Sara Evans’ highly anticipated eighth studio album, titled ‘Words,’ was released on Friday, July 21st. Within hours it hit number one on the iTunes chart. Since her last album in 2014, Evan’ priorities have changed and her family has been her central focus. Sara includes her family in this new album where some are featured in a few of the tracks. ‘Words’ is comprised of 14 songs and features 14 female songwriters, including herself.
1.) ‘Long Way Down’ – Written by Tammy Rodgers, Liz Hengber, and Jerry Salley.
Impression: The lead single of this record is a sassy, honky tonk song about deceit and disappointment; about forming the wrong impression of a person and what happens when you see their true colors.
Favorite Lyrics: So far down that it ain’t got a bottom. Thought you had wings, but I guess you ain’t got ‘em…
2.) ‘Marquee Sign’ – Written by Sara Evans, Jimmy Robbins, and Heather Morgan.
Impression: The second track is the first single off of the new album. This song is about trust and the difficulties of trusting. If only someone’s truth were written in neon lights on a ’Marquee Sign,’ it would save time to see their true selves right in front of you. The disappointment could be avoided. The hurt could be avoided Although ‘Marquee Sign” is about distrust and disappointment it is a catchy tune and is highlighted by Sara Evans’ daughter singing backup vocals. The two complement each other sweetly and any listener will want to join and sing along warning themselves about the parts of people we wish we could see.
Favorite Lyrics: Some people lie. Some people trust. Some people hide. What they’re made of…
3.) ‘Diving in Deep’ – Written by Gordie Sampson, Hillary Lindsey, and Steve McEwan.
Impression: To truly get to know a person, most of the time you have to peel back the layers, one at a time. You have a choice of walking away or ‘Diving in Deep.’ This upbeat and quick tempo track talks about making that choice and ignoring the consequences.
Favorite Lyrics: I’m past the point of turning back. Not thinking ‘bout the aftermath. I’m diving in…
4.) ‘All the Love You Left Me’ – Written by Ben West, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson.
Impression: Sara strongly but skillfully sings a classic breakup song. After a breakup you can think you’ve worked through everything but something remains. Just like someone leaving their box of clothes, they can leave their love behind, surrounding you leaving you wondering how to move on amidst what is lost.
Favorite Lyrics: I turn the lights on, I turn the lights off. But it don’t matter, baby, all that I got is all the love you left me…
5.) ‘Like the Way You Love Me’ – Written by Sara Evans, April Geesbreght, and Jason Massey.
Impression: ‘Like the Way You Love Me’ slowly builds into an explosive chorus. It is a sweet love song that reminds us of the highs and lows we go through loving someone. ‘Like the Way You Love Me” convinces us that nothing or no one will compare to the high of this found love.
Favorite Lyrics: I’ve been a sinner, I’ve been to church. Top of the world, down in the dirt. Nothing compares, no one competes…
6.) ‘Rain and Fire’ – Written by Claude Kelley and Charles Harmon.
Impression: This song of hope has a little bit of an island feel and sound to it with a slow and steady beat. Love is filled with ups and unfortunately downs and Sara Evans sings about this in ‘Rain and Fire.’ Sara sings, pleading about how after a breakup, a sadness and a disappointment, not to give up. Even a stranger is only a stranger for an instant. They could be the one to stand by you through the good times and the bad times, the ‘Rain and Fire.‘ You need to take a leap and trust again.
Favorite Lyrics: Baby, I know, that love’s just a pattern of ups and downs. You need someone who wants to keep you safe and sound…
7.) ‘Night Light’ – Written by Daniel Tashian and Jaida Dreyer.
Impression: The middle of the album is a track about how dark the world can be. ‘Night Light’ is the track in the middle of the album that talks about darkness and despair; that there is light through the dark. You can survive the dark and find someone who can help you see through the darkness. It is possible to find someone to be your light and help guide you. Sara’s soft but powerful voice carries this track and makes believers out of everyone.
Favorite Lyrics: When dark is all that I can see. Will you be my night light? Shine for me…
8.) ‘I Need a River’ – Written by Marcus Hummon, Darrell Scott, and Sonya Isaacs.
Impression: This upbeat song is filled with guitars, fiddles, drums and Sara’s sweet ideas to find peace and happiness and to just get away. Sometimes you just need an escape and to be able to float away. ‘I Need a River’ is about washing away your troubles and being able to slow things down. You can’t help tapping your toes or fighting the urge to get up and dance and spin like no one is watching.
Favorite Lyrics: I wanna slow this whole thing down. On this not so merry-go-round…
9.) ‘I Don’t Trust Myself’ – Written by Caitlyn Smith, Gordie Sampson, and Steve McEwan.
Impression: The ninth track, ‘I Don’t Trust Myself,’ is a slow, methodical trip that takes you on a journey through different choices faced after a separation and their possible consequences based on past decisions. It is very easy to fall back into habits and when you are trying to make a break, sometimes you just cant trust yourself to chose what is best for you.
Favorite Lyrics: I don’t trust myself. Everything that I do leads me right back to you…
10.) ‘Make Room at the Bottom’ – Written by Ashley Monroe and Brett James.
Impression: This track starts off slow and steady and Sara’s strong voice sounds almost broken cracking in all the right places showing us her pain. ‘Make Room at the Bottom’ is a song about heartbreak and loss and announcing to the others who feel the same, that she is about to join them in their pain. We all get knocked down, but find we are not alone.
Favorite Lyrics: Make room at the bottom. I’ve been kicked around. So I’m coming down…
11.) ‘Words’ – Written by David Hodges, Jake Scott, and Jimmy Robbins.
Impression: The title track of this album takes us on a journey. We use ‘Words’ when we meet, words while we fall in love, words when we fight, words when we hurt and words when we leave. This slow and solemn song takes us from the start of a new relationship through to the end where even then, hope survives.
Favorite Lyrics: Words, well, they sure are confusin. Like when we started usin’ them. Just bullets in fact…
12.) ‘I Want You’ – Written by Shane Stevens and Victoria Monet.
Impression: ‘I Want You’ is a slow, steady song on the piano with Sara’s voice almost pleading while accompanied by beautiful harmonies. ‘I Want You’ is a hopeful love song about wanting someone long after you should have known better.
Favorite Lyrics: I am tragically addicted. Hopelessly committed. You’re no good for me and I admit it, I want you…
13.) ‘Letting You Go’ – Written by Sara Evans, Emily Shackleton and Victoria Banks.
Impression: The last new song on the album was one that was very difficult for Sara to put to paper. It is just Sara and the piano. She wrote it about her son Avery going off to college. Parents love and care for their children knowing that each day is one day closer until they are ready to leave. Listening to the words of ‘Letting You Go’ you can hear the sadness Sara is feeling, but also the pride knowing that she has done her best and her child is ready because ‘part of loving you is letting you go.’
Favorite Lyrics: And even though its hard to do. It’s letting you fall and giving you wings. So you fly on your own because part of loving you is letting you go…..
14.) ‘A Little Bit Stronger’ (Acoustic) – Written by Hillary Scott, Hillary Lindsey, and Luke Laird.
Impression: The closing track of this album is an acoustic version of her classic song ‘A Little Bit Stronger.’ Even if you’ve never heard of Sara Evans, you’ve probably heard this 2010 popular breakup anthem. This song explains how moving on is hard and even on days that seem impossible, you’re doing better than you did the day before.
Favorite Lyrics: It doesn’t happen overnight but you turn around and a month’s gone by…
You can purchase ‘Words‘ on iTunes here.