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.
Sawin' Logs
Dillon Carmichael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she finished that one off
She looked at me
I thought baby I'll be right back
Ran down to the grocery store
Yeah, to pick her up one more
Noticed right there by the door
That fire wood rack
I could really improve my luck
'Bout to heat this cold night up
And get to making all kinds of love
I got this hickory bundle
And this fancy box of wine
Done went through all kinds of trouble
Just to get home and find
Her passed out on the couch
Buzzing like an old chain saw
This ain't good, no
I've got wood
And she's sawin' logs
Well I didn't know what to do
Cleared my throat a time or two
Stomped all around the room
Well she hardly made a move
I got more than my hopes up
But I guess that window's shut
I got this hickory bundle
And this fancy box of wine
Done went through all kinds of trouble
Just to get home and find
Her passed out on the couch
Buzzing like an old chain saw
This ain't good, no
I've got wood
And she's sawin' logs
I guess I'll get me a cold Busch Light
Cause that's all I'll get tonight
I got this hickory bundle
And this fancy box of wine
Done went through all kinds of trouble
Just to get home and find
Her passed out on the couch
Buzzing like an old chain saw
This ain't good, no
I've got wood
And she's sawin' logs
In Dillon Carmichael's song "Sawin' Logs," the singer comes home with a box of wine and a bundle of hickory wood hoping to stoke up the heat and passion with his partner on a cold night. But, when he gets back, he finds her asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. He tries to wake her up, but his efforts are futile, and he is left disappointed and frustrated. The lyrics depict the reality of relationships, where things don't always go as planned, and one can end up alone and unsatisfied despite their best efforts.
The song's title comes from an expression used to describe loud snoring - "sawin' logs." This phrase is usually reserved for people who snore loudly and persistently, often disturbing the people around them. Though the phrase is commonly used, it's unclear where it originated.
The song is a part of Dillon Carmichael's debut studio album, "Hell on an Angel," released in 2018. The album features 10 tracks, including the popular single "Dancing Away with My Heart." "Sawin' Logs," which was written by Carmichael himself, is one of the album's standout tracks.
The song has been criticized by some for its sexist undertones, particularly in the way it portrays the female partner as drunk and unable to satisfy the male protagonist's sexual desires. However, others argue that the song is a lighthearted depiction of a relatable scenario that many couples face.
Line by Line Meaning
Last glass of a Bota Box
The person's partner is finishing their last glass of boxed wine.
When she finished that one off
The person's partner finished their last glass of wine off.
She looked at me
The person's partner made eye contact with them.
I thought baby I'll be right back
The person thought that they would be back soon.
Ran down to the grocery store
The person ran to the grocery store.
Yeah, to pick her up one more
The person went to pick up more wine for their partner.
Noticed right there by the door
The person noticed a firewood rack by the grocery store's entrance.
That fire wood rack
The person noticed a specific firewood rack.
Well, for a few more bucks
The person realized they could spend a few more dollars.
I could really improve my luck
The person thought that this purchase could improve their chances of a romantic evening.
Bout to heat this cold night up
The person was about to heat up the cold evening with a fireplace.
And get to making all kinds of love
The person was anticipating a romantic evening.
I got this hickory bundle
The person purchased a bundle of hickory wood for the fireplace.
And this fancy box of wine
The person also bought a fancy box of wine.
Done went through all kinds of trouble
The person went through trouble to get the wood and wine.
Just to get home and find
Upon getting home, the person discovered something unexpected.
Her passed out on the couch
The person's partner was asleep on the couch.
Buzzing like an old chain saw
The person's partner was snoring loudly.
This ain't good, no
The person realized that their romantic evening was ruined.
I've got wood
The person has wood for the fireplace.
And she's sawin' logs
The person's partner is snoring loudly.
Well I didn't know what to do
The person was unsure what to do next.
Cleared my throat a time or two
The person tried to make noise to wake their partner up.
Stomped all around the room
The person walked around the room to try to wake their partner up.
Well she hardly made a move
The person's partner did not react to the noise.
I got more than my hopes up
The person had higher expectations for the evening.
But I guess that window's shut
The person realized that their romantic evening was not going to happen.
I guess I'll get me a cold Busch Light
The person decided to settle for a cheap beer.
Cause that's all I'll get tonight
The person's romantic evening is not going to happen tonight.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BRANDON LYNN KINNEY, BRICE LONG, WYNN VARBLE, BRANDON KINNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GradySmith
Laughed out loud at the gym when I heard this and almost dropped the bar on myself while benching. Amazing song lol
@Cole-xq2tl
Heard the name of this song in your latest video and came straight here because it sounded so damn funny
@cjhardy386
I'm here because I heard of it on your channel.
@DadsAfterDarkRadio
Great song! Can totally relate! Also, that's a hilarious story Grady Smith.
@556585623489
Me too!
@5810psalm
Lol. I’m impressed you listen to country at the gym. Love country but need something more upbeat while working out
@juliarobinson9427
My husband and I are laughing our butts off ! This song is amazing. Catchy, funny, and true!
@DillonCarmichael
Glad you liked it! 😆
@bivinsblinc6503
Hello
@chasebrown9921
What a legend… possibly the most criminally underrated song/artist I have ever discovered