Song Review- Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind”
It’s not like Tim McGraw is a spring chicken at 48-years-old, and it’s not like his records are selling especially well these days. His latest release Damn Country Music only sold 39,000 copies its debut week, and has yet to crest the 100,000 mark. 2014’s Sundown Heaven Town may never go gold for him.
But Tim McGraw is one of the last remaining artists who can release what he wants to radio, including music that actually says something and is fit for consumption by fully maturated adults, and it somehow finds not just a semblance of traction and acceptance, but downright success. Blame Tim McGraw’s cozy relationship with country radio over the years, or Big Machine’s war chest for radio promotion. Either way, the sinewy country star is like the chaperon for country music’s youth movement, and symbolizes one of the last vestiges of meaningful music on corporate country radio, however adult contemporary it may feel.
It’s pretty remarkable. Sundown Heaven Town resulted in three Top 3 radio singles in “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s,” “Shotgun Rider,” and “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools.” And each one of them was one of the best things on radio during their reign. “Lookin’ For That Girl” was supposed to be the big blockbuster single, and it was the one that stalled.
Taking that data to heart, Tim McGraw has determined that the second single from Damn Country Music will be the incredibly mature “Humble and Kind.” Think about this for a second: in the era of songwriting-by-committee, “Humble and Kind” was written by 48-year-old songwriter Lori McKenna all by herself. A song like “Humble and Kind” is supposed to be the final song on the album for those with enough patience to make it that far, not the second single from record.
This move is surprising, just like the quality of Sundown Heaven Town and Damn Country Music was surprising. And I would bet dollars to donuts “Humble and Kind” ends up being another successful radio move. A video for the song released first to Facebook has already racked up millions of views (a more common move these days to help drive metadata stats). Yes, the video is sappy. Apparently Oprah Winfrey had some involvement in it, and McGraw has always been too enamored with his own silhouette when he’s sporting his plastic cowboy hat. But all of that is beside the point.
When I first heard “Humble and Kind,” I immediately thought of Don Williams. In the fast-paced environment today’s world, the music of Don Williams is like a compass to guide you to appreciating the value of slowing down and taking life in, and that’s what “Humble and Kind” does. Sure it’s quite dry, and maybe even kind of preachy. But “Humble and Kind” is full of lessons we all know, but must be reminded of on a daily basis in these turbo-charged times. And it tends to fall to the artists of an era to teach them.
READ: Album Review Tim McGraw’s “Damn Country Music”
Tim McGraw has made plenty of money, and enjoyed more than his fair share of success in his career. He doesn’t need anything else from the music to either validate his existence, or financially support his family for the future. But what Tim McGraw understands is that reaching millions through the power of country music comes with a responsibility. And not only is he willing to shoulder that responsibility, he’s committed to seeing it be effective.
January 25, 2016 @ 9:33 am
What kind of propositional crap is this? Maybe the song wouldn’t be so bad if the video weren’t such a bunch of propaganda. Did George Soros direct the video?
I vowed never to buy any song of his again after Southern Voice.
January 25, 2016 @ 9:51 am
RD, what on earth are you talking about? It’s a very good song, and the video — while overly sentimental — is hardly anything to get upset about.
January 25, 2016 @ 11:38 am
Kevin, the video shows minorities and those dad-gum foreigners. Plus, Tim McGraw happens to be a democrat. Therefore, it’s obviously lefty propaganda. *rolls eyes*
I like the song and think the video is just fine. I like a good sentimental ballad. This is much like Ronnie Dunn’s “Bleed Red”, in that it talks about the positive values that unite all humanity. I could deal with more of this sort of stuff on the radio.
January 25, 2016 @ 3:19 pm
Perhaps I’m misjudging RD, but he’s apparently a Guns N’ Roses fanboy at heart, so I find it hard to imagine that he hates this song PURELY because of politics.
January 27, 2016 @ 8:01 am
Dude, RD seems to pretty much hate anything that could be construed as slightly liberal.
June 5, 2016 @ 7:14 pm
Actually it is lefty propaganda because it blatantly shoehorns minorities into a song in a way that is basically nonsensical for the sake of “inclusion.” This type of video would be a perfect fit with Bleed Red though.
P.S. I know I am late but I felt this needed to be said.
