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

Lucky
Cody Johnson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The smell of coffee hits me while I open up my eyes.
A southern angel wearing nothing but an apron and a smile.
I say thank you sweet lord jesus tell the truth dont know how I got so lucky.
All them boys from back in high school wonder how I'm still alive.
ed by a bull dove off a blue lake bridge and wrecked my pick-up twice.
Then she picked this here country boy out of all them other guys.
Boy's that's lucky.
Well I got a couple buddies playing football in the pros.

And I know this guy who owns a whole dang beach in Mexico.
There's some with good looks, some with brains, some rolling in the dough, but ya'll trust me, I'd rather be lucky.
Now you can win a power ball with a million in the pot, then go on in with an Ace and King and hit a straight flush on the flop.
You can sit here on this creek bank with a girl this hot, man that's plain lucky.
Ya my old college roommate is some big software CEO.
My cousin benches 4 0 5 and flies his jet to Rome.
There's some whith good looks, some with brains, some rolling in the dough, but yall trust me, I'd rather be lucky.
Well my baby's one in a million fellas, and I tell you that's the truth.
So while you're out searching for one that's sweet and smart and sexy too, I'll be home sipping a cold one for you, here's to hoping you get lucky.
I hope you get lucky.
Cause they sing about the girl I got on the radio.
She's a cross between a color of an outdoor life and voge.
There's folks who think they got it all, folks rolling in the dough, but ya'll trust me, Yeah I'd rather be lucky.

I'd rather be lucky.
I'd rather be lucky than good than any day of the week, girl.

Overall Meaning

The song "Lucky" by Cody Johnson is a celebration of the good fortune the singer has had in his life. He wakes up to the smell of coffee and is greeted by his partner who is wearing nothing but an apron and a smile, and he can't believe how lucky he is to have her. He reflects on his past, where he's survived brushes with death like getting thrown by a bull and wrecking his pickup twice, and thinks back to high school when all the guys wonder how he's still alive. The singer acknowledges that there are people with more money, better looks, and more success in their careers than him, but ultimately he knows that he's luckier than anyone else.

The song also delves into the idea of luck in general. The singer recognizes that sometimes luck comes in the form of a power ball win or a straight flush on the flop, but he believes that being with his partner on a creek bank is the luckiest he could be. He also acknowledges his friends' success in football and owning a beach in Mexico, but he doesn't envy them. Instead, he feels content with his life and the luck he's had.

Overall, "Lucky" is a heartfelt tribute to the idea of being lucky in life. The singer modestly recognizes that there are people with more success than him, but he values being lucky above all else.

Line by Line Meaning

The smell of coffee hits me while I open up my eyes.
As I wake up, the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee permeates my senses.

A southern angel wearing nothing but an apron and a smile.
A beautiful woman with southern charm, clad in only an apron and a smile, greets me.

I say thank you sweet lord jesus tell the truth dont know how I got so lucky.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I express my gratefulness to the Lord as I can't believe how fortunate I am.

All them boys from back in high school wonder how I'm still alive.
My former high school acquaintances are amazed that I am still alive given my past reckless behavior.

Rodeoed by a bull dove off a blue lake bridge and wrecked my pick-up twice.
I have taken risks in the past, such as bull riding and reckless driving, which have resulted in me crashing my pickup truck twice after jumping off a blue lake bridge.

Then she picked this here country boy out of all them other guys. Boy's that's lucky.
Out of all the other men, she chose a simple southern boy like me, and that's what I consider lucky.

Well I got a couple buddies playing football in the pros.
Some of my acquaintances are professional football players.

And I know this guy who owns a whole dang beach in Mexico.
I have a friend who owns an entire beach in Mexico.

There's some with good looks, some with brains, some rolling in the dough, but ya'll trust me, I'd rather be lucky.
There are people with attractive looks, intelligence, or financial success, but I'd still rather be lucky.

Now you can win a power ball with a million in the pot, then go on in with an Ace and King and hit a straight flush on the flop.
When you win a million-dollar jackpot in Powerball and then proceed to get a straight flush with an Ace and King, it's a stroke of good luck.

You can sit here on this creek bank with a girl this hot, man that's plain lucky.
When you find yourself sitting by a creek with a beautiful woman, that's a stroke of luck.

Ya my old college roommate is some big software CEO.
My former college roommate is now a successful CEO in the software industry.

My cousin benches 4 0 5 and flies his jet to Rome.
My cousin is capable of bench-pressing 405 pounds and owns a jet that he uses to fly to Rome.

Well my baby's one in a million fellas, and I tell you that's the truth.
My significant other is genuinely unique and unlikely to be found amongst millions of people in the world.

So while you're out searching for one that's sweet and smart and sexy too, I'll be home sipping a cold one for you, here's to hoping you get lucky.
While you're looking for a partner who is intelligent, attractive, and kind, I'll be enjoying a cold drink at home, hoping that you also find someone you consider lucky.

Cause they sing about the girl I got on the radio.
The song on the radio is about the woman I am fortunate enough to be with.

She's a cross between a color of an outdoor life and voge.
She embodies the essence of the outdoors through her appearance and personality.

There's folks who think they got it all, folks rolling in the dough, but ya'll trust me, Yeah I'd rather be lucky.
Although some people believe they have everything in life and are wealthy, I'd still prefer to be lucky.

I'd rather be lucky.
In life, I believe that good fortune is more valuable than any other attribute.

I'd rather be lucky than good than any day of the week, girl.
To me, more than anything else, being lucky is preferable to being skilled or talented in any capacity.

Writer(s): Ben Hayslip Copyright: Get A Load Of This Music, Tar-cam-knox Music, WB Music Corp.

Contributed by Levi A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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