ZB ❤
Jakes Piano — Long Island by Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan, best known for his country music, is one of the most popular artists of our time. With his heart wrenching lyrics and beautiful instrumentals, every word he sings always has a deep message behind them.
My favorite song of all time is from one of his relatively new albums ironically titled, Zach Bryan. “Jakes Piano — Long Island” means a lot to me because it is such a beautiful song and there are many ways the lyrics can be interpreted. You can see this as a grief song, a breakup song, or a song to a friend you now see as a stranger.
“I finally quit smokin’ cigarettes
And I don’t go downtown drinkin’ ’til it’s dawn
The best parts of you are here, but you’re still gone.”
This excerpt can be seen through the lens of grief or a long lost friendship. Zach sings to someone he used to drink and smoke with, and his desire to tell them about his improvement — he quit smoking cigarettes, he doesn’t drink until dawn anymore — It’s infused with a sense of desperation, understanding that he can only tell them within the walls of a recording studio.
“I heard they shut the old bar we’d go when we needed rest
We’d always stay out too late Tuesday nights
You said I was the perfect gentleman
You used to hold me by my gentle hands
These ain’t the hopeful hands you held before
And I’ve been drinkin’ so much lately, it seems a damn double blade
’Cause when I’m drunk I dream you’re dancin’ down the shore.”
From a breakup perspective, this can be a message to an ex lover, looking back at their memories and reflecting. He tells them that he isn’t as gentle as he used to be, and that he turns to alcohol because it’s the only way he can see them.
Along with the lyrics Zach sings, the way he actually sings them makes his songs so much more impactful. The cracks, raspiness, and hurt in his voice when he sings allows for me to better understand the lyrics and message he is trying to get through.
Overall, in my opinion “Jakes Piano — Long Island” is the best song Zach Bryan has ever released.