January 25, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
Yeah some Country fans don’t like an openly liberal artist. Which would kind of suck for most of the readers here because Jason Isbell is just as, if not more, liberal than Tim McGraw.
January 25, 2016 @ 1:37 pm
@ElectricOutcast Willie and Kris get a free pass, though, right? 🙂
February 8, 2016 @ 7:33 pm
Some men stand so tall they can smoke grass and still get a pass!
Or as Trump would say, I could shoot someone and my people would still love me!
Lyrics were quite good. I read them first so I was immune to the Soros enchantment.
Visiting grandpa was never wasted time. I miss that man.
And Trigger, thanks for fixing the page numbers on the bottom, now I can catch up on what I missed!
January 25, 2016 @ 3:18 pm
What was so bad about “Southern Voice,” by your approximation? And don’t give me any holier-than-thou “it’s so obvious” crap, but preferably a thought-out explanation. The song definitely wasn’t great, but it had a positive vibe and point to it, and it was actually somewhat country. It fit perfectly in McGraw’s wheelhouse, even if it pandered a little too hard at parts.
January 25, 2016 @ 5:50 pm
Oh dear lord, who let you in the house?
January 28, 2016 @ 10:40 am
Tim mcsquall still proving to be a disgrace to music. Like all those who have came since, put on your costume cowboy hat and boots-KAZAMMM- your a country star
January 25, 2016 @ 9:33 am
I wonder how long it will be before artists just stop making albums? Maybe just put out a “best of” type of deal every so often. Or maybe labels can put together compilation albums with the #1’s of the year. Seems like a lot of work for such little payoff these days.
January 25, 2016 @ 10:21 am
Independent artists and independently-minded artists are still selling albums. Album sales is how Chris Stapleton has gotten to where he is. It’s certainly not radio play or single releases. But that’s the difference between an artist like Chris Stapleton, and an artist like Tim McGraw. Mainstream fans just don’t show the same loyalty to their artists. It’s Spotify all the way baby.
January 25, 2016 @ 11:23 am
JC …I’d be the first one to sign the ‘ no album over 8 song ‘ decree . Fact is , once the studio and players are lined up to cut 3 songs for a ‘ country ‘ record , its a lot LESS expensive to crank out the other 8 or 10 than you’d think . Its ‘ assembly line ‘ production when you have good folks crewing the operation and the songs are ready . But yeah …..when will these folks put a cap on the number of songs being dumped out there that are nowhere near good and have absolutely nothing to say .
January 25, 2016 @ 12:38 pm
From the mouth of a pretty prominent producer who was doing my buddies record. You can make a pretty darn good record or album for about $10,000. It may not be 100% top players or top notch professional production but the break even is 1,000 units sold. I don’t think it seems that difficult. That’s why good indie artists can make it and always will be able to. If your main goal isn’t being on radio. Sturgills album cost $4,000. I can’t sing or play but I think I would be able to sell half that many, wouldn’t buy a second though since it would stink. Get my point I hope.
January 25, 2016 @ 5:49 pm
I hope this never happens. Most of the best songs I’ve ever heard were album cuts.
January 25, 2016 @ 9:39 am
He’s always been a pretty solid character who seems to know how the world goes. He’s been one of the last bastions for maturity and decent songwriting on the radio, even if he isn’t the most Country.
January 25, 2016 @ 10:37 am
It amazes me how greedy the music industry is that they let the likes of Spotify stay in business. I hope a day comes when music is valued again and CDs, MP3s etc are bought for fair price. Once that happens I think good honest music will be made again.
January 25, 2016 @ 11:01 am
RD, I didn’t see any propaganda, just lots of different cultures represented. Maybe you accidentally clicked on a Hank Williams Jr. video instead?
January 25, 2016 @ 11:03 am
I haven’t heard a full Tim McGraw album since Southern Voice let me down. That said, I hear shades of early 2000s Tim McGraw here. I feel like this would fit in well with “Please Remember Me”, “Angry All the Time”, “Drugs or Jesus”, “Grown Men Don’t Cry”, and “My Little Girl.”
January 25, 2016 @ 11:50 am
Agreed — I don’t know if you’d count “My Next 30 Years” in that bunch, but it’s always been one of my favorites of his…
But yeah, this was a very nice song. 🙂 Although it’s basically a list (as Albert pointed out below), overall it’s built around a good, solid message — one you’d think would be obvious to most of us but we all too often lose sight of.
