This song just completely breaks me down my Grandpa got Covid in 2020 he died in a hospital with no family around him no one to hold his hand no one to be by his side. They wouldn’t let me in the hospital to say goodbye to him. I called him over the phone to say goodbye. Still breaks my heart to this day. I just wanted to be there.
Who knew an artist could put out a two hour album while at the same time each song is pure gold. American Heartbreak is a beautiful journey. Thank you zach Bryan.
I lost one grandpa to cancer and the other to Alzheimer's. Recently my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. I just to have one more moment, one more memory with each of them
Just feel like I finally have to comment this. Zach Bryan has been my favorite artist for years now, but this song struck an entirely different nerve with me. I’ll give a little insight to a story to tell. My grandfather this last year has struggled with dementia immensely. His name is William (or also known as Billy). My grandmother and him met in the 60s, I’m unsure if the exact year was ‘65. But it still strikes haha. I’ve shown my mom this song, as well as my grandmother. They’re both in love with it. I know this all might sound hard to believe, especially with the internet nowadays. But I can’t stop listening to this for my own reasons. Zach can speak to any soul through any song, but this one just hit a different level of realistic and realization. Thank you for everything you do for your listeners.
Beautiful song ! Take a listen to " William and Wanda by Cody Jinks , if you have not heard it , if you like Jinks music but , it's a beautiful sad sad song
Ppl have difficulty sometimes putting a label on Zach Bryan. I classify him as pure music and gives me hope for the future. Especially with the other crap I hear on the radio
Zach is the best songwriter to come out of the US since Dylan. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves. He's a genius. Perhaps he doesn't even realise that yet himself.
As much as I love Zach Bryan (he's truly a modern legend) there is a LONG line of great songwriters between him and Bob Dylan. Jim Croce, James Taylor, John Denver, George Strait, Bill Anderson, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Vince Gill, Johnny Cash, Vladimir John Ondrasik III (Five for Fighting), Scotty Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots), James Hetfield (Metallica), Glenn Frey (Eagles), Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead), John Mayer, Billie Eilish, Alec Benjamin, Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites (Lumineers), Pat Monahan (Train), Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Evan Felker (Turnpike Troubadours) etc. (Then there are modern guys who succeeded and/or were inspired by Zach Bryan. Wyatt Flores, Sam Barber, Dylan Gossett, and Zach Top to name a few. And that's just country songwriters) All really good songwriters. Some of which Zach Bryan took inspiration from. Not to diminish from ZLB, but there is a plethora of great songwriters who succeeded Dylan and preceded Bryan.
Lost my grampa to Alzheimer's a couple years back. He was so strong, a pioneer in Alaska. He was someone we all looked up to. I can't imagine how hard it was for him to lose himself and his independence.
Lost my grandfather February 22 and he was starting to not know where he was at or who was around him but the night before the ambulance took him out of the house he provided for our family since 1970 I had to take him to the ER. Even though he was half out of his mind he talked about how much he loved my grandmother and how lucky he was to have her. Shit hit me hard. To have a love like that is something not many of us get to know. They were married 66 years when he passed. What a great man Barney Taylor was I’m sad all of you didn’t get the honor of knowing him.
My grandfather drowned while fishing when I was younger and we took care of my grandma up until she passed, this song tugs at my heart as my grandpas name is Billy. Amazing song😢
When an artist can make you feel the sadness but also the pure love between the two characters in the song, that is a gift from God. The song makes me smile because what a life they must have shared together. The song makes me sad because he doesn’t remember all the things that make life worth living. Unbelievable…
My grandma has severe Alzheimer’s disease. I get this on a level not yet mentioned. Ugh. “You don’t know your own name but you know mine.” I felt that so much I balled. Poet. I freaking adore this so much
This song.... specifically the line where he says "you don't know your own name, but you know mine." Gives me goosebump. This man is so incredibly gifted. I have listened to American Heartbreak over and over and over.., every single time it's emotional, moving and fantastic. Just incredible.
Was listening through the album while flying high above Northern Quebec today. Billy "going home in his sleep" made me suddenly burst into tears. Had to keep wiping tears away to keep an eye on the instruments. Thanks Zach for some unexpected sniffles at 11K feet.
This song already creates a vivid narrative in your mind and you wouldn't really need a music a video. But I would still love to see one for this song. I feel like it would be so wholesome
This song makes my mom cry every time she hears it. Her Billy is gone, and every single lyric fits their love and life story perfectly. Quite a special song g
This is by far my favorite song by this man. My grandma has dementia an in a old folks home and my memory is shit at 24…. Hurts almost knowing it’s coming 🤦♂️
This song is my favorite by Zach. It came out 5 days after my grandpa Billy passed away and it just makes me think of him and how great of a man he was
Billy won't you stay, we've been up all night Talking 'bout flowers from '65 That print on that dress that you always liked We were young enough to go out and dance at night We'd cross the street and you'd hold my hand Same man now that you were back then Young kids good for nothing but high hoping Broken, starving plastic ring Perfect for eloping Years went by fast, you were so good to me Our children have children, Billy, how could it be But ninety years is nothing to some kids like us So baby, stick around and tell a story just because Billy stay a while Lately, you've been slipping in and out Billy stay a child Tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about Billy stay a while Tell me of the lovers who once were And Billy stay a child Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her Billy don't forget, won't you keep on tryin' I'll keep my ears open to keep from crying You're more handsome now than you were back then And I'm the same girl you fell for when we were kids If love was enough then you'd stay forever But I guess sometimes that the end is better 'Cause love turns to loss as the time goes by You don't know your own name but you know mine Billy stay a while Lately you've been slipping in and out Billy stay a child Tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about Billy stay a while Tell me of the lovers who once were Billy stay a child Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her And you went back home in your sleep last night And I heard you whisper, "I love you, goodbye" But maybe your Heaven's 1965 With my hair in your face on a long summer drive To me you'll never be the times you forgot But all of our good times and flowers the you bought
This has become my favorite song.. so darkly sweet. My favorite song has been whiskey lullaby since (I think) 2004, the day it came out. You have replaced my almost 20 year favorite. Beautiful.
The girl of 16 years two handsome sons, told me to listen to Zach. It reminded me of her and me, our family, friends and something I'd write. Down to the fine mf details its straight fucking weird. Next your sister going to die and you'll think you'll have one more chance with love of your life, even quit your klonopin and flushed the pipe, but you fuck it up again somehow. So now you up your drinking, cause you don't want life without love without her, but there isn't any left. You start feeling your heart turning colder than ever, but it's cowards way to take yourself, when you could make someones better.
I can listen to this song and be fine. But when I sing along, especially with the ending, I get emotional and can’t sing anymore. And I don’t understand why, because I’m not emotionally hurting, I don’t think. 😂
i absolutely love this song, i think it’s beautiful. im really struggling to understand who it’s from and who it’s to. i love the words and the story behind others though.
It’s confusing to me too because in the chorus the narrator is asking about past lovers and girls he dreamed about but the verses make it seem like they’ve always been together since they were kids.
@@austinlorenz5220 When he’s talking “about the girl that you dreamed about” Billy is talking about his wife. Same thing with “the lovers who once were” it’s all Billy and his wife. Due to Alzheimer’s he may not always recognize her as his wife. So he tells her stories of the woman he loved even though his wife is the woman. Hope I didn’t make that more confusing lol
