On June 28, 2011, Cook released his second major-label studio album, entitled "This Loud Morning". Produced by Matt Serletic, the album consists of 14 tracks penned by Cook along with co-writers David Hodges, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen, among others. The album title comes from a line in the song “Rapid Eye Movement” – “Give me one more quiet night, before this loud morning gets it right, and does me in.”
On May 10, 2012, Cook debuted a new, independently released single, The Last Song I’ll Write for You, on American Idol. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cook denied this was written with his former record company in mind, despite the fact it was his first new song after losing his recording contract with RCA. He insisted it was a break-up song that came together very quickly.
Early Music Career: David Cook formed a band with his friend Bobby Kerr while at high school. The band was initially named Red Eye, later Axium. He wrote his first song titled “Red Hot” when he was fifteen. He was encouraged by Evan Sula-Goff of 8stops7 to make an album when he went to Cook’s school to judge a contest, Mr. Jaguar, where David Cook and his band performed Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City”. The band had some success when one of their songs, “Hold”, was selected to be played in movie theaters across the country, and they were named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country by “Got Milk?” contest as well as the best Kansas City band in 2004.
Axium however broke up in 2006 and David Cook moved to Tulsa where he joined Midwest Kings, a band he once opened for. Members of that band Andy Skib and Neal Tiemann later became part of David Cook’s post-Idol band The Anthemic. He recorded and self-released a solo album Analog Heart in 2006, which sold well regionally.He worked as a bartender prior to appearing on Idol.
In 2006, after obtaining a degree in graphic arts, Cook had to decide whether he wanted to be a musician or a graphic designer. “I gave myself every opportunity not to do music,” he says, “but it was always there. I couldn’t ignore it.” He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was in the early stages of recording his second album when his younger brother Andrew asked Cook to accompany him to Omaha and lend moral support while he tried out for American Idol. Andrew didn’t make the cut, but he encouraged a very reluctant David to try out. After Cook made it through the early auditions, he reportedly told his brother he’d drop out if Andrew didn’t want him to go through with it. “He threatened to beat my ass if I didn’t, so it’s entirely his fault that all this happened to me,” Cook says with a smile.
One week after being declared the winner with a record-breaking 56 percent of the nearly 100 million votes cast, Cook rewrote chart history when 11 of his songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart — the highest number of new entries in a single week by an artist since the Beatles in 1964. Topping the list was “The Time of My Life,” which debuted at No. 3, making it the highest new entry on the Hot 100 of 2008.
Cook’s self-titled major-label debut was released on November 18, 2008. His debut album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association for America (RIAA) for sales exceeding one-million units in January 2009.
In January 2009, Cook announced he would be embarking on a national tour in February. The Declaration Tour began on February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida, and was originally set to end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2009. Due to strong ticket sales, the tour was extended several times, finally wrapping up on December 1, 2009 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, after 154 concerts in the U.S. and Canada. During 2009 Cook also took his show overseas to the Philippines, and performed for troops in Iraq with the USO.
On April 30, 2013, Cook released a new single, “Laying Me Low”, through XIX Recordings, the record label of American Idol creator Simon Fuller. The song was written by David Cook, Chris Reardon, and Andy Waldeck.
Hard To Believe
David Cook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me the story again
How it all fell apart in the end
And just when you thought you were too far gone
You're too far gone
Wait
Maybe the reasons don't fit
And when did you find that you can't hold on
You can't hold on
When the whole world brings you down
When stars fall and ground breaks
You're sinking 'cause it's too late
Don't tell me that it's over
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
Even though you're finding it hard to believe, yeah
Faith
It's easier said than done
When it's so hard to trust anyone
But maybe it's just a place inside
That you can hide
Wait
I can see us slipping away
Just stay with me
When the whole world brings you down
When stars fall and ground breaks
You're sinking 'cause it's too late
Don't tell me that it's over
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
Even though you're finding it hard to believe, yeah
When the whole world brings you down
When the whole world brings you down
When the whole world brings you down
When the whole world brings you down
When stars fall and ground breaks
You're sinking 'cause it's too late
I'm right here, I'm right here
Just stay with me
When stars fall and ground breaks
You're sinking 'cause it's too late
Don't tell me that it's over
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
When stars fall and ground breaks
You're sinking (just stay with me)
'Cause it's too late, don't tell me that it's over
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
(When the dark hits the night, I will be there
When you're lost I will guide you home)
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
In David Cook's song Hard To Believe, the singer is addressing someone they care about who is going through a tough time. The song starts with the singer asking the person to tell them the story again, implying that they have heard it before. The song then talks about how things fell apart and the person felt like they were too far gone. The lyrics then go on to talk about how hard it is to trust anyone and how faith is easier said than done. The singer then asks the person to stay with them, implying that they will be there for them through thick and thin.
The chorus of the song is very powerful, with lyrics that talk about how the person feels like they are sinking because it's too late. However, the singer tells them not to give up, even though they are finding it hard to believe. They acknowledge that the world can be tough, but they encourage the person to stay strong and not let it bring them down.
Overall, Hard To Believe is a hopeful song that seeks to reassure someone who is going through a difficult time. It acknowledges that life can be hard, but it also encourages the person to stay strong and not give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay
Remain in this moment and listen, let me tell you the story again.
Tell me the story again
Recall the past that led to the present, let's revisit the events.
How it all fell apart in the end
Retell the story of how everything collapsed in the final moments.
And just when you thought you were too far gone
At the last possible moment before defeat, everything looked hopeless.
You're too far gone
The situation was too dire to recover from, the end was imminent.
Wait
Pause for a moment and consider everything, let's take a break.
Maybe the reasons don't fit
Perhaps there is no clear explanation for what went wrong.
When did you lose innocence
At what point did you become aware of the cruel reality of life.
And when did you find that you can't hold on
At what moment did you realize that you were unable to regain control of the situation.
You can't hold on
There is no way to reverse the damage, control has been lost.
When the whole world brings you down
When everything seems to be working against you, and the world is a hostile place.
When stars fall and ground breaks
When the unimaginable happens and the world changes in unexpected ways.
You're sinking 'cause it's too late
The situation has escalated beyond repair, nothing can be done now.
Don't tell me that it's over
Despite the evidence and hopelessness, refuse to accept the fact that it's all over.
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
Even when it's difficult to accept, still have hope and keep believing.
Faith
Belief in something beyond oneself, although uncertain and difficult.
It's easier said than done
Acting on faith is more challenging than simply speaking about it.
When it's so hard to trust anyone
When trust has been broken, it's difficult to trust again, even oneself.
But maybe it's just a place inside
Belief and trust may come from an internal source that cannot be rationalized.
That you can hide
A safe place within oneself where belief and trust can exist, hidden from external forces.
I can see us slipping away
The situation is deteriorating even further, things are getting worse.
Just stay with me
Don't give up, remain here with me and keep fighting.
I'm right here, I'm right here
I will not abandon you, I am here for you.
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
Despite the odds, continue to have faith and believe in a positive outcome.
(When the dark hits the night, I will be there
I will be there to support you in times of darkness and despair.
When you're lost I will guide you home)
When you're at your most vulnerable, I will help you find your way back.
Even though you're finding it hard to believe
No matter how difficult the situation may seem, continue to hold onto hope and believe that things can get better.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID HODGES, JESS CATES, LINDY ROBBINS, DAVID COOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind