord, I didn’t plan this / I’m just goin’ as far as the wind blows’ – These lines depict a spontaneous, carefree moment. The ‘grinnin’ like a vandal’ phrase suggests a rebellious, joyful spirit, further emphasized by the act of ‘swiggin’ on a handle of Tito’s’, a brand of vodka. The singer admits he didn’t plan this, he’s just going with the flow (‘as far as the wind blows’).
‘Coastlines to the flatlands / Get your rich hands out of our plans’ – This verse seems to be a commentary on the intrusion of wealth and power into personal lives. The ‘coastlines to the flatlands’ phrase suggests a wide range of experiences, while ‘get your rich hands out of our plans’ is a defiant statement against outside interference.
In the end, Bryan reiterates the refrain, ‘I ain’t never been a holy roller / But I found God in your eyes’, reinforcing the central theme of the song – finding spirituality and redemption in love. The ‘greens and browns’ of her eyes, reminding him of a mountainside, continue to symbolize his deep, profound love for her.
