How do you make a very personal moment a song that can connect with thousands and top the Texas Regional Radio Music Chart?
Aaron Watson did just that with “Bluebonnets,” which also charted as high as #13 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart.
The song was inspired by a tragic personal loss: his fourth child, Julia Grace Watson, passed away just hours after she was born.
While the song will evoke strong emotions because of the backstory, “Bluebonnets” stands on its own as a song about appreciation. Not knowing the context doesn’t take away from the meaning it imparts.
This is one of the strongest characteristics of a well written, highly personal song: engaging listeners when they know nothing about the song’s original inspiration.
So how does Aaron Watson write an extremely personal song and make it universal?
Aaron Watson “Bluebonnets (Julia’s Song)”
Genre: Country
Album: The Underdog
Released: 2015
Time: 4:12
BPM: 93
Structure:
V | V | C | V | C 2X| OUTTRO
What Makes It Work?
Watson does a terrific job of not only using the simile, but then explaining it in the first part of the chorus just in case you’re not a Texan. So how does he incorporate the simile while making sure he doesn’t overshadow the song’s message?
[Find Out: Lyrical Devices ]
Notice he doesn’t start with the event that inspired the song.
He steps back and starts with an example that is pretty relatable – then he incorporates his personal story. Why bother with a generalization?
[ Find Out: Plot ]
One of the things I really like about Aaron Watson’s songs are the rhyme patterns.
This song is a great example of why paying attention to your rhyme pattern and using close rhyme rather than perfect rhyme can reshape your song and control the pace and delivery of your lyrics. How can you incorporate those devices into your own songs?
[Find Out: Rhyme ]
Most of the time you expect it to be completely different. But in this case, Watson uses his pre-chorus as a bridge.
Why?
[ Find Out: Contrast ]
Aaron Watson Talks About Family & The Song’s Inspiration
FULL SONG DEEP DIVE
Aaron Watson’s “Bluebonnets”
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