It started in a car in Tenino, Washington, just south of Seattle. The windows were down, Martina McBride and Heart were blaring on the radio and his mother was wondering what had just possessed her young son to match those mercurial vocalists note for note.
“She was like ‘Holy crap kid, you can sing!’” he says with an infectious, disarming chuckle.
From that moment forward, Adam knew he had a special gift – a vocal presence that transcends the typical bounds of a male country singer to touch the stratosphere, and an ability to pull listeners inside a story.
Standing out early in life as a Tim McGraw and Travis Tritt lover in a sea of flannel-clad grunge rockers, Adam is no stranger to going against the grain. He honed his vocal chops in soggy bars and talent shows all over Washington State, then made the cross-country drive to Nashville and discovered another gift – a knack for writing modern country songs with sensitive, meaningful lyrics, a touch of good humor and breathtaking hooks in a time when machismo and bluster were the order of the day.
Working as an in-demand Music Row songwriter, Adam has co-penned hits like Parmalee’s “Close Your Eyes” and scored cuts by Jason Aldean (“Church Pew or Bar Stool”), Dustin Lynch (“World to Me”), Love & Theft (“Whiskey on My Breath”) and more, but his own style is something different – it’s the next step in country’s continuing evolution, and the antidote for the bro-country hangover.
Now signed to BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records, Adam has made the leap from songwriter to artist with a style that’s rooted in the ‘90s yet sounds just ahead of the curve. It combines the down-home themes of artists like McGraw and Tritt, the soul-bearing honesty and pure-intentioned romance of Keith Urban with otherworldly vocals that land somewhere between Vince Gill and Keith Urban.
But the defining trait of his music is more than an intriguing sound and passionate writing: it’s an appreciation for just how complicated the real world truly is. Some country singers would have you believe there are two speeds to life – happy and sad – but nothing is that black and white. The toughest, most successful among us are sometimes plagued by doubt and regret, and even when we hurt those we love, a second chance will often come – if we can just rise to the challenge.
“Somebody said something to me the other day and it made me feel really good,” he explains. “He said ‘Man, I don’t know how you do it, but you write a heartbreaker like a man would really have his heart broke.’ That’s what I want.”
Songs like “Why Can’t She” live in that gray area of real life, the one where guilt collides with grace and ultimately, leads to a transformation. Sung in the form of a quiet prayer, artists all over Nashville have had the song on hold, but it’s never been released – a testament to the need for a country star who’s not afraid of his sensitive side. “My heart’s full of regret, that’s why I’m down here on my knees / So if you can forgive me … why can’t she?” goes the unforgettable chorus.
“When you can hear the air go out of people when you get to the hook, that’s the hammer hook,” he says.
Capable of turning his real life into a hit song, even Adam’s drinking tunes come with emotional nuance. In “Remember This,” you can’t help feeling sympathy for the guy who’s stuck in the corner booth of a dive bar, watching what he thought was the love of his life crumble before him.
“I just found out the girl was on the way out of the relationship, and I knew what was coming,” he explains. “So it’s like ‘I’m gonna get so smashed right now, because I don’t want to remember what’s about to happen.’”
Meanwhile, the young artist is no stranger to dirt-road anthems and the fluttering flush of new romance, but his party tunes are full of refreshing, nice-guy generosity. He’s not the guy who treats his girlfriend as a trophy in cut-off jeans, he’s the guy who says “I’m On It” when she asks to crank up the radio, and tells her “It’s All Good” no matter what they end up doing, as long as they get to spend time together.
This is the product of a different kind of country artist – one who’s more about substance and shared experience than showing off. One who knows what hard work means and is thankful for what he’s earned. One who’s going to signal another shift in the genre, and bring the good guys back.
“My guitar player has it written on his pedal board, and I stare at it every night,” he says. “Five words that mean everything: ‘I Get To Do This.’
Born Wild
Adam Craig Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wasn′t in the church, somethin' in a bottle
Ain't this train track town that made us crazy
Yeah, we were crushin′ pedals, silver cans
Figurin′ out how to backseat dance
We were wolves at the edge of town
Barbed wire cages
We were born wild
Lightin' up cherry bomb
Lips on fire in the middle of a middle of nowhere
Untapped Friday night
We were hands high
Blame it on the first taste of rock and roll
Outrunnin′ them angels that were savin' our souls our whole lives
Mama sure tried
We were raised right
But we were born wild
Yeah, we were holes in signs and alibis
First name basis with all the blue lights
Flashin′ through the midnight
Just like lightnin'
Smokin′, drinkin', speakers crackin'
Lovin′, leavin′, talkin' trash and
Makin′ mistakes as fast as we could find them
We were born wild
Lightin' up cherry bomb
Lips on fire in the middle of a middle of nowhere
Untapped Friday night
We were hands high
Blame it on the first taste of rock and roll
Outrunnin′ them angels that were savin' our souls our whole lives
Mama sure tried
We were raised right
But we were born wild, yeah
Yeah
Yeah, we were born wild
Lightin′ up cherry bomb
Lips on fire in the middle of a middle of nowhere
Untapped Friday night
We were hands high
Blame it on the first taste of rock and roll
Outrunnin' them angels that were savin' our souls our whole lives
Mama sure tried
We were raised right
But we were born wild
We were born wild, yeah
Mighta got too high
Got too crazy
Let a few too many girls call me baby
You can only get tied down for a little while
When you′re born wild
In Adam Craig's song "Born Wild," the singer reflects on the wild youth and rebelliousness of his past. The lyrics suggest that the source of this wildness was not rooted in any particular place or time but in the restless, adventurous spirit of youth. The opening lines of the song, "It wasn't in the dirt, wasn't in the water, wasn't in the church, somethin' in a bottle," suggest a rejection of traditional values and a desire for experiences that are more immediate and spontaneous. The image of a "train track town" only serves to underscore this sense of rootlessness and transience.
