Walker Hayes comments on the inspired second single “Craig” from his current album “Boom.” And, Craig, the man behind the song, reflects on impact it has had.
Hayes on the inspiration behind his new single, “Craig,” and his hope for the song:
“‘Craig’ is about a guy who —showed selfless love, kindness to me and my family during a very dark time. And, I want everybody to think of their own Craigs when they hear this song and I want people to be inspired to be like Craig when they hear it. That is my hope for this single.”
Hayes on what gives him goosebumps about the story behind the song:
“The most remarkable thing about the song ‘ Craig’ to me that… you know I know that people gravitate towards the fact that he gave me a car and he filled that need. But Craig and I are different people and we definitely really were when we met. Craig didn’t care. You know and to me that’s the part of the story that gives me the most goosebumps because I feel like right now, it’s easy for us to help like-minded people and to love like-minded people. But Craig and I had differences. And, rather than Craig allow those differences to divide us or you know alienate each other’s family from each other, his arms were just wide open. And then the car came later you know, out of the kindness of his heart. So, as far as this song is concerned, Craig and I, we discuss it a lot. We are absolutely blown away by what’s happening. And, as an artist, it sure feels good because it takes a lot of pressure off me because this song ain’t about me. It’s about a story. You know and, that’s awesome. All I gotta do is tell it, you know, on a nightly basis. And, I have a feeling we have just scratched the surface on how this song is gonna help society. I know that is a lofty thing to say, but I feel like it’s gonna make a positive impact and I’m so humbled to just be a small like just tiny piece of it, you know.”
Hayes on the first time he heard an audience singing “Craig” back to him at show:
“So the first time I heard ‘Craig’ being sung back to me was in Chicago. It was pretty surreal because when you write a song like ‘Craig’ you think deep cut, few people will know this at most. But, I’ve noticed it is a great live song. People react and they sing it back. And, not only to they sing the ‘Yeah I know, sound cool right?’ You know they sing the chorus, but they get in with me on ‘sacrificial heights’ and like they go the ‘all buckled up,’ you know. Everybody is joining in and so other people can obviously relate and they’re feeling something when they’re hearing it. I feel really small when people are singing that song back to me and I love that!”
“For my name to be synonymous with sacrificial giving right now, I’m deeply humbled by that. If it inspires other people to give sacrificially to others- to be a blessing to others, I would be profoundly humbled by that. I hope the song does great things because I think when Walker wrote it, it just- it’s a very inspired song. What we didn’t anticipate about the song was the ripple effect that it would have for others. So we thought the song would end with just me and Laura and our family hearing it and being encouraged by it, but when Walker’s label decided to put that out for the rest of the world really has been like a stone thrown into a body of water that’s had a ripple effect where others are beginning to do things in sacrificial giving and sacrificial love for others and I think that is just absolutely awesome!”
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Hayes on the inspiration behind his new single, “Craig,” and his hope for the song
Hayes on what gives him goosebumps about the story behind the song
Hayes on the first time he heard an audience singing “Craig” back to him at show