Undiscovered: Five Ashley McBryde Songs We Know You'll Love

Arkansas native Ashley McBryde celebrates her birthday today. Despite being a now-famous country star, McBryde originally played the French horn in college. After dropping out of college to pursue music, she began her trek to stardom and did so gracefully. To celebrate the horn-player-turned-country star’s birthday, here are 5 songs by McBryde you may not know.

1. “Livin’ Next To Leroy”

McBryde touches on some heavy topics in this song from her 2018 album, Girl Going Nowhere. It’s on the longer side, but every second of listening is worth the skill she brings and the message the song delivers. It illustrates the drug problem in lower-income neighborhoods in a way that introduces the difficult topic to open conversation. It’s sensitive and realistic as to how quickly these problems can affect someone. “I rolled a J on the day I got my diploma / I knew Leroy would be proud.” The song is a tasteful way for McBryde to discuss an issue that she is passionate about, and she does it artfully.

2. “The Jacket”

Girl Going Nowhere produced another sentimental hit with the track "The Jacket." The song was not originally supposed to make the album at all. In the lyrics, she tells the story of a jacket that her uncle gave to her and has become one of her most prized possessions, “It's been a bed for a hound dog, a picnic blanket / There's blood on the collar / From a punk who tried to take it from me.” It’s the kind of song that makes the listener feel the same sentimentality that McBryde does for the jacket.

3. “Luckiest S.O.B.”

“Luckiest S.O.B.” is a fun and wild tune from McBryde’s 2016 EP, Jalopies and Expensive Guitars.” She puts a fun twist on her appreciation for the way that her career is headed by referring to herself as an S.O.B. She is proud of the work she has put in to get as far as she has, but she also shows respect to those that came before her. “All the best ones are gone now; they're deep in the ground / They paved the way before we came around.” McBryde never fails to demonstrate the heart she puts into her music.

4. “Stone”

There is no greater compliment than to be compared to a loved one, and McBryde’s 2020 track, “Stone” accomplishes that. She sings about the joy she feels from sharing traits with her late brother. Their similarities mean a lot to her, even the small ones. “I sway like you / When I get nervous / I'm shy like you.” She succeeded with this tune that tugs at the heartstrings.

5. “Better On The Water”

No discography is complete without a boat party song, and McBryde is no exception. Her 2016 track from Jalopies and Expensive Guitars takes advantage of her southern twang and classic country sound to produce the perfect jam to play on a pontoon during the summer. It’s simple and has a fun, refreshing sound for a hot summer day. “Hey, y'all let me hear you holler / Yee haw take another swallow / This boat ain't gonna rock itself.” Blast it this summer when you’re on a pontoon boat with friends, it’s sure to bring up the energy.

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