Despite being just 23 years old, the multi-instrumentalist (he’s a natural-born drummer) has experienced a lot of life. Seth spent his formative years on a military base in Japan, cut his teeth as a touring musician while living in Raleigh and commuting to Nashville, and has now put down roots in Music City, where through perseverance and a dedication to his craft he landed a record deal with Sony Music Nashville.
As he likes to tell it, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time — and having the raw talent to stand out. “There was a battle of the bands competition here in Nashville and when one of the bands dropped out, I got the call,” Seth says. “I called my players together and we killed it.” With the victory, Seth secured a coveted performance spot at CMA Music Festival and caught the eye of Sony, as well as one of the competition’s judges, producer Corey Crowder. Crowder is now in the studio with Seth, both of them co-producing Seth’s debut album.
With the progressive musical risks of current pop music, the finesse of traditional country, strong R&B influences, and a healthy respect for organic sounds (he is a bluegrass fanatic), Seth’s music is poised to establish him as a fresh new voice in the genre, one with a rare global worldview.
“Country music is not that big in Japan,” he admits with a laugh while describing his type of music. “If I were raised in Georgia my whole life, I’d probably sound a lot different than I do. But because of how much I moved around, and all the cultures I experienced, my sound is especially diverse.”
It’s one that will fit right in on country music’s evolving landscape, where production has become just as key as songwriting. Fortunately, Seth excels at both.
“Production is so important to me, and I like to think I have an ear for it. I’m really picky,” he says. “And songwriting is something I’ve gotten better at since moving to Nashville and learning from great writers like Ben Hayslip and Rhett Akins. The best song always wins, even if it’s not my own. I have incredible respect for the writing community.”
For his debut single “Woke Up in Nashville,” Seth wrote with tunesmiths David Hodges and Blair Daly, creating an autobiographical account of his journey to Music City to pursue his dream as a singer-songwriter.
Fittingly, the song begins with Seth loading up his father’s truck and driving north from Georgia. In the studio, Seth played every instrument on “Woke Up in Nashville,” from guitars and bass to drums and piano. He even sang his own background vocals.
Being self-sufficient in the writing room and in the booth is important to the young singer, but he’s excited to collaborate in the encouraging country community. Seth is adamant about maintaining his own sense of identity. While he may unabashedly profess a love for pop melody and rock & roll energy, he’s a country disciple.
“Country is how I was raised. Its stories are about me,” he says. “But Nashville is also a melting pot right now, so I’m thinking huge: What can I do to play internationally? How can I have my songs heard globally? It’s about dreaming big.”
Which has certainly steered him right so far.
Woke Up in Nashville
Seth Ennis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it still felt like a dream
Like the one I've been chasing
Since the day I first played my dad's six string
I loaded up the hand-me-down car
Went for broke, broke your heart
Didn't wanna but, girl, I thought I had to
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
'Cause those Broadway lights don't shine
The way that your eyes did
When they were staring back right back in mine
Been trying to live
With only half of my heart
Just sleep walking in the Tennessee dark
If I can't make every memory with you
Then dreaming's just sleeping here without you
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
In a cold sweat
And catching my breath
Dropping my pride
And dropping you a line
I don't know where you are
I don't know who you're with
I don't know what to say
But I'm saying it
Hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
Just thinking of you still
The lyrics of Seth Ennis's song “Woke Up in Nashville” depict a protagonist who wakes up in Nashville, the city of music, chasing his dreams of becoming a musician. But he soon realizes that his pursuit of fame and fortune left him unfulfilled and incomplete. The singer reflects on his journey and acknowledges that his love interest, who he left behind, was all he needed all along. The Broadway lights of Nashville pale in comparison to the sparkles in the eyes of the one he loves.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer battles with regret, longing, and the realization that his dreams were incomplete without his love interest. He accepts that he needs her, and confesses his mistakes, hoping to rekindle their love. The end of the song signifies the singer coming to terms with his mistakes and where his heart truly belongs.
Despite the song's seemingly somber tone, it is an ode to self-discovery and the realization that emotional and mental fulfillment is more valuable than empty success. The lyrics present the listeners with a valuable lesson that materialistic gains cannot satisfy the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up in Nashville
I found myself in Nashville, where I've always wanted to be as a musician.
But it still felt like a dream
It felt too good to be true that I was actually living my dream in Nashville.
Like the one I’ve been chasing
I've always been chasing this dream of making it big in the music industry.
Since the day I first played my dad’s six string
Ever since I first picked up my dad's guitar, I knew I wanted to be a musician.
I loaded up the hand-me-down car
I packed everything I had in my car, which was a hand-me-down from someone else.
Went for broke, broke your heart
I went all in, even though it meant I broke your heart.
Didn’t wanna but, girl, I thought I had to
I didn't want to break your heart, but I felt like I had to chase my dream of being a musician in Nashville.
But dreaming’s just sleeping here without you
My dream of being in Nashville meant nothing without you by my side.
So, hello
I'm reaching out to you now.
I’m really glad you picked up your phone
I'm grateful that you answered my call.
I had to tell you, baby
I need to confess something to you.
I was so wrong for thinking you
I made a mistake by thinking that I could pursue my dream without you.
Were something I could ever do without
I can't live without you in my life, and I realize that now.
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
I thought that all of my dreams and desires were centered around Nashville.
But you were all that I needed all along
I now know that you were the missing piece that I needed all along to fulfill my dreams.
It took me long enough
It took me a while to realize what I was missing, but I finally did.
But I woke up
I finally woke up to what truly matters in life.
‘Cause those Broadway lights don’t shine
The bright lights of the Broadway streets don't compare to the sparkle in your eyes.
The way that your eyes did
I miss the way your eyes used to shimmer when we were together.
When they were staring back right back in mine
I remember how your eyes were fixated on mine, and I miss that connection.
Been trying to live
I've been trying to get by in life.
With only half of my heart
I've been living life without giving it my all since half of me was missing without you.
Just sleep walking in the Tennessee dark
I've been in a daze, walking aimlessly through dark Tennessee nights without you.
If I can’t make every memory with you
I don't want to create any more memories without you by my side.
Then dreaming’s just sleeping here without you
Without you, everything I've accomplished and worked towards is meaningless.
In a cold sweat
I'm nervous and anxious.
And catching my breath
I'm trying to calm myself down and think clearly.
Dropping my pride
I'm willing to lower my ego and admit my mistake.
And dropping you a line
I'm reaching out to you.
I don’t know where you are
I'm not sure where you are at this moment.
I don’t know who you’re with
I don't know who you're spending time with currently.
I don’t know what to say
I'm at a loss for words.
But I’m saying it
I'm trying to express what's on my mind.
Just thinking of you still
You're always on my mind, even though we're not together right now.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Blair Daly, David Hall Hodges, Seth William Ennis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabrielle Lopez
I woke up in Nashville
But it still felt like a dream
Like the one I've been chasing
Since the day I first played my dad's six string
I loaded up the hand-me-down car
Went for broke, broke your heart
Didn't wanna but, girl, I thought I had to
But dreaming's just sleeping here without you
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
'Cause those Broadway lights don't shine
The way that your eyes did
When they were staring back right back in mine
Been trying to live
With only half of my heart
Just sleep walking in the Tennessee dark
If I can't make every memory with you
Then dreaming's just sleeping here without you
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
In a cold sweat
And catching my breath
Dropping my pride
And dropping you a line
I don't know where you are
I don't know who you're with
I don't know what to say
But I'm saying it
Hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
Just thinking of you still
brandyjo2474
ics
I woke up in Nashville
But it still felt like a dream
Like the one I've been chasing
Since the day I first played my dad's six string
I loaded up the hand-me-down car
Went for broke, broke your heart
Didn't wanna but, girl, I thought I had to
But dreaming's just sleeping here without you
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
'Cause those Broadway lights don't shine
The way that your eyes did
When they were staring back right back in mine
Been trying to live
With only half of my heart
Just sleep walking in the Tennessee dark
If I can't make every memory with you
Then dreaming's just sleeping here without you
So, hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
In a cold sweat
And catching my breath
Dropping my pride
And dropping you a line
I don't know where you are
I don't know who you're with
I don't know what to say
But I'm saying it
Hello
I'm really glad you picked up your phone
I had to tell you, baby
I was so wrong for thinking you
Were something I could ever do without
Thought everything I wanted was in this town
But you were all that I needed all along
It took me long enough
But I woke up
I woke up in Nashville
Just thinking of you still
Haley Stelter
Why is this song not more popular? It's absolutely stunning!
abigail belcher
It did for like a second I heard thos song on the radio a couple times bit that was it and I never heard or on there again
GUNZ!
Exactly!!!
Chitrank Agrawal
I too agree with u Haley
Erika Mills
i agree. i think that he will become more popular over time. he's kinda new to the music world but i know he'll get popular and write more awesome music
Megan Bastone
right
Anna Ferrar
This song is so beautiful I could cry. Hope this guy gets famous one day
Erika Mills
I know who he is kinda. like I know a little bit about him. I hope to meet him in person someday
itsjay
I didn't know who he was until i was listening to brett young and he popped up under suggested
Kenzey Boyd
Anna Ferrar And we can say we were here pretty much from the start