Dillon Carmichael was born in Burgin, a small town in Kentucky, and grew up with a family that was passionate about music. Both of his grandfathers, Harold Carmichael and Harold Montgomery, were professional musicians (the former was a gospel singer and the latter a country picker who appeared on the Grand Ole Opry). Both of Dillon's parents had been singers who often performed in public. And he also had two uncles who rose to fame in country music; John Michael Montgomery enjoyed a handful of hits in the '90s, while Eddie Montgomery was a co-founder of the rowdy, Southern rock-inspired act Montgomery Gentry. Dillon got his first guitar from his father when he was 11 years old, and he taught himself to play. Once he became comfortable with the instrument, teenaged Dillon put together a band with his friends, and they played talent shows and informal gigs around town. The band broke up, and Carmichael struck out on his own, writing songs and playing solo shows at bars throughout Kentucky.
When he was 18, Carmichael's talent came to the attention of a representative of a Nashville publishing house, who offered to strike a deal with Dillon once he graduated from high school. Four days after he got his diploma, Carmichael packed his bags and moved to Nashville, where he signed that publishing contract and began making his way into the Music City music community. As Carmichael honed his talent, his style began to reflect his early influences, which included the home truths of Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings and the outlaw rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Eventually, Carmichael found a sympathetic collaborator in producer Dave Cobb, who had developed a reputation for his work with Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton. Working together in the studio, Cobb helped Carmichael cut his debut single, an homage to classic country titled "Old Songs Like That," which was released in October 2017. A second single, "Made to Be a Country Boy," followed in February 2018. The two singles received positive notices in the country music press, as did Carmichael's first full-length album, Hell on an Angel, which was released by Riser House Records in October 2018.
It's Your Fault
Dillon Carmichael Lyrics
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With bloodshot eyes
Saw the moon fall
Saw the sun rise
I'd have no clue
There was a world outside
If it wasn't for me crawling cross these sheets
To close the blinds
(CHORUS)
It used to be the hard stuff
Used to be the neon
Used to be the Marlboro Reds
First name friends I could blame a hangover on
Hanging on the heartache
A double on the last call
A twenty in a tip jar
Just to hear the guitar
Play me one more song
That ain't good enough to blame these
Staying up all night long days on
Girl, it's your fault
Blame it on your finger prints
On the shower door
Blame it on your black dress
Laying on the bedroom floor
Blame it on my flannel shirt
Wrapped around your soft skin
Yeah that sexy little look you're giving me
Keeping me home from work again
(CHORUS)
It used to be the hard stuff
Used to be the neon
Used to be the Marlboro Reds
First name friends I could blame a hangover on
Hanging on the heartache
A double on the last call
A twenty in the tip jar
Just to hear the guitar
Play me one more song
That ain't good enough to blame these
Staying up all night long days on
Girl, it's your fault
(CHORUS)
It used to be the hard stuff
Used to be the neon
Used to be the Marlboro Reds
First name friends I could blame a hangover on
Hanging on the heartache
A double on the last call
A twenty in the tip jar
Just to hear the guitar
Play me one more song
That ain't good enough to blame these
Staying up all night long days on
Girl, it's your fault
It's your fault
The song "It's Your Fault" by Dillon Carmichael is about how his lover is the reason why he can't function properly since he's stayed up all night thinking about her. He describes how he's been up all night with bloodshot eyes and saw the moon fall and the sun rise. He goes on to say that if he didn't have to close the blinds to the outside world, he wouldn't even know it existed. Dillon then blames his lover for his current state, saying how it used to be hard liquor, neon lights, and Marlboro cigarettes that caused him to have hangovers, but now it's all because of her. He goes on to say how he would rather stay home with her instead of going to work since she's keeping him there by giving him a "sexy little look" and how he's blaming his flannel shirt being wrapped around her soft skin as the reason he can't get loose.
The song is about how someone can totally change who you are and the way you live your life. It describes how when certain people come around, you lose sleep thinking about them while they become your new addiction. It also explains how people blame others for their actions and troubles when in reality, it's often their own fault, but they just don't want to take responsibility. The song's chorus emphasizes how Dillon is blaming his lover for making him stay up all night, hanging on heartache and playing music just to hear one more song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been up all night
I haven't slept and have been awake for the entirety of the night
With bloodshot eyes
My eyes are red and sore from being awake
Saw the moon fall
I was up all night and saw the moon disappear as the night ended
Saw the sun rise
I was up all night and saw the sun rise in the morning
I'd have no clue
If I didn't wake up because of my sheets, I wouldn't even know there was a world outside
There was a world outside
I'm so engrossed in my own problems that I feel isolated from the rest of the world
If it wasn't for me crawling cross these sheets to close the blinds
The only reason I know there is a world outside is because I had to close the blinds to keep the light out
Wine cork on the floor and a half empty bottle on the night stand
I've been drinking all night and haven't bothered to clean up the mess
Blame it on your finger prints on the shower door
I'm blaming my current state on the remnants of intimacy with my partner
Blame it on your black dress laying on the bedroom floor
I'm blaming my current state on my partner's presence and the memories associated with her
Blame it on my flannel shirt wrapped around your soft skin
I'm blaming my current state on my feelings of attraction towards my partner and the comfort that comes with holding her close
Yeah that sexy little look you're giving me keeping me home from work again
I can't focus on work because my partner is distracting me with her looks and presence
It used to be the hard stuff
My drinking used to be stronger and more intense
Used to be the neon
I used to drink at bars that had neon signs, indicating the establishment's presence as a popular drinking spot
Used to be the Marlboro Reds
I used to smoke Marlboro Reds, a type of strong cigarette
First name friends I could blame a hangover on
I used to drink with friends I would blame my hangover on the next day
Hanging on the heartache
I'm still holding onto the pain of past relationships
A double on the last call
I ordered two drinks for myself right before the bar closed
A twenty in a tip jar
I left a twenty dollar bill as a tip for the bartender or musician
Just to hear the guitar play me one more song
I'm willing to spend money to hear more music because it helps me temporarily forget my problems
That ain't good enough to blame these staying up all night long days on
None of these reasons for drinking and staying up all night are good enough to justify my behavior
Girl, it's your fault
I'm placing all of the responsibility for my current state on my partner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUSTIN WILSON, ROBERT COUNTS, SHANE MINOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind