Why Brantley Gilbert Needed Ashley Cooke on Over When We're Sober

One of the reasons Brantley Gilbert wanted Ashley Cooke to join him on his new single "Over When We're Sober" is because he knew his famous co-writer couldn't.

Gilbert, Brock Berryhill and Justin Wilson wrote the song with Jelly Roll during a songwriting weekend at Lee Brice's farm.

"There were a few of them, this one included, where nobody wants to see me and Jelly Roll sing together," Gilbert jokes with Taste of Country Nights.

"Over When We're Sober" is the newest Gilbert single from an upcoming, TBA project.
It's the third straight collaborative single for the "Bottoms Up" hitmaker.
Earlier this year, Cooke notched a Top 5 single with "Your Place."

The mid-tempo country-rocker is about a drunken reprise of a relationship both sides know can't work. Lyrically, it doