Released: 2024
Zach Bryan’s ‘Northern Thunder’ is a poignant song about the struggle of success, the longing for simpler times, and the need for human connection. It’s a raw and honest portrayal of a man who’s achieved fame but is wrestling with the isolation and disconnection it brings.
The song kicks off with ‘Lovesick, homesick, sick of the road too’, painting a picture of Bryan’s exhaustion and longing for home, love, and a break from the relentless touring. When he says ‘all them boys back when sang blues’, he’s tipping his hat to the old blues musicians who often sang about their struggles and hardships.
‘Mama, I made a million dollars on accident’ is Bryan’s reflection on his unexpected success. He was supposed to be a ‘military man’, but his knack for rhyming and making music that resonates with people led him down a different path. The ‘thunder under metal roofs’ he mentions is a vivid image that likely symbolizes his longing for the comfort and familiarity of home.
In the lines ‘Why’s everyone actin’ like they ain’t human? Take me back to green grass and knowin’ what I’s doin”, Bryan expresses his frustration with the artificiality of fame and his longing for the simpler times when he knew his place in the world. He’s yearning for a friend, for companionship, and for someone to be there for him during his tough times.
The chorus ‘So close your eyes, do you think of when you younger? Won’t you rest your mind? Smell that northern thunder’ is a plea for solace and a return to innocence. The ‘northern thunder’ is a metaphor for the comforting, familiar experiences of his past. He’s asking the listener to remember their own past, to find comfort in their memories, and to understand his longing for what once was.
The song wraps up with Bryan ‘Lovesick, homesick, sick of the road too’, a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of his struggle, his longing for home, and his yearning for a simpler time.
