Image Courtesy Warner Music NashvilleCole Swindell’s first two #1 hits, “Chillin’ It” and “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” have been uptempo affairs, but he’s tapping into some real-life heartbreak on his latest single, “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey.”
“It was a real thing,” Cole says. “I had just broken up with this girl. She had me crazy. Just like, could not shake it. Finally, my buddy threw out that title, and I was like, ‘I know somebody that might not be worth it that we could write this about.'”
They went on to write the song from the perspective of a guy who is too proud to admit he’s drinking to forget his ex-girlfriend. Instead, Cole raises a toast to things like the end of the work week or a buddy who is serving in the military overseas.
Says Cole, “If you listen to it, obviously I’m not over her. It’s just kinda like I’m saying I’m doing this and saying I’m doing that.”
While Cole has moved on from pining for that girl who broke his heart, he is glad to show a different side of his music to fans who have just heard his radio hits.
Cole adds, “I’m glad I’m getting to put out a country ballad, ’cause me growing up loving ’90s country music, there were so many great ballads and just great songs. I’m not always just ‘Chillin’ It.’ You know, I’m a real person. There’s heartbreak. There’s trials.”
It’s hard to argue that life is pretty sweet for Cole these days. He’s nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 50th Annual ACM Awards, broadcasting live Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
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