January 25, 2016 @ 2:06 pm
I don’t discount the song on general principle nor your right to like it, but if I never hear “My Next 30 Years” again it’ll be too soon. That’s one of those songs my local country pop station plays seemingly at the top of every hour as part of a brief foray into older material (see Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff,” and formerly songs like Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” before DJs realized the song was from 1989 and thus “too old”). It might not be bad, but I’ve long since lost the ability to separate it from my annoyance of hearing it so much.
January 25, 2016 @ 4:28 pm
Holy jeez! o_O Yeah, if I had to listen to it *that* much I’d get burned out pretty quickly…
January 25, 2016 @ 11:04 am
Great song. Tim McGraw has always been an up and down artist. For every great song, there has been a headscratcher. For me, I feel it has a lot to do with him not being a songwriter. Sometimes, you pick the right song, sometimes you don’t. Also, if you pick out a few good songs, you then have to quickly find 6 to 7 more to fill out your album. That, my friends, if what we call fillers.
I just feel it’s a lot easier for singer-songwriters to have great albums because they control the music.
I am a Tim McGraw fan and I love that he has always picked adult songs, but his albums, and some single choices, haven’t always been great.
But props for his last 18 months, he’s on a good run and way more deserving of awards that Blake or Luke or Sam Hunt.
January 25, 2016 @ 11:12 am
Another song that breaks yet another songwriting taboo….that of ‘ preaching ‘ . One by one , all we knew and were told about songwriting ( don’t rhyme a word with itself , don’t use ‘ hip’ expressions or ‘ hip’ slang as the song will date itself too quickly and will never be covered by artists down the line , trim all the extra fat – that ship sailed with the popularity of RAP music /rap rock and rap country – and DON’T preach !! ) There ‘s a reason those writing guidelines and the songs they steered stood the test of time .
This is a list song and as such really has no narrative ….but its a way better list to have sung at us than just about every other list song I can think of . And for all of his transgressions song-wise , Tim McGraw has , indeed , been a chaperon ( as you say Trigger ) of great songs throughout his career . Yup ….this write by Lori McKenna stands among the better ones out there right now . And OK …that may not be saying a lot when you listen to what IS out there . But it’s saying enough and saying it from a place of truth , experience and honesty . I respect McGraw for continuing to find the songs most artists don’t recognize as being good or are just too afraid to fight for .
BTW….here’s how its done …..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhXV50r3FlY
January 25, 2016 @ 12:15 pm
I don’t think this is a Song of the Year contender by any stretch. I don’t know that I would even call it great. But it’s solid, and to release it to radio takes guts, and as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman once said, “Guts is enough.”
January 25, 2016 @ 2:09 pm
Yes, but Gunnery Sergeant Hartman was also killed by one of his verbally-abused subordinates in a bathroom, and his death pretty much flushed the rest of the film down the toilet for many viewers… wait, what were we talking about again?
January 25, 2016 @ 11:41 am
He hasn’t always had a cozy relationship with radio. It was not great for years.
The video on his Facebook page had over 12 million views in less than 24 hours. But, I wonder if the Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan radio crowd will embrace this as quickly. I hope so.
January 25, 2016 @ 12:12 pm
I really caution buying too much into the stats of these Facebook videos. I’m hopefully going to have a story on this coming soon. It may be part to do with how easy it is to share the videos in the Facebook environment (and in this case, Oprah’s involvement), or it could be that right now Facebook is the easiest environment to manipulate your numbers in.
January 25, 2016 @ 12:42 pm
Plus the auto play feature on most mobile devices would count as a play. Even if someone else shares it almost forced to watch/listen. Look at the insane views Kane brown was getting.
January 25, 2016 @ 2:25 pm
Agree. But I think from the comments on FB (not his page, just a general search) and the bump on iTunes of the song and his cd that it’s receiving a pretty decent initial reception compared to other songs he has released.
January 25, 2016 @ 1:18 pm
I’m really loving this song. I love that Tim McGraw is someone I’ve been able to sort of “grow up” with. Granted, he is 48 and I’m only 31! But, I listened to him as a kid, and I love that as I have grown up, I am still able to listen to his music and not feel like I’m listening to the wrong album or station by mistake.
January 25, 2016 @ 1:19 pm
Tim McGraw is literally country music for soccer moms.
January 25, 2016 @ 2:10 pm
That’s better than pop music for teenage girls with no twang and pseudo-rapping. Give me more of this over the alternative any day and I’ll go all-in and get a minivan to drive to practice.
January 26, 2016 @ 5:52 am
I don’t know this is pretty soft. I feel like a broad just listening to it.
January 26, 2016 @ 3:53 pm
I don’t mean to make this personal nor insult you, but are you insecure? What difference does it make if the song has a machismo edge to it or not if it’s good and moderately traditional country? Which is more important, manly-man music or music that’s authentic with a message?
January 25, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
It’ll be quite a shock when this ends up on the radio. Ya know what mainstream radio’s idea of an intimate country song is? The acoustic version of Sam Hunt’s “Breakup in a Small Town.” Seriously, they’re playing that now, as if it is any more country this way. Have you heard how horrendous the the verses are? He goes from talking, to rapping, to “singing.” It’s all a jumbled mess no matter what you do with it. I’m offended that they thought that song was important enough to warrant two versions. It is the worst and least country song ever to be classified as country. I know this is off topic, but I had to get that off my chest.
January 26, 2016 @ 11:12 am
…except for the Tim McGraw songs of a similar vein got into the Top 3 on country radio recently.
January 25, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
Very good song it will be a #1 hit for sure! Tim is very good singer. I liked him ever since he released “Welcome to the Club” back in 1992.
January 25, 2016 @ 3:23 pm
Nice to see the professional cowboy (who’s been “cowboying” for 25 years) from the catheter TV commercial below made it into the video at 0:09 and 3:09.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2soNIkzS0m4
January 25, 2016 @ 7:03 pm
After “That Girl” was played to death, I was tired of him. Then, I also remembered he campaigned for Obozo. Reason enough for me not to like him too much, and I’ve met him. He was nice enough for the split-second I got to say hi. Otherwise, meh…pass.
January 25, 2016 @ 7:51 pm
I always wonder what the age is of people who say things like “Oboza”.
January 25, 2016 @ 8:21 pm
It’s Obozo. Sorry you don’t like it. I don’t like him, I find him to be a clown, and not a very funny one, at that. Als for Tim, I don’t really care one way or the other about him. I feel anyone that voted for that man is an idiot. Since I’m not here to discuss politics, I will just agree to disagree with you and anyone else who doesn’t like my opinion. Have a nice evening.
January 25, 2016 @ 9:22 pm
I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I’m just curious what your age is. That’s not a request, though – I wouldn’t want to set you off again.
January 25, 2016 @ 10:24 pm
Didn’t set me off. I’m 45.
January 25, 2016 @ 8:49 pm
I love this song. Over the last few years Tim has had a lot more hits than misses. I actually think he got screwed out of a couple of awards he could have won. had much better song and album than Miranda, but she won out. I though “Meanwhile Back at Mamas” was a much better song than “Automatic”, however Miranda beat him out in that category. Tim McGraw has had some misses, but he is also an artist that could put on a crazy good show if he would allow me to pick his setlist, he has had a lot of good songs over the years. I hope this song does well, because I feel like having success with these types of songs allows people like Tim to have the power to keep putting them out and that is a win for country music.
January 25, 2016 @ 10:58 pm
I remember watching CMA’s 3 years ago when Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood made Obama Jokes everybody laughed except for Tim McGraw which that didn’t made him happy at all.
January 26, 2016 @ 12:50 am
I really like this song.
Sure, the production is obviously skewed towards Adult Contemporary, and for the record I’m repeatedly critical of production that’s way too safe and vanilla. Yet, I feel that is what we’ve come to expect from Tim McGraw for going on twenty years now, and so you just have to take what you can get that’s all around meaningful.
There are a few choice lyrics that do raise my eyebrows slightly, though not bad. The couplet “Know the difference between sleeping with someone, and sleeping with someone you love” caught my attention………….and honestly, I feel the reality of love and lust is much more grayscale than that. It’s not like love and sex are completely foreign to one another. Sometimes sex inspires love just like love inspires sex. Either way, it’s more nitpicking than tougher criticism.
That “childhood stars shine” line also felt out of place in the opening verse. McKenna is referring to a key to the front door, and then from there leaps into the value of faith. I don’t know, it just felt a bit too scattershot or lacking cohesion.
