“I let the songs be what they’re going to be, and I pride myself on that,” he notes. “Musically, it ranges from southern rock to country to Americana. When it comes to songwriting, I want to focus on what’s real – I don’t shy away from saying the hard things.”
Growing up in the small town of Prosper, TX, he gravitated towards music as a little kid. By five-years-old, he constantly belted out Alan Jackson songs around the house much to his family’s chagrin. “Everyone used to tell me to shut up,” he laughs. “I was the kid who sang all the time.”
After catching Wade Bowen and Brandon Rhyder in concert, his destiny crystallized in high school. “I remember saying to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do’,” he recalls. “That’s what led me to picking up a guitar.”
Inspired by everyone from George Strait, Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Rolling Stones to his favorite band Whiskey Myers, he wrote countless songs and cut his teeth at gigs anywhere with a stage. In between holding down a job as a skip tracer, he carefully honed his signature style. Quitting his job in 2019, he unveiled the Medicine Man EP. “Come Back Down” generated 19.1 million Spotify streams followed by “Beautiful Lies” with 18 million Spotify streams. During 2021, he tirelessly gigged in between releasing the SÕL Sessions EP. “The Light” also notably soundtracked the finale of Yellowstone Season 4. Along the way, he cemented himself as an electrifying and energetic live presence with over 180 shows in 2022.
“When we’re on stage, our goal is to have the audience clinging to the edge of their seats,” he shares. “I get to play with a bunch of badasses, and I don’t take it for granted. We pounded the pavement and put at least 100K miles on the van in a year-and-a-half.”
Signing to Atlantic Records, he kickstarted 2023 with “Take Me Home,” cracking 10 million streams and counting. On its heels, the single “Give It Some Time” threads together dusty acoustic guitar and unfiltered lyrics as he pleads, “Give me something to believe in, baby, because I’ve been losing my mind.” Against an organ-laden beat, it builds towards an emotionally charged guitar solo that’s as scorching as his delivery is.
Ultimately, Tanner’s music might just say everything you need.
“I hope you hear what you want to hear, enjoy it, resonate with it, and know it’s real,” he leaves off. “It’s been a wild ride. I’ve busted my ass. I started off doing all of this on my own, so it’s crazy to see how this and the team around me have grown. People are going after real music right now, and that’s great. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next.”
Josephine
Tanner Usrey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She used to be an angel, but she traded that for sin
And when she fell from grace she fell far, she fell hard
The holes in her soul match the holes in her arms
She tells me she loves me, but only when she′s high
I'd hate to see her go, but couldn′t leave her if I tried
So I'll just stay here by her side
And I'll hold you in my arms so damn tight
As you look up at the ceiling with a cold stare in your eyes
I can see your fate, and I can see you′re losing the fight
And oh, my sweet Josephine
Oh, how I wish that you could see
How you were killin′ yourself
And how your habits were hurtin' me
Oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
We had our whole lives to look forward to
But you threw it all away for a needle and a spoon
And I know your stone will read "A girl gone too soon"
We laid you in the ground today with a calm upon your face
I kissed you one last time before he laid you in your grave
You were my girl, my girl that slipped away
The lyrics of the song "Josephine" by Tanner Usrey tell a poignant story of a tragic love affair that is shattered by addiction. The use of vivid imagery in the lyrics crafts a narrative that showcases the physical and psychological effects of drug addiction. The use of the metaphor that Josephine's veins run like tracks all across her skin is a vivid illustration of the intravenous drug use that is common among addicts. The lyrics further suggest that Josephine was originally a good person, an "angel," but that she gave up her virtuous life to pursue a life of addiction and sin.
The chorus of the song conveys the sense of helpless desperation that the singer feels in the face of Josephine's addiction. He still loves her, even though she only tells him that she loves him when she is high. He is aware of the danger of their situation and wonders whether they will survive another night. The lyrics suggest that Josephine is aware of her hopeless situation, staring blankly at the ceiling with cold, empty eyes. The singer accepts the tragic reality of Josephine's fate, acknowledging that she is losing the fight against addiction.
In the final verse of the song, the singer acknowledges that he has lost Josephine to her addiction. He reflects upon their once seemingly endless future, but all that remains is the reality that Josephine has passed away. The lyrics suggest that Josephine was buried with a sense of peace on her face, despite the struggles that defined her life. The singer laments the loss of his beloved Josephine, acknowledging her addiction as the force that took her away from him.
Line by Line Meaning
Her veins, they run like tracks all across her skin
Her visible veins resemble railroad tracks due to drug abuse.
She used to be an angel, but she traded that for sin
She was once virtuous, but gave into temptation and began indulging in sinful behavior.
And when she fell from grace she fell far, she fell hard
Her fall from grace was a significant and severe one.
The holes in her soul match the holes in her arms
The spiritual emptiness she feels is reflected in the physical scars on her arms from drug injections.
She tells me she loves me, but only when she's high
She only professes love for the artist when under the influence of drugs.
I'd hate to see her go, but couldn't leave her if I tried
The singer cares for Josephine deeply and does not want to lose her, but feels obligated to stay with her despite the challenges.
So I'll just stay here by her side
The singer is committed to remaining with Josephine, regardless of the difficulties involved.
And I'll hold you in my arms so damn tight
The artist physically embraces Josephine in a protective manner.
Wondering to myself, will we make it another night?
The artist is uncertain about the outcome of their situation and reflects on the possibility of future difficulty.
As you look up at the ceiling with a cold stare in your eyes
Josephine looks away with a vacant expression, perhaps due to drug addiction.
I can see your fate, and I can see you're losing the fight
The singer can anticipate Josephine's eventual downfall and sees that she is struggling with her addiction.
And oh, my sweet Josephine
The artist affectionately addresses Josephine.
Oh, how I wish that you could see
The singer wishes Josephine could see the negative impact her habits have on herself and on their relationship.
How you were killin' yourself
The singer is aware that Josephine's drug habits are having a fatal effect on her.
And how your habits were hurtin' me
The singer is also affected by Josephine's addiction, which causes emotional harm.
Oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
The endearment towards Josephine is repeated as the lyrics come to a close.
We had our whole lives to look forward to
The artist reflects on the future that they had hoped to have with Josephine.
But you threw it all away for a needle and a spoon
Josephine prioritized drug use over her future with the singer and chose to indulge in it instead.
And I know your stone will read 'A girl gone too soon'
The singer anticipates that Josephine's life will be cut short by her habits and she will be remembered as having died prematurely.
We laid you in the ground today with a calm upon your face
Josephine has passed away and has been buried, with a peaceful expression on her face.
I kissed you one last time before he laid you in your grave
The artist bids farewell to Josephine with a final kiss before she is buried.
You were my girl, my girl that slipped away
The artist mourns the loss of Josephine, who was his partner and has now passed away.
Writer(s): Tanner Usrey
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@flordeespinart
[Verse 1]
Her veins, they run like tracks all across her skin
She used to be an angel, but she traded that for sin
And when she fell from grace she fell far, she fell hard
The holes in her soul match the holes in her arms
She tells me she loves me, but only when she's high
I'd hate to see her go, but couldn't leave her if I tried
So I'll just stay here by her side
And I'll hold you in my arms so damn tight
Wondering to myself, will we make it another night?
As you look up at the ceiling with a cold stare in your eyes
I can see your fate, and I can see you're losing the fight
[Chorus]
And oh, my sweet Josephine
Oh, how I wish that you could see
How you were killin' yourself
And how your habits were hurtin' me
Oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
[Verse 2]
We had our whole lives to look forward to
But you threw it all away for a needle and a spoon
And I know your stone will read "A girl gone too soon"
We laid you in the ground today with a calm upon your face
I kissed you one last time before he laid you in your grave
You were my girl, my girl that slipped away
[Chorus]
And oh, my sweet Josephine
Oh, how I wish that you could see
How you were killin' yourself
And how your habits were hurtin' me
Oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
[Bridge]
Oh, Josephine
Come back to me, Josephine
I'm beggin' you please
And oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
Oh, how I wish you would have seen
That you were killin' yourself
Now your habits have killed me
Oh, my sweet, sweet Josephine
[Outro]
Oh, Josephine
Sweet Josephine
@chilloutdude3617
Country is still telling the American story. The stuff I've been listening to lately has been making me cry a lot. I'm sad for us as a people. We are lost.
@marismeldrins
if this kind of stuff moves you, you are not lost and neither is your country
@kmnorth5202
Im a music snob. I admit it. This is one of the best written songs (lyrics wise) that ive ever heard. Sung well and played well but damn man, youve got a fan in me now. Great job
@natertater1978
from one music snob to another. i cant agree more. what a lyricist huh?
@taco2947
Definitely a great tune, but there's some other good ones about heroin. A couple classics obviously are Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young and of course Carmalita by Warren Zevon. Those ain't too bad. And I've know more people than I can almost count die from heroin, so it's a real subject for me.
@Kybone
Wholeheartedly agree. Impressive for anyone - given his age, it's exciting to imagine what's in store.
@theappalachianambassador8284
Always good to find fresh music and a sound to enjoy. I wonder if your self-described snobbery is holding you back from some incredible creations out there? Any Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, Justin Townes Earle, Tyler Childers, or frankly any of the parade of similar sounding artists to this dude on a myriad of similarly curated YouTube channels should blow you away lyrically if this is your standard.
@dylanmoffitt3485
Glad to see our Texas boys getting some love
@cameronswink6612
Dylan Moffitt I knew it right off the bat. Where's his Texas boy from? DAMN GOOD VOICE.
@betha8736
@@cameronswink6612 That's classified. LOL. 30 miles North of Dallas. A little town that starts with a P. :)