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
Nothin' On You
Cody Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make up, perfume and diamonds
You always impress, turn heads
The second you walk through the door
You're like a real life, work of fine art
Baby you're priceless
And I just wanna get home
Get that black dress down on the floor
'Cause when you got nothing on
There ain't nothing wrong
Loving you all night long's all I wanna do
I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
When you got nothing on
Ain't nothing got nothing on you
You're better than Venice, Vegas
New York, L.A. or Paris
Baby your Vermont in the Fall
The Grand Canyon on a full moon
Oh and they can keep those high rise
High priced mansions
I wouldn't trade places
Long as I'm here with you baby
I've got a room with a view
'Cause when you got nothing on
There ain't nothing wrong
Loving you all night long's all I wanna do
I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
When you got nothing on
Ain't nothing got nothing on you
Yeah, 'cause I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
When you got nothing on
Ain't nothing got nothing on you
When you got nothing on
Ain't nothing got nothing on you
Ain't nothing got nothing on you baby
In this song, Cody Johnson talks about the beauty and perfection of his partner in her natural state. He describes how she is always impressively beautiful, wearing a black dress, red shoes, makeup, and diamonds. She turns heads and captivates everyone around her the moment she walks through the door. Johnson compares her to a real-life work of fine art, saying that she is priceless. He expresses his love and desire to get home with her and be alone with her, suggesting that he finds her most attractive when she is wearing nothing at all.
Johnson sings about how much he cherishes his time with his partner and how much he values her company. He compares her to the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on earth, such as Venice, Vegas, New York, L.A., Paris, Vermont in the Fall, and the Grand Canyon on a full moon. He suggests that being with her is all he needs, and he wouldn't trade places with anyone else as he has a room with a view, and a partner he adores.
Overall, the song is a beautiful dedication to Johnson's partner's natural beauty and demonstrates how much he loves and cherishes her. He finds her exquisite, and it is evident that she is more than just a physical beauty in his eyes.
Line by Line Meaning
Wearing your black dress, red shoes
You dress impeccably, in your black dress and red shoes
Make up, perfume and diamonds
You are perfumed and adorned with diamonds
You always impress, turn heads
You always grab attention and impress people with your beauty and style
The second you walk through the door
From the moment you enter a room
You're like a real life, work of fine art
You are like a masterpiece of art come to life
Baby you're priceless
You are extremely valuable and precious
And I just wanna get home
I just want to be with you in our home
Get that black dress down on the floor
I want you to take off your black dress
'Cause when you got nothing on
When you are naked
There ain't nothing wrong
There is nothing wrong or shameful about nudity
Loving you all night long's all I wanna do
I want to spend the entire night making love to you
I've seen the mountains high
I have experienced the grandeur of high mountains
I've sailed the ocean blue
I have traveled across the majestic ocean
When you got nothing on
When you are naked
Ain't nothing got nothing on you
Nothing else can compare to your beauty and allure when you are naked
You're better than Venice, Vegas
You surpass the mesmerizing beauty of Venice and excitement of Las Vegas
New York, L.A. or Paris
You are more captivating than New York, Los Angeles, or Paris
Baby your Vermont in the Fall
You are like the enchanting beauty of Vermont during autumn
The Grand Canyon on a full moon
You are like the magnificent sight of the Grand Canyon on a full moon night
Oh and they can keep those high rise
I do not long for those towering structures
High priced mansions
Nor do I desire those exorbitantly priced mansions
I wouldn't trade places
I do not want to be anywhere else
Long as I'm here with you baby
As long as I am with you, my love
I've got a room with a view
I have everything I need with you by my side
Ain't nothing got nothing on you baby
You are incomparable and nothing else can measure up to you
Writer(s): Trent Wilmon, Barrett Baber
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hubcitybear86
Wearing your black dress, red shoes
Makeup, perfume, and diamonds
You always impress, turn heads
The second you walk through the door
You're like a real life work of fine art
Baby, you're priceless
And I just wanna get on
Get that black dress down on the floor
'Cause when you got nothin' on
There ain't nothin' wrong
Lovin' you all night long's all I wanna do
I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
But when you got nothin' on
Ain't nothin' got nothin' on you
You're better than Venice, Vegas
New York, LA, Paris
Baby or Vermont in the fall
The Grand Canyon on a full moon
Oh and they can keep those high-rise
High price mansions
I wouldn't trade places
Long as I'm here with you baby
I've got a room with a view
'Cause when you got nothin' on
There ain't nothin' wrong
Lovin' you all night long's all I wanna do
I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
But when you got nothin' on
Ain't nothin' got nothin' on you
Yeah, 'cause I've seen the mountains high
I've sailed the ocean blue
But when you got nothin' on
Ain't nothin' got nothin' on you
When you got nothin' on, ain't nothin'
Got nothin' on you
Ain't nothin' got nothin' on you baby
@2dxtreme1
I'm a black man , and i began singing this song with the music to my black fiancé ........ she still crying .......... COTY YOU DID THAT MY MAN
@jamesbollier2954
50 years this past Feb 12 and from the hottest thing that walked the halls of Aldine high class of 72 to the hottest thing that walks the halls of our home, Cody describes her perfectly.
@vickybrown8089
Beautiful sentiment. You are a treasure yourself.
@williamparks621
This is my song to my wife!
@kelseyogden4911
My boyfriend sang this song to me, he told me this is a song that made him think of me as soon as he heard it. He passed away yesterday on his way to see me from work. I will forever play this song to feel close to him.
@garyhoskins7410
I’m so sorry to hear that you knowed he loved you in his heart god bless you
@palomarivera8252
I just want a Cody Johnson x Chris Stapleton song
@drumtarist08
…aaaaand Im pregnant
@AshleyMatelski
Aaaand same 😂
@pamfla2492
😂