Eric Church called it the hardest thing he has ever done. He was just trying to drop his two young sons off at school. This was the morning after the awful Covenant School shooting in Nashville. He watched them walk in and just felt completely helpless, like he did not know what to do.
He was so lost, he pulled into the parking lot just to be there. He looked around and saw other parents sitting in their cars too. They were all there together, like wolves guarding the sheep. It was a very sad moment, but also very strong. He was processing this heavy feeling.
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While he sat there, a Charlie Daniels song came on the radio. The song said “hell’s broke loose in Georgia.” Eric thought, “The devil is not in Georgia. He’s here.” That one single thought is what started the whole song. People who hear this story feel that exact moment with him.
That moment in the parking lot was heavy and full of fear. He felt a need to protect his kids but did not know how. He took all that helplessness and all that anger and went home to write. The result was the official audio for “Johnny,” a song that feels like a battle cry.
Eric Church – Johnny (Official Audio Video)
The song “Johnny” is not quiet or sad. It is a powerful demand for good to fight back. It calls on the spirit of Johnny from the Charlie Daniels song. Eric’s idea was clear. We need someone to “send the devil” back where he belongs. Listeners hear it as a song of strength, not of defeat.
Eric Church has always been an honest songwriter. He does not shy away from the hard stuff, whether it is sadness or standing strong. His music often tells the stories that everyone else is feeling but cannot say. Follow Eric Church on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. His songs are a reminder to keep fighting.