The mix of Urban influences and Country roots that Walker Hayes has become known for are all over his new single, "Y'all Life," which blends lyrics about "shawty," Jesus, nana pudding, double dutch, Wiffle Ball, church, tailgates, crawdads, chicken wings and a blow-up Grinch into a song truly only Hayes could pull off. In the second verse, he manages to rhyme Dolly Parton, Olive Garden and the name of NBA player James Harden in a trio of lines that somehow -- somehow -- make sense. It's all good fun, and listeners will have a blast deciphering the fast-paced lyrics and attempting to sing along. "Y'all Life" was written by Hayes, Pete Good and Josh Jenkins, along with the writers of Nelly's 2000 debut single, "Country Grammar" (a song that appears to have had at least some influence here), Jason "Jay E" Epperson and Nelly himself. Hayes' Mobile, AL upbringing is referenced in the chorus, where he sings, "We be livin' that y'all life, y'all / Rollin' in the South / Where it's all football and Jesus / Barbershop talking like nah / Shut your mouth, my mama's sweet tea's the sweetest." And the singer's trademark humor shines through on lines like, "All them dads tell them boys, 'Son, walk it off' / Y'all all them mamas tell them girls, 'Better keep your legs crossed.'" Hayes says the song is "meant to celebrate life and living in the moment, even if that means things are a little messy ... I feel like a lot of people can relate to that imagery in this song.” He couldn't have described the song itself better than he does in the third verse's lyrics, where he sings, "It's all about a dub and a dirt road." Sounds about right.
Impacting: Monday, August 1st
By: Phyllis Stark