I’d say my favorite lyrics are the one surrounding taking pride in your accomplishments without letting ego consume you in the latter half of the chorus, as well as the latter half of the final verse where McKenna writes: “When you get where you’re going, don’t forget to turn back around and help the next one in line.” Truer words have never been repeated.
And as usual from Tim McGraw at his best, his earnestness is what makes this resonate. We’ve beaten like a dead horse for years the fact he is a vocalist who is very limited in range and technical proficiency, but he often more than makes up for it for knowing his strengths within the window of range he does have and having a great ability to emotionally interpret a song. And it’s no surprise he accomplishes that yet again here.
*
This actually isn’t my favorite song on “Damn Country Music” (“Don’t Make Me Feel At Home” gets that designation)………………….but I have to say this is in a tussle with “Diamond Rings & Old Barstools” as his best single since “My Old Friend” in my opinion………………..a full decade ago. And that’s saying quite a bit since he has (mostly) been on a roll over these past couple of years minus “Lookin’ For That Girl” and “Top Of The World”.
I’m thinking a Strong 7 to Light 8 for this.
January 26, 2016 @ 6:38 am
Lori is from my area in Massachusetts and she is my favorite writer as far as her solo stuff goes, so I go see her live shows any chance I get. She’s been playing this one live for a few years, I wonder when Tim grabbed it and put it on hold. I actually really like what he did with it and I’m so excited to hear it will be a radio single. I still prefer her version.. her she is singing it at the Opry with the enormously talented mark Erelli for anyone who is interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx2s-k4Q4Gw
January 26, 2016 @ 6:49 am
Tim McGraw is one of my favourite artists. His albums have been consistently good and he knows how to walk the thin line between commercialism and artistic integrity.
This is a surprising but welcoming and brave single release from the new album.
I am very interested to see how it does – I am hoping that it will do well.
Dare I say it but it does seem like the winds of country music are slowly but surely changing in the right direction.
I believe that McGraw senses this change in the tides and is positioning himself well to come out on top when country finally realigns itself back to a more traditional course.
The success of songs like this is critical to keep the momentum going and put some real force behind the movement to rescue country music from the unfortunate quagmire it finds itself in.
However, irrespective of whether the song is a success or not, I congratulate Tim McGraw for being brave enough and responsible enough to release Humble and Kind to radio.
January 26, 2016 @ 9:28 am
Tim McGraw could be sensing the tide, or he could be an important catalyst of it.
January 26, 2016 @ 11:33 am
If this does well enough on the radio, I could see “Damn Country Music” getting released afterwards., which would be a very good thing.
January 27, 2016 @ 2:54 pm
Hi Everyone,
My wife recently shared “Humble and Kind” with me. I ordered that CD and have listened to it several times this afternoon.
Immediately I wanted to comment on what an inspiring and emotional song this is. I came across this board as one of the first hits. Can’t say that I really understand all the political and songwriting references. I can’t really comment on anything other than the message I get from this song.
I am truly inspired by Tim’s words. Every once in a while I feel beat down by everything that doesn’t feel right in this world. For a few minutes while listening to this song, I feel blessed… and I feel like maybe I really am living my life the way it’s mean to be lived. I’m a better person for having listened to this song.
Jeff
May 31, 2016 @ 8:00 am
i just have to say the song “humble and kind” is a very good song i dont care what others say but the video is just a video if u dont like it stop watching it and find another and just shut up about artist they dont always have a chose of who does their video. politics really its just a song of trying to humble and to be kind. i love that song and my mom does.
June 29, 2016 @ 11:43 am
This song is terrible in my opinion. I get that Tim McGraw has no reason to impress anymore and he’s a well known and respected artist, but every time this song comes on the radio I have to turn it off. Way too preachy, boring, drawn out, and has that awkward ‘dad talking to his daughter before she goes out and does everything the exact opposite while blaring bro-country in her pickup’ feel to it.
July 4, 2016 @ 5:24 pm
I heard this live for the first time this weekend. The crowd behaved in the same way it does when he sings Live Like You Were Dying, except for this they all held their lit cell phones in the air. Quite a powerful thing to see the whole place, including young kids, singing this full voice.
September 29, 2019 @ 9:31 pm
Keith Whitley and Don William’s as well as Glen Campbell deserved much more air time.