Often times, Nashville goes to great lengths to sell you on how ‘real’ an artist is. Sometimes they’re not quite as genuine as they are advertised to be…but then again, sometimes they really are.
When you see husband & wife duo Joey+Rory, you don’t need to be told that what they have is genuine. Just listen to their music or listen to them talk and you can tell that what they have is the real deal…not just as a musical duo, but as a couple. The deep connection they have doesn’t just shine through their music, it’s the reason their music shines.
Which is why their newest album, aptly titled Album Number Two, wasn’t born from the success of their 2008 debut. It’s actually the result of a night in Nashville ten years ago, when a gorgeously gifted singer named Joey walked into an ‘In The Round’ songwriters performance. Between finding her seat and the end of the show, she felt drawn to the man onstage simply through his songs. While she wasn’t able to meet him that night, she did two years later and over a cup of coffee, she told the songwriting single-dad exactly how she felt. A few short months later, she wasn’t just a singer named Joey anymore. She was Mrs. Rory Feek.
For the next 5 years, Joey and Rory lived a simple but glorious life reveling in their roles as husband & wife on the farm where they reside in Pottsville, TN. Joey fell right into place as Mom to Rory’s two daughters as she continued her quest for a solo career, eventually recording an album for Sony that was never released. Rory continued to build his status as a hit songwriter punching out chart-topping songs like Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach,” Clay Walker’s “The Chain of Love,” and most recently Easton Corbin’s #1 hit “A Little More Country Than That” along with cuts by Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Collin Raye, Reba and many others.
But in 2008, their quiet life changed after they reluctantly auditioned for a reality TV show, CMT’s Can You Duet Season I, at the urging of a co-writer.
“There was not an ounce of me that thought ‘Here is this beautiful woman and great singer in Joey, but throwing in her 42-year-old, overall-wearing husband will be the magic combination,’” Rory says with a laugh. But it was magic. Joey+Rory became fan favorites ultimately finishing 3rd and landing a record deal with Vanguard / Sugar Hill Records.
Their debut album The Life Of A Song quickly spawned a Top 30 hit with “Cheater Cheater” and in the blink of an eye, the duo was everywhere…touring coast-to-coast and overseas. Their success with radio/video airplay and album sales propelled them into several nominations for both industry and fan-voted awards, including winning the 2010 ACM Award for Top New Vocal Duo.
The quick success was not something the couple anticipated, as they hadn’t thought of their life together as extraordinarily compelling. Fans across the country thought differently. “The response to the first album has been amazing,” reflects Joey, “Now, I can’t wait for them to hear our new record.”
Album Number Two is built in much the same manner as The Life Of A Song not because it was a successful formula, but because those are the kind of songs these two like to hear. According to Rory, while he has had success writing songs for other artists, teaming up with Joey has allowed him the freedom to become a different kind of songwriter. At the same time, the pairing has unleashed Joey’s full potential as a singer as well.
“As a songwriter you have to imagine being somebody different every time you write a song, but the magic of being an artist is you get to be you, to write what you want to say…and I have never had the chance to do that before. I’m not sure Joey ever got to be herself either because there were always teams of people telling her how to dress, not to sing about this and so on. There is none of that anymore. We are 100% ourselves here.”
That freedom is paying off in spades for them. Rory is quick to point out that most of the decisions are led by Joey. In his eyes, “This is her dream,” he says, “I just get the best seat in the house to watch it happen!” As much as they are a duo both onstage and in life, he’s happy to be the man standing just outside the spotlight so that the world can focus on his songbird of a wife.
Led primarily by Joey’s honey-laden vocals, Album Number Two covers all the bases from their signature tongue-in-cheek style of the title cut to “That’s Important To Me,” a song that encapsulates the down-to-earth values that define Joey+Rory both as a couple and a duo alike. There are songs about love (“Born To Be Your Woman”), about cheating (“God Help My Man”), and about faith (“Where Jesus Is”). Songs about cowboys (“All You Need Is Me”), horses (“The Horse Nobody Could Ride”), and about fame (“Farm To Fame”). Most striking however, is the album’s lead single, a working man’s anthem and a tip of the hat to country music fans and concert-goers, “This Song’s For You” featuring the Zac Brown Band that Rory wrote on a tour bus with Zac Brown.
