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
'Til You Can't
Cody Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't
Yeah
(I want to thank everybody in country radio that played this song)
(This was my first multi platinum, multi week number one on the Billboard country music charts)
(If you know the words to 'Til You Can't I want you to sing it with me tonight)
(You ready?)
You can tell your old man
You'll do some largemouth fishing another time
You just got too much on your plate to bait and cast a line
You can always put a rain check in his hand
'Til you can't
Yeah
You can keep putting off forever with that girl who's heart you hold
Swearing that you'll ask some day further down the road
You can always put a diamond on her hand
'Til you can't
(Are you ready? Let's go)
If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't
(You sound good)
There's a box of greasy parts sitting in the trunk of that '65
Still waiting on you and your granddad to bring it back to life
You can always get around to fixing up that Pontiac
'Til you can't
If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't
So take that phone call from your mama and just talk away
'Cause you'll never know how bad you wanna 'til you can't someday
Don't wait on tomorrow 'cause tomorrow may not show
Say your sorries, your I-love-yous, 'cause man you never know
If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't
Yeah, if you got a chance, take it (take it), take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't (yeah)
Until you can't
Yeah, take it
In Cody Johnson's "Til You Can't," the song revolves around the themes of seizing opportunities, pursuing one's goals, and cherishing people and things before it's too late. Johnson advises his listeners to take chances while they still can, to pursue their dreams relentlessly, to hold onto their loved ones as tightly as possible, to make amends and express affection because one never knows what tomorrow holds. He uses examples such as fishing trips with your old man, proposing to your girlfriend, and restoring a classic car to illustrate his points, but the underlying message of the song is simple: time is fleeting, and life is unpredictable, so make the most of every moment while you still can.
The lyrics of "Til You Can't" speak to the universal experience of living with regret, of wishing one had done things differently, of missing out on opportunities due to inaction or indecisiveness. Johnson encourages his listeners to avoid this fate by embracing life wholeheartedly, by living it to the fullest, by taking advantage of every chance that comes their way.
Line by Line Meaning
If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
Seize opportunities while they're present, don't wait for them to come back around
If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back
Don't just sit and wait for your dreams to come true, actively pursue them
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't
Yeah
Love deeply and fully, cherish and appreciate the people in your life while you still can
You can tell your old man
You'll do some largemouth fishing another time
You just got too much on your plate to bait and cast a line
You can always put a rain check in his hand
'Til you can't
Yeah
It's easy to put things off until later, but don't neglect the people and activities that matter the most
You can keep putting off forever with that girl who's heart you hold
Swearing that you'll ask some day further down the road
You can always put a diamond on her hand
'Til you can't
(Are you ready? Let's go)
Don't wait to express your feelings for someone, make sure to show them how much you care while you still have the chance
There's a box of greasy parts sitting in the trunk of that '65
Still waiting on you and your granddad to bring it back to life
You can always get around to fixing up that Pontiac
'Til you can't
Don't procrastinate on important tasks or cherished memories, make time for them while you still have the opportunity
So take that phone call from your mama and just talk away
'Cause you'll never know how bad you wanna 'til you can't someday
Don't wait on tomorrow 'cause tomorrow may not show
Say your sorries, your I-love-yous, 'cause man you never know
Don't take your loved ones for granted, appreciate them by spending time and sharing your emotions, as you never know when it may be too late
Yeah, if you got a chance, take it (take it), take it while you got a chance
If you're gonna love somebody
Hold 'em as long and as strong and as close as you can
Until you can't (yeah)
Until you can't
Yeah, take it
Make the most of every opportunity and cherish the people and moments that matter the most
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Stennis, Matthew Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CodyJohnson
Thank y’all for all the support on the music video!
@brob8880
Beautiful song!
@TheStive0
Amazing song! Love what you did with the video, definitely throws a twist and gives the song more meaning when I hear it now!
@paytondunn1223
we love youu cojo!!
@copymathew5372
Lovely, keep it up brother
@haroldhudson748
My wife isn't really a country fan due to the new age "country 🙄" but you have won her over. I am a huge fan but she has gone all in on Cojo nation. Thank you for keeping it real country the human album is the only album that I have liked and enjoy every song.
@abaker908
I first heard this song sitting in federal prison, a year after losing 2 aunt's 3 weeks apart from cancer. Knowing that I didn't have enough time in life to keep making bad choices, I gave my soul to God and devoted my life to taking the chances and doing right by my family and myself. Im now enrolled in college and chasing my dreams and spending as much time as possible with family.
@dolphinlovers8386
I’m proud of you and I’m sure your aunts are as well😊
@sheilamunson5579
Great song
@routineharpy5259
Damn, hope you will make it fine. Pray to god and never give up. Good luck getting back up on your feet.