Throughout the rest of the song, Craig describes the various ways in which he and his friends tested their limits and defied authority. They "were crushin' pedals, silver cans" and "figurin' out how to backseat dance." They pushed the boundaries of acceptable behavior and engaged in all manner of "smokin', drinkin', speakers crackin, lovin', leavin', talkin' trash" and, inevitably, "makin' mistakes." The chorus repeats the phrase "We were born wild," emphasizing the sense that this wildness was a natural and essential aspect of their identity. Nonetheless, the final lines of the song suggest that even the most free-spirited individuals must eventually confront the need for stability and commitment: "You can only get tied down for a little while / When you're born wild."
Overall, "Born Wild" is a bittersweet tribute to a time when the world seemed full of possibility and the thrill of new experiences was ever-present. The lyrics capture the sense of abandon and excitement that characterizes youth while also acknowledging the cost of such unbridled energy. Ultimately, the song suggests that even though we may move on from our wilder impulses, we can always look back with fondness and appreciation for the moments that made us who we are today.
Line by Line Meaning
It wasn't in the dirt, wasn't in the water
The wildness that exists within us wasn't derived from the environment we were brought up in.
Wasn't in the church, somethin' in a bottle
The wildness that exists within us wasn't derived from religion, but instead from indulging in substances that alter our perception of reality.
Ain't this train track town that made us crazy
The town we grew up in might have contributed to some of our wild tendencies, but it's not entirely to blame.
Yeah, we were crushin' pedals, silver cans
We were riding our bikes with intensity and drinking cheap beer.
Figurin' out how to backseat dance
We were learning how to dance intimately in the backseat of a car.
We were wolves at the edge of town
Just like wolves, we were restless and constantly seeking to explore the unknown.
Barbed wire cages
Our wild nature couldn't be contained by society's attempts to restrict us.
Lightin' up cherry bomb
We were lighting fireworks that symbolized our desire to ignite excitement in our lives.
Lips on fire in the middle of a middle of nowhere
We were passionately kissing each other in a remote location, far from the reaches of modern civilization.
Untapped Friday night
On a Friday night, there was a sense of unlimited potential for fun and mischief.
We were hands high
Our hands were in the air, signaling that we were carefree and enjoying the moment.
Blame it on the first taste of rock and roll
Our wild tendencies can be attributed to our love for rock and roll music.
Outrunnin' them angels that were savin' our souls our whole lives
We were trying to escape the watchful eyes of those who were trying to convert us to their beliefs since we were young, but we never succeeded.
Mama sure tried
Our mothers tried their best to tame our wild impulses, but it was too difficult for them to do so.
We were raised right
Our parents instilled in us the importance of being a good person, but they couldn't prevent us from exploring our wild side.
Yeah
An expression of agreement or acknowledgement.
Yeah, we were holes in signs and alibis
We were breaking the rules and coming up with excuses whenever we were caught.
First name basis with all the blue lights
We were so accustomed to getting into trouble with the police that we knew each officer by their first name.
Flashin' through the midnight
Police cars were driving by with their sirens and lights on during the night.
Just like lightnin'
Our wildness was as quick and unpredictable as a bolt of lightning.
Smokin', drinkin', speakers crackin'
We were smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and blasting music without a care in the world.
Lovin', leavin', talkin' trash and
We were engaging in romantic relationships, breaking up, and gossiping about each other's lives.
Makin' mistakes as fast as we could find them
We were making mistakes without a second thought because we wanted to live life to the fullest.
Mighta got too high
We might have gotten too intoxicated or taken too many drugs.
Got too crazy
We might have acted too foolishly or riskily.
Let a few too many girls call me baby
We had too many casual romantic encounters and didn't take commitment seriously.
You can only get tied down for a little while
We didn't want to be held down by responsibilities or relationships for an extended period of time.
When you're born wild
Our wild nature is innate and impossible to completely suppress, regardless of the environment we're in or the efforts of others.
We were born wild, yeah
Our wild impulses have been a part of us since birth, and we don't want them to disappear anytime soon.
Writer(s): Jon Mark Nite, Brad Douglas Warren, Brett Warren, Adam Craig
Contributed by Makayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeri Lynn Miller
Great song Adam Craig!. Mama raised you right!! Keep shining, starlight!!
Paula Jane
I love everything about this song forever 💯❤😎😍🎸🎸
Peyton Whitaker
Best song ever!!! Great job!!!!
Chloe Hall
Love your voice 👍
D Lebert
You have a future, but you need to tour the Midwest!