An anchored mindset that has led this Texas country music rising star from a drifter’s adolescence to the jeopardous game of the rodeo circuit to the punishing toil of the Texas oil fields, and on into the fickle arms of the music business. Some might argue whether it is having nine consecutive #1 hit singles in Texas under his belt that has garnered him staying power, or that he is killing it in the social media world with over 2 million views on YouTube and over 3 million streams globally on Spotify. Maybe it’s his 3 venerated album releases, or maybe because he can not only bat a full house on a 200 plus dates a year touring average, but also rope in crowds on a first time performance in an unfamiliar town. While impressive, all those distinctions can come and go in the world of music. The reason for his staying power turns out to be quite a simple one. And that is because Josh Ward is country music blood to bone, and both Josh Ward and country music are simply not going to go away.
Josh spent 2017 heavily touring off the strength of his previous album “Holding Me Together.” All six radio singles hit the #1 spot on the Texas Regional Radio Chart and Ward quickly found himself going from opening act to the headlining spot in a matter of months. But in the midst of his growing popularity, he gladly bent the knee to fellow country music artist and comrade Cody Johnson who introduced Ward to his West Coast audiences. Getting the chance to be endorsed by Cody Johnson and perform at sold out shows in brand new markets is the kind of opportunity music artists chomp at the bit to have. When Ward and his band returned to those areas a few months later all by their lonesome, he simply could not have guessed at the reception he would encounter. “When we went back to the West Coast by ourselves, it was sold out shows. I was literally blown away.” It was at that very point while far away from his familiar stomping grounds in Texas with new fans slapping him on the back that Ward knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his music was catching on in a big way.
The culmination of his radio success and his victories out on the road can easily be attributed to the actual man behind the music. In life, sometimes a person gets dealt a lean hand and has to choose his family from strangers along the way, people who make a conscious choice to take you under their wing and help guide you through life. Ward considers himself a very lucky man despite some rough teenage years. The love and support of his extended family and his chosen family was the concrete foundation he built
his life on, and his fans are a big part of that. It’s why they are drawn to him through the speakers, because he is what he sings. It’s why they are drawn to him from the stage, because he’s an old friend who’s come back to visit. He’s the animated truth of all he stands for, a self-made family man who always has a welcome smile and an open spot in the family. To his loyal fans he feels he owes everything. “Words can’t describe the emotion that gets put into these runs and the work that we do. And these people pay their hard earned money to see it every night. Thank you. Every time I step on stage, you guys remind me that I have more than I deserve.” And so his brand new album, so aptly named, is Ward’s dedication to his growing family.
“More Than I Deserve” marks Ward’s fourth full length album release and it will greet the fans on May 4, 2018. With the philosophy of “don’t fix what isn’t broken,” Ward went right back into the Rosewood studios where he recorded all his previous releases and joined producer Greg Hunt once again behind the board to create the next dimension of Josh Ward country music. The new album is 11 tracks strong featuring the signature instrumentation from guys like John Carroll (Cory Morrow) on guitar, Nate Coon (Aaron Watson) on drums, Milo Deering (The Eagles) on acoustic guitar, steel, dobro, fiddle, viola and mandolin, and Terry McBride (McBride and The Ride) on backing vocals and also writer of three of the tracks. The album is classic Josh Ward style on every front with just a little more gusto and a little more miles on it. Full bodied and emotionally fragrant, every song jumps out kicking up the kind of country music nostalgia Ward is revered for. The first single “All About Lovin’” (written by Brice Long, Terry McBride and Chris Stapleton) tells you everything you need to know about this album, a sexy tonkafied driver of a song that guarantees you’ll be lacing up your dancing shoes by the time you hit the chorus. “Home Away From Home” is country piled on top of more country, and is, as the song says, “a two steppin’ juke box heaven.” While Ward has never been afraid to sing other people’s songs due to his belief that a good song simply needs to be heard, his own savvy for the art just so happens to be represented on three of the most powerful tracks. “A Cowboy Can” is the true grit of this album and is what Ward says best describes himself. “One More Shot Of Whiskey” is a sobering tale told with 90 proof conviction, and then there is “More Than I Deserved” ringing out with its vulnerable steel and head hanging resolve. “More Than I Deserve” is country music addiction in its purest form. Josh Ward did not reinvent the wheel here, but damn, it’s polished surface sure rides smooth.
Josh and his band will be seeing a lot more of the country this year hitting a lot of new places on his never ending tour. It’s still hard for him to believe he has come this far and he doesn’t take one mile of it for granted. “I never thought I would be rolling down the road with one of the hottest bands in Texas playing shows across the United States. I’m happy to be here.”
The Josh Ward band is Josh Ward (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Steve Cargill (bass), Justin Cogneato (drums), Woody Woodruff (lead guitar) and Glen Shankle (steel guitar).
The Devil Don't Scare Me
Josh Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was shakin′ in the shoes in the pew I sat on
12 years old, afraid of where I'd go
10 years later wonderin′ how I got here
Where neon burns and they sell cold beer
Heaven seems so far away
'Cause ever since the night she left me
I′ve tried prayin′, I've tried whiskey
It′s livin' hell wishin′ she'd missed me
No I ain′t afraid of dyin'
'Cause I lost the one thing I was livin′ for
Now the devil don′t scare me anymore
Thunder in the sky used to get my attention
Now when lightnin' strikes it only gets me wishin′
That it'd strike me, but I ain′t that lucky
A curve in the road used to slow me down
Now I'm 90 miles an hour two wheels off the ground
It can′t hurt me now
'Cause ever since the night she left me
Ain't a damn thing that can help me
I′ve tried prayin′, I've tried whiskey
It′s livin' hell wishin′ she'd missed me
No I ain′t afraid of dyin'
'Cause I lost the one thing I was livin′ for
Now the devil don′t scare me anymore
No I ain't afraid of dyin′
'Cause I lost the one thing I was livin′ for
Now the devil don't scare me anymore
Devil don′t scare me anymore
Devil don't scare me anymore
In Josh Ward's song "The Devil Don't Scare Me," the lyrics tell the story of a man who has reached his breaking point after the love of his life has left him. The song begins with a reference to his childhood when he used to attend church and listen to the preacher's sermons about fire and brimstone. He remembers feeling scared and worrying about where he'll go in the afterlife. However, as the song progresses, we see how his life has changed, and now he's no longer scared of the devil or where he'll end up when he dies because he's already lost everything he was living for.
The line "It's living hell wishing she'd missed me" is particularly poignant. The singer has tried everything to cope with the pain of losing his love, but nothing is working. The emptiness is so profound, and the sense of loss is so all-consuming that he is no longer afraid of death or the devil himself. The song is about the extent to which love and heartbreak can transform a person and push them to the brink of despair.
In summary, "The Devil Don't Scare Me" is a powerful story about a man struggling to come to terms with the loss of the love of his life. The lyrics reveal how his life has changed since his childhood and how he's no longer scared of the devil or death because he's already lost everything he was living for.
Line by Line Meaning
Preacher used to preach about fire and brimstone
The pastor would talk about the punishment of hellfire and how sinners would be consumed by flames.
I was shakin′ in the shoes in the pew I sat on
I was trembling with fear while sitting on the bench in church.
12 years old, afraid of where I'd go
At the age of 12, I was scared of where I would end up after my death.
10 years later wonderin′ how I got here
A decade later, I am questioning how my life has turned out and how I ended up where I am now.
Where neon burns and they sell cold beer
A place full of bright lights and where people can buy alcohol.
Heaven seems so far away
Going to heaven seems distant and unattainable.
'Cause ever since the night she left me
The reason why I am no longer scared of the devil is because my significant other left me.
Ain't a damn thing that can help me
Nothing can provide me relief or comfort.
I′ve tried prayin′, I've tried whiskey
I have attempted to pray and drink alcohol to ease my emotional pain.
It′s livin' hell wishin′ she'd missed me
The agony of wishing that my ex-partner would regret leaving me is unbearable.
No I ain′t afraid of dyin'
I am not scared of death anymore.
'Cause I lost the one thing I was livin′ for
Because I lost the person who was the most important thing to me, I don't care about anything else.
Now the devil don′t scare me anymore
Since I have nothing left to lose, the fear of the devil no longer affects me.
Thunder in the sky used to get my attention
I used to be scared of thunder and lightning in the sky.
Now when lightnin' strikes it only gets me wishin′
Nowadays, lightning only makes me wish that it would strike and kill me.
That it'd strike me, but I ain′t that lucky
However, I know that I am not lucky enough to die from a lightning strike.
A curve in the road used to slow me down
I used to be cautious of curves in the road since they could cause an accident.
Now I'm 90 miles an hour two wheels off the ground
Nowadays, I am a reckless driver going at dangerous speeds and almost crashing my vehicle.
It can′t hurt me now
Since I am already hurting so much, I can no longer be hurt further.
Devil don′t scare me anymore
The devil does not terrify me anymore since I have already lost everything that mattered to me.
Devil don't scare me anymore
Repeating that the devil does not scare the artist anymore.
Writer(s): Roger Springer, Wyatt Mccubbin, Jason Hursey
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.