By 2019, Colt built a series of staggering successes as he rose to mainstream notoriety. He notched five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart with Declaration of Independence bowing at #1 in 2012. Two years later, Thanks for Listening ascended to the Top 10 of the Top 200, with the album reaching #1 on Billboard Rap & Independent charts. Meanwhile, he lobbed six songs onto the Hot Country Songs Chart with “Back” [feat. Jake Owen] going Top 40. Among many accolades, Ford received a nomination in the category of “Vocal Event of the Year” at the Academy of Country Music Awards for “Cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson.
Selling over 3 million albums, attracting millions of followers on social media and hitting 1 billion-plus streams, the country rap pioneer’s dynamic discography spans collaborations with everyone from Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Jermaine Dupri to members of No Doubt, Lit, and Lady Antebellum. Additionally, he co-wrote Jason Aldean’s #1 hit “Dirt Road Anthem” and Brantley Gilbert’s #1 hit “Country Must Be Country Wide” as a behind-the-scenes force in the studio. Moreover, Ford’s solo tradition of genre-blurring continued on Love Hope Faith in 2017 by way of cuts such as “Reload” [feat. Taylor Ray Holbrook], his We The People, Volume 1 album and on into his Keys to the Country EP in 2021 with Kevin Gates, RVSHVD and more.
The dynamic Keys to the Country EP was produced by Noah Gordon and Colt Ford, with Shannon Houchins serving as Co-Producer (Colt and Shannon co-own Average Joes Entertainment). In between a marathon tour schedule, they recorded at Colt’s studio in Nashville. Throughout the process, the star pushed himself like never before, maintaining the hallmarks of his signature style, charting new territory, and hitting his most prolific stride to date alongside rapper, Kevin Gates in their well received track, “Hood” with Jermaine Dupri.
On the Keys to the Country EP, Ford continues to evolve his artistry and—as only he can—amp things up even further. Fittingly, he introduces the EP with the first single “When Country Comes Back,” as the world was ending a near global shutdown.
“The Keys to the Country EP is really me,” he elaborates. “So much of my success is a result of the fact that I am my songs. You’re getting me in the lyrics! I don’t have chauffeurs, ten sports cars, or my own jet. That’s all cool, but I’m just Colt Ford. It’s relatable.”
Ford continued to blur the lines of what country rap with “Hood” featuring world renowned rapper, Kevin Gates, and Jermaine Dupri. At heart, it’s a song about unification—no matter race, color, or religious affiliation. Music has a way of bringing people together, and that’s the exact message in this song.
Overall, the EP doubles as a soundtrack for positivity and living life to the fullest for these times. Of course, Ford preserves the right amount of grit and wit to liven and light up any party as his blend of Southern rock, modern country, and rap remains downright unbeatable. Alongside guests such as Vince Gill [“Keys to the Country”], Josh Mirenda [“My Town”], Matt Stell [“Bad Beer“], and more, his lead vocals and raps remain as robust and uniformly strong as ever. Nevertheless, “If I Didn’t Know Better” featuring Jana Kramer marks an emotional high watermark for the Keys to the Country EP. This vulnerable, vibrant, and vital ballad illuminates Ford’s impressive range as he carries a heart-wrenching hook to the heavens and back.
“I have to say ‘If I Didn’t Know Better’ is a real, true, and defining moment for me,” he admits. “It’s how I sing and where I feel good at. It’s a straight-up country power ballad that honestly every man in the world should listen to and realize what mistakes not to make. It changed a lot for me. Having Jana Kramer on the track was just icing on the cake. She is an incredible singer and fun to work with.”
As Ford kicks off his next powerful chapter, he holds nothing back on the Keys to the Country EP.
“Listen to these tracks…you’ll know exactly who I am,” he leaves off. “Colt Ford is about God, family, friends, and America. I’m just a guy who loves life. I love people. I love knowing I could make a difference in somebody else’s life with a song. I hope you walk away with a smile on your face. I poured my heart and soul into this one. This ain’t a hobby. It’s life. The fans are the reason I’m here. I’m going to keep doing it for them. I feel like the luckiest man on planet earth, so I’m not stopping,” he laughs.
Work It Out
Colt Ford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It sure does feel like all work and no play
Honey I know that the grass ain't mown,
The car ain't washed and the leaves ain't blown
I'm a get it just soon as I can,
Lord it's hard to be an everyday man
But darlin' if you're willin' when I get home,
I'll put the kids to bed and get you all alone
Work it out
Why don't we start right now?
Whatever gets you next to me
No doubt girl its gonna be, workin'
Let's work it out
This ole world is so tough
Sometimes I think that I had enough
Back still hurtin', bills keep comin'
Boss still yellin', truck quit runnin'
Ain't no tellin' what'd happen next
Try not to break while I drive and text
But darlin' if you're willin' when I get home,
I'll put the kids to bed and get you all alone
And we can
Work it out
Why don't we start right now?
whatever gets you next to me
No doubt girl it's gonna be, workin'
Let's work it out
Baby it's true, all I need is you
Just unplug the phone
Let me get you all alone
And work it out
Why don't we start right now?
Whatever gets you next to me
No doubt girl it's gonna be, workin'
(I'll put the kids to bed) we gotta work it
(We'll unplug the phone) baby work it
(Come on baby) let's work it out
(Let me get ya all alone)
Colt Ford's song "Work It Out" features lyrics that depict the struggles of working a full-time job, taking care of household chores, and finding personal time, all while trying to maintain a healthy relationship. The lyrics express the idea that despite the many demands of one's life, if the couple is willing to put in the effort, they can make time for each other and "work it out." The song encourages partners to prioritize their relationship and carve out time for intimacy amid life's daily chaos.
The lyrics in the first verse speak to the many demands of everyday life. There is never enough time, and it feels like work is always taking up most of the day. The singer acknowledges that there are tasks around the house that need attending - the grass needs mowing, the car needs washing, and the leaves need to be blown. Despite all of these obligations, the singer expresses his willingness to make time for his partner. The chorus of the song reiterates the idea of making time for each other and working together to strengthen their relationship.
The second verse speaks to the daily struggles of life, including physical pain, financial stress, and work-related pressures. The artist is constantly trying to manage various stressors while holding his life together. Despite these challenges, he expresses his desire to make time for his partner and work on their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics to "Work It Out" are a reminder that life can be challenging, but the key to a healthy relationship is putting in the effort and making time for each other. The song encourages partners to prioritize their relationship, even in the midst of life's daily chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't enough hours in the day,
There does not seem to be enough time in a day to complete everything.
It sure does feel like all work and no play
It seems challenging to find time to relax and have fun.
Honey I know that the grass ain't mown,
I understand that the grass has not been mowed yet.
The car ain't washed and the leaves ain't blown
The car needs a wash and the leaves are still lying around unattended.
I'm a get it just soon as I can,
I will do it as soon as possible.
Lord it's hard to be an everyday man
It is difficult to manage everything as an average person.
But darlin' if you're willin' when I get home,
If you are ready when I come home,
I'll put the kids to bed and get you all alone
I will get the children to bed and spend some private time with you.
And we can Work it out
We can solve our problems by working together.
Why don't we start right now?
Why don't we start working on our challenges now?
Whatever gets you next to me
Any form of intimacy or closeness that connects us emotionally.
No doubt girl its gonna be, workin'
Working together is promising and rewarding, there's no doubt about it.
This ole world is so tough
The world we live in is challenging and demanding.
Sometimes I think that I had enough
Sometimes, I feel like I can't take it anymore.
Back still hurtin', bills keep comin'
I am still experiencing pain and bills keep piling up.
Boss still yellin', truck quit runnin'
My boss is still shouting and my truck is not working.
Ain't no tellin' what'd happen next
There's no way of predicting what would happen next.
Try not to break while I drive and text
I am trying not to get overwhelmed while multitasking.
But darlin' if you're willin' when I get home,
If you're willing to spend some quality time with me,
I'll put the kids to bed and get you all alone
I will get the children to bed and create a private moment for us.
Baby it's true, all I need is you
It's accurate that all I need right now is you.
Just unplug the phone
Let's turn off our devices and focus on each other.
Let me get you all alone
Allow me to get some alone time with you.
(I'll put the kids to bed) we gotta work it
We need to find a way to solve our challenges.
(We'll unplug the phone) baby work it
If we disconnect from our devices, we can find a solution.
(Come on baby) let's work it out
We can work it out, let's do it together.
(Let me get ya all alone)
Please allow me to have some private time with you.
Lyrics © DAN HODGES MUSIC, LLC
Written by: JASON BLAINE MCEWEN, JASON FARRIS BROWN, NOAH GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasonlylove
Praying for a quick and full recovery Colt 🙏
@enigma_offixial
I'm not a country guy, not a religious man, not a veteran, but this song, without a doubt, appeals to me. Had a long battle with drugs and more than happy to say I'm going to be 4 years clean this summer. My heart and hope go out to anyone struggling with anything. You can beat it and it's never too late to start rebuilding
@christophermcleod1334
Hope u doing good
@britneykissam3986
2 years clean for me! Congratulations to you ♥️
@frankgrillo8331
Same here, man. I've been clean for 10 years now and I'm still fixing all the damage I did when I was using drugs . But like you said it's never too late !!! Wish you the best man. Keep moving forward don't look back.
@enigma_offixial
@frankgrillo8331 Wish you all the best my man. Hope everything keeps moving in a good direction for ya🤙
@Lanbam11
We really don’t care
@aceofdawn
My brother died in the service, He was a Light Armored Vehicle gunner, His LAV ran over a anti tank IED. RIP gone but never forgotten. 1998-2019
@bdog2465
Sorry about your brother God takes the good ones to soon
@aceofdawn
@@bdog2465 Thank you for your condolences.