Not all of the songs on Album Number Two are newly written, which ironically is another product of having been turned loose of any inhibitions or corporate direction. A prime example is “My Ol’ Man,” a song resurrected from Rory’s files that is so powerful it punches you in the heart with little more than bare-knuckle lyrics and a lush piano.
Through a mixture of traditional country flavor and new millennium marketing, including corporate sponsorships, reality TV and a national ad campaign with Overstock.com, Joey+Rory have built an impressive fan base and won CMA & ACM nominations and awards their own way.
“TV exposure is unique,” notes Joey. “Not only do people hear our voices, they get to look into our eyes and see who we really are, on a deeper level. A lot of our fan base comes from people who seem to relate to our story and how we interact.
“It’s such a blessing to get to play music and travel and see things we’ve never been able to see before. But the highlight of it all is being able to do it together.”
With Album Number Two tucked firmly under their arms, Joey+Rory are headed out with the same intent they had the first time around.
“Our plan is the same as it’s always been - to show up, do what we do and hope that magic will happen,” says Rory. “As hard as we work, we ultimately know that God’s plans are a lot bigger and better than we can make ourselves. Just having the chance to record and release ALBUM NUMBER TWO is proof of that!”
Heart Of The Wood
Joey + Rory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd love the time we spent and I'd go everywhere he went
We'd end up on some old deer trail
And I'd listen hard as he would spin his tales
We were in a field of stumps he said I got a new one for you hon
These trees once stood tall and I'm the man that made them fall
I cut 'em up, sanded them down
'Cause past the bark and all the scars
Our home was in the heart of those old trees
God bless who sowed those seeds
A hundred years and they just grew
And only heaven knew just what they'd mean, to our family
All that time to become what they should
You know our home was in the heart of the wood
He smiled, said there's my favorite one, pointed at a cherry stump
He said I couldn't afford the one at Sears so the good lord planted one right here
He carved out what he saw within and he gave it to my dad when he turned ten
Past the bark and all the scars
There was a guitar in the heart of that old tree
All from just one seed
A hundred years and it just grew
And only heaven knew just what it'd be
And how that tree could sing
All the time to become what it should
There were songs in the heart of the wood
He said we can mark a tree to keep from getting lost
And it'll always point our way home like that old rugged cross
A hundred years and it just grew and only heaven knew just what it'd be
And who'd hang on that tree it held the Son of God like it should
But I know it broke the heart of the wood
I think what made granddaddy great was that he didn't work all day
I'd love the time we spent and
I'd go everywhere that old man went
"Heart of the Wood" by Joey + Rory is a nostalgic and heartwarming tribute to the singer's grandfather. The song features a beautiful story about the memories shared with the granddaddy, who was known for not working all day, and the adventures they would have together. They would end up in various places, including an old deer trail, where granddaddy would spin his tales of past experiences.
Granddaddy would take his granddaughter to a field of stumps and say that he made them fall. He would cut them up, sand them down, and reveal the beauty that existed beneath the bark and all the scars. He would bring out a cherry stump and tell the little girl how God planted it there for him because he couldn't afford a guitar from Sears. The Lord carved the guitar within the stump, and he presented it to his dad when he turned ten.
Through his storytelling, granddaddy taught his granddaughter life lessons like marking trees to prevent getting lost, and those trees would always point the way home, just like the old rugged cross. The nostalgic song talks about the family's roots, which were in those old trees, telling the stories of their lives from generation to generation. The song reminds us that the foundation of a family lies in its history and roots, just like the heart of the wood.
Line by Line Meaning
I think what made granddaddy great is that he didn't work all day
Granddaddy held a special place in my heart because unlike most people, he made time for me.
I'd love the time we spent and I'd go everywhere he went
I cherished our moments together and wanted to experience everything he did.
We'd end up on some old deer trail
We often found ourselves exploring in the woods.
And I'd listen hard as he would spin his tales
I always paid close attention to his stories because they were full of wisdom and life experiences.
We were in a field of stumps he said I got a new one for you hon
As we walked amongst the remnants of the forest, granddaddy had a new story to share with me.
These trees once stood tall and I'm the man that made them fall
Granddaddy was a logger who cut down the tall trees so they could be used for building and other purposes.
I cut 'em up, sanded them down
He was skilled at turning raw lumber into finished pieces of wood through his hard work and dedication.
And you wouldn't believe what I found
The process of working with the wood revealed the hidden beauty that lay within.
Past the bark and all the scars
Beyond the rough exterior and marks left from the logging process...
Our home was in the heart of those old trees
...there was a warmth and sense of belonging found within the heart of the wood.
God bless who sowed those seeds
We owe a debt of gratitude to the people who originally planted the trees that would become such an important part of our lives.
A hundred years and they just grew
It took a century for the trees to reach their full potential.
And only heaven knew just what they'd mean, to our family
Only time and experience revealed the true significance that the wood would hold for our family.
All that time to become what they should
It took many years for the trees to grow and mature into the beautiful wood that they became.
You know our home was in the heart of the wood
The intricate and unique designs of the woodwork in our home were a testament to the beauty found within the heart of the wood.
He smiled, said there's my favorite one, pointed at a cherry stump
Granddaddy pointed out one of his favorite stumps made of cherry wood.
He said I couldn't afford the one at Sears so the good lord planted one right here
He couldn't afford to buy a wood carving from Sears, but was grateful to have a tree that he could carve himself.
He carved out what he saw within and he gave it to my dad when he turned ten
Granddaddy used his wood carving skills to create a special gift for my father on his tenth birthday.
There was a guitar in the heart of that old tree
Within the cherry wood, was a finely crafted guitar, waiting to be played.
All from just one seed
The wood that was used to make the guitar began as just one small seed, planted long ago.
And how that tree could sing
The sound of the guitar created from the wood was a beautiful and melodious thing.
There were songs in the heart of the wood
The beauty of the wood was represented in the songs that it was used to create and inspire.
He said we can mark a tree to keep from getting lost
Granddaddy showed me how to mark the trees in the forest to help us find our way home.
And it'll always point our way home like that old rugged cross
Just like the cross on which Jesus was crucified, the marked trees would guide us safely home.
And who'd hang on that tree it held the Son of God like it should
In addition to the wood being used to create beautiful works of art, it was also a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus.
But I know it broke the heart of the wood
The knowledge that the wood was used to create the cross was a heart-wrenching realization for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL DEMAY, TONY VILLANUEVA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rochelle Malstead
Your music is beautiful because it shines through a pure heart, Gods glory overflowing! I could listen to you blessed souls FOREVER!! Lol !!
ChickOnRadio
Hi Rochelle! I have to agree with you here. Steve and I got to see Rory in Royal City a few months ago. The chairs were hard, but it was worth it.
Lew Reagan
voice of an Angel
We Are Roses
I love them so much, wish more people knew about them.
Asa Erickson
You are a good singer
flysubcompact
@micah salabarria I just listened to this song (fell in love with it) and I can tell you why these folks don't get enough air time. They have a clean integrity about them that doesn't mesh in the mainstream. Unfortunately so.
Micah Salabarria
Its sad that not many people know about them.
April King
BEST country music duo ever!
Rebecca Greene
bless y'all. you guys could change this ugly world. I love your music. I grew up alone in foster care and put up for adoption but never got a family. my dad passed when I was four of cancer and he made numerous things outta wood for us kids. I'm 32 and the beautiful jewelry box he made I still have. people need to reconnect with faith and you guys bring that to the table with your music. I could listen for hours and I do I have all your CDs but one. I've made some not so gd choices in life but I'm recovering and your music makes me know I chose the right path for me and my family. my children thank you Joey and Rory for being you <3
Rebecca Greene
Yes def they do Heather thank you and best wishes to you and your family aswell