Cody Johnson
In a time of synthetics and plastics, folks appreciate the real thing. Musi… Read Full Bio ↴In a time of synthetics and plastics, folks appreciate the real thing. Musically, we look for songs that reach beyond our eardrums, touching our hearts. Cody Johnson's unique blend of country and rock does just that.
Many Texan music fans met Cody Johnson’s honest style through the radio singles from his "Six Strings, One Dream" album: "Nobody to Blame" (#6 on the Texas music charts in 2009); #1"Pray for Rain" (2009 - 2010); and "Texas Kind of Way" (#6, late 2010 – 2011).
At first he opened for other artists, but Cody has also taken the Texas dance-halls by storm. Increasingly, the Cody Johnson Band is the attraction, and an honest-to-goodness one.
Cody’s childhood, though, was different from his rowdy onstage personality. Growing up, home was Sebastopol, a speck on the East Texas piney woods map, the perfect setting for that country boy to roam the woods, hunt, and fish. Home-schooling and family times around the piano provided the kind of life the kind many folks envy. Even Cody's music training started when dad Carl taught him the chords to “I’ll Fly Away,” a southern gospel favorite.
Starting public school as a freshman, Cody expanded beyond playing the guitar and drums at church. When his AG science teacher overheard Cody playing an original song, he convinced Cody to form a band with other FFA (Future Farmers of America) members. A few months later, Cody's band placed runner-up in the highly-competitive Texas State FFA talent contest.
Cody left the contest realizing he was in love for life: in love with the music, the crowd, and the energy of performing onstage. Beginning in small honky-tonks and bars, he tried different musical styles. Discarding many, today Cody's shows still keep a Garth Brooks-level of energy and a Ronnie Van Zant-outlaw dedication to individual style. Like the late Chris LeDoux's musical beginnings, “CoJo” sold his acoustic CDs from the back of his truck during three years of bull-riding. Cody still shows up today as the true cowboy he is.
After graduation, Johnson worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville. There, supervising prison inmates, Cody confides, "I developed an even greater appreciation for family and friends. Seeing how easy it was to go to prison set me on the 'straight and narrow.'"
Also in Huntsville, Cody met Nathan Reedy, who became his new drummer. With Carl Johnson playing bass, the trio began traveling as the Cody Johnson Band. Their first CD, "Black & White Label," provided funding for travel and radio promotion—and the assurance that the music dream was real.
Along the way, several popular artists have shared their friendship, fans, and wisdom with Cody. Some gave business advice and warned him of issues musicians face on the road. The common thread is that other professionals respect Cody as a performer, songwriter, and individual. In turn, Cody Johnson earns that respect, giving as much effort to an audience of 30 or 30,000. As he states, “I like the crowd to sing along, yell, or whatever makes them feel part of the show. I love big crowds because of the energy and showmanship I can exhibit. I love acoustic shows because of the intimacy and how candid they are. Acoustic shows are like sittin’ around the living room pickin' and grinnin'."
Winning the Texas’ Regional Music Awards as “New Male Vocalist of the Year 2011” caused Cody to choose whether leave the security of state employment to chase his dreams. He followed his own advice to "Always pray for direction, and know that no matter what... the good Lord has a plan."
The answer to that prayer came when Cody's wife Brandi gave her “thumbs-up.” As Cody puts it, "When the woman I love—and plan to spend the rest of my life with—told me that she 'stands by her man' and believes in me 100%, I believed even more confidently that I could live my dream. Though I've had lots of people believe, contribute, push and pull me along, no one's efforts affected my decision emotionally the way Brandi's faith in me did."
Cody indeed left his "day job" for the more-than-full-time music career. But, that’s where the story really begins.
Expanding his boundaries beyond Texas, he flew to Nashville to record a new CD with Nashville studio musicians hand-picked by his "big brother," Nashville-based fellow Texan, Trent Willmon, producer of the new album, A Different Day (released October 31, 2011).
Though new to Nashville recording ways, Johnson’s musical confidence showed in the Music City recording studio. Together, he and the studio musicians tweaked songs to obtain the exact intended effect. Listening to the Music City veterans, Cody adopted suggestions when they felt right, and would "hang tough" when he felt the music differently.
According to CoJo, "I don't want to be labeled as 'Texas' or 'Nashville.' I am me: Texas, outlaw, cowboy, country, and a God-fearing man using the gift He gave me."
- Billie Willmon Jenkin
Many Texan music fans met Cody Johnson’s honest style through the radio singles from his "Six Strings, One Dream" album: "Nobody to Blame" (#6 on the Texas music charts in 2009); #1"Pray for Rain" (2009 - 2010); and "Texas Kind of Way" (#6, late 2010 – 2011).
At first he opened for other artists, but Cody has also taken the Texas dance-halls by storm. Increasingly, the Cody Johnson Band is the attraction, and an honest-to-goodness one.
Cody’s childhood, though, was different from his rowdy onstage personality. Growing up, home was Sebastopol, a speck on the East Texas piney woods map, the perfect setting for that country boy to roam the woods, hunt, and fish. Home-schooling and family times around the piano provided the kind of life the kind many folks envy. Even Cody's music training started when dad Carl taught him the chords to “I’ll Fly Away,” a southern gospel favorite.
Starting public school as a freshman, Cody expanded beyond playing the guitar and drums at church. When his AG science teacher overheard Cody playing an original song, he convinced Cody to form a band with other FFA (Future Farmers of America) members. A few months later, Cody's band placed runner-up in the highly-competitive Texas State FFA talent contest.
Cody left the contest realizing he was in love for life: in love with the music, the crowd, and the energy of performing onstage. Beginning in small honky-tonks and bars, he tried different musical styles. Discarding many, today Cody's shows still keep a Garth Brooks-level of energy and a Ronnie Van Zant-outlaw dedication to individual style. Like the late Chris LeDoux's musical beginnings, “CoJo” sold his acoustic CDs from the back of his truck during three years of bull-riding. Cody still shows up today as the true cowboy he is.
After graduation, Johnson worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville. There, supervising prison inmates, Cody confides, "I developed an even greater appreciation for family and friends. Seeing how easy it was to go to prison set me on the 'straight and narrow.'"
Also in Huntsville, Cody met Nathan Reedy, who became his new drummer. With Carl Johnson playing bass, the trio began traveling as the Cody Johnson Band. Their first CD, "Black & White Label," provided funding for travel and radio promotion—and the assurance that the music dream was real.
Along the way, several popular artists have shared their friendship, fans, and wisdom with Cody. Some gave business advice and warned him of issues musicians face on the road. The common thread is that other professionals respect Cody as a performer, songwriter, and individual. In turn, Cody Johnson earns that respect, giving as much effort to an audience of 30 or 30,000. As he states, “I like the crowd to sing along, yell, or whatever makes them feel part of the show. I love big crowds because of the energy and showmanship I can exhibit. I love acoustic shows because of the intimacy and how candid they are. Acoustic shows are like sittin’ around the living room pickin' and grinnin'."
Winning the Texas’ Regional Music Awards as “New Male Vocalist of the Year 2011” caused Cody to choose whether leave the security of state employment to chase his dreams. He followed his own advice to "Always pray for direction, and know that no matter what... the good Lord has a plan."
The answer to that prayer came when Cody's wife Brandi gave her “thumbs-up.” As Cody puts it, "When the woman I love—and plan to spend the rest of my life with—told me that she 'stands by her man' and believes in me 100%, I believed even more confidently that I could live my dream. Though I've had lots of people believe, contribute, push and pull me along, no one's efforts affected my decision emotionally the way Brandi's faith in me did."
Cody indeed left his "day job" for the more-than-full-time music career. But, that’s where the story really begins.
Expanding his boundaries beyond Texas, he flew to Nashville to record a new CD with Nashville studio musicians hand-picked by his "big brother," Nashville-based fellow Texan, Trent Willmon, producer of the new album, A Different Day (released October 31, 2011).
Though new to Nashville recording ways, Johnson’s musical confidence showed in the Music City recording studio. Together, he and the studio musicians tweaked songs to obtain the exact intended effect. Listening to the Music City veterans, Cody adopted suggestions when they felt right, and would "hang tough" when he felt the music differently.
According to CoJo, "I don't want to be labeled as 'Texas' or 'Nashville.' I am me: Texas, outlaw, cowboy, country, and a God-fearing man using the gift He gave me."
- Billie Willmon Jenkin
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Cody Johnson Lyrics
'Til You Can't If you got a chance, take it, take it while…
18 Wheels 18 wheels and 100 miles an hour Trying to make it…
A Different Day A Diffrent Day Cody Johnson Wish i been born in a different…
Ain't Nothin' to It Same old scenario One guy's young and one guy's old One's in…
Another Try Well I'm tired of feelin down And I'm tired of spinnin…
Baby's Blue Watching that clock tic-toc'ing on by. Had to talk myself ou…
Billy's Brother One Bud Light leads to another If you′re gonna fight Billy G…
Bottle It Up Well I always heard tale of a little bitty still…
By Your Grace I'm aware of everything that's wrong with me But still You…
COJO Nation Cojo Nation, are you ready? Are you ready for real country…
Cowboy Like Me I got to thinking about all the stuff we worry…
Cowboy Scale of 1 to 10 If there ever was a way to rate a man On…
Dance Her Home Here she comes a-walkin' in, cotton dress a-swishin' The smo…
Dear Rodeo Dear rodeo I'd be lying if I tried to tell you…
Diamond In My Pocket Saturday night and the moon is out Just a shinin' over…
Dirt Cheap They came in thinkin' top dollar To that old cotton crop…
Double Down This hole in the wall is my ace in the…
Driveway A long wooden fence to a tall hickory tree A wraparound…
Every Scar Has a Story I rode a horse named Whiskey, I thought I could…
Fenceposts You've always said that you'd love to live out here Where…
Finally Free It was the fourth of July and my heart sang…
Give A Cowboy A Kiss If you give a cowboy a horse and a stretch…
God Bless the Boy She won't let me help her tie her shoes "No, daddy,…
Gotta Be Me I'm a lone country mile from bein' style Dirty hat…
Grass Stains That's a pretty little sundress you got on And them pink…
Guilty As Can Be Once I had me a woman Everything was goin' my way She…
Half A Song The band was startin' slow and about the time you…
Hat Made Of Mistletoe Miss Darla, how you sparkle like a shiny new toy And…
Holes There's a picture frame hangin' at the end of the…
Honky Tonk Hardwood Floors Every single night under a big ol' Texas sky Parking lot…
Honky Tonk Mood Woman left me with the blues And I know just how…
Human I thought by now I'd have it figured out How not…
Hurtin' Did you ever have one of those days When it just…
I Ain't Going Nowhere Baby I ain't going nowhere baby Rest your worries somewhere else …
I Always Wanted To Outside there's a rusty pickup Underneath a shed Mockingbird…
I Can't Even Walk I thought number one would surely be me I thought I…
I Don't Care About You I Don't Care About You Here's the truth, I refuse to…
I Don't Know a Thing About Love I talked to the man in the moon I said, "sir,…
I Know My Way Back Some towns look better as you leave 'em And right…
In the Garden I come to the garden alone While the dew is still…
Jesus Ain't Watching Traffics all backed up My brakes are all jacked up Well I…
Jesus Loves You You probably don't remember me 'Cause you were high and all…
Keep Her Man Sittin' here drinkin' beer in this honkytonk girl at the nex…
Kiss Goodbye As I slide the key in the ignition of this…
Known for Loving You Baby, every eye is on you as we walk into…
Leather Superman, Man of Steel He can fly, but here's the deal Super…
Let's Build a Fire First cool snap of fall in the air We been waitin'…
Long Haired Country Boy (Yah) Well, people say I ain't no good And I'm crazy as…
Long Live Country Music Long live Patsy Cline, "Strawberry Wine" Fiddles and a steel…
Longer Than She Did I got a feeling That this broken heart of mine Is gonna…
Lucky The smell of coffee hits me while I open up…
Made a Home I poured the concrete, cut the 2x4's Planted that oak tree…
Make Me a Mop Make me a mop to clean up the messes That I've…
Me And My Kind Yeah that's my old girlfriend Saw her when she walked in Her…
Monday Morning Merle Monday mornin′ Merle Don't worry ′bout the girl he used to…
Never Go Home Again Scatter gun blast, hands in the air Half a million in…
No Tears In My Eyes We've got every ingredient, here for a broken heart From the…
nobody to blame If I hadn′t have stayed gone You'd have never be alone But…
Noise I can hear those trucks on the highway tonight I can…
Nothin on You Wearing your black dress, red shoes Makeup, perfume, and dia…
Nothin' on You Wearing your black dress, red shoes Make up, perfume and dia…
On My Way to You All the boats I've missed All the hell I've caused All the…
People in the Back No, you ain't lookin' for a shoutout or a spotlight You're…
Pray for Rain When I was five years old lookin' through the window pane, …
Pretend be like me tellin' you that the sun doesn't shine…
Proud There ain't a pair of boots in my closet that ain't…
Ride With Me You can here my engine hummin', comin' rumblin' up the…
Sad Songs and Waltzes I'm writing a song all about you A true song as…
slam the door Well, I′m leaving Austin thinking about everything she said …
Son of a Ramblin' Man Have you ever had a thing for a woman A thing…
Stronger I'm a twenty gauge shotgun with both barrels blazing I'm a…
Texas Kind Of Way Colorado is too cold The snow gets the best of me Just…
That's Texas My redneck mother sang Redneck Mother Cooking us kids someth…
The Grandpa Song Hey, CoJo Run through that, uh, your grandpa song right quic…
The Only One I Know Another day break wakes me up to a hotel lobby…
The Painter She talks about the future like she's flippin' through a…
The Way She Loves Me I love the way her blue eyes always make my…
Til You Can't You can tell your old man You'll do some largemouth…
Treasure A beat-up gut string tucked behind some TVs Like a pawn…
Understand Why I wish I had a third floor motel room On the…
Walk Away There's a difference, in the way she feels when I…
Watching My Old Flame She's sleepin' on that black dress that's showin' every curv…
What's Left of Texas? There's a Walmart Supercenter in the field where I use…
When It Comes to You When it comes to you Are you somewhere two drinks in…
Where Cowboys Are King There′s a dusty hat up on the Dash of every truck…
Whiskey Bent It put a hole in my wallet, put a hole…
Whoever's In New England You spend an awful lot of time in Massachusetts Seems like…
Wild as You You're like waking in the morning by a mountain stream You'r…
With You I Am I've never been a Cool Hand Luke The quarterback of the…
Work Boots You ain't got no problem getting up with the sun Scuffing…
Y'all People If anybody′s gonna get a drunk tattoo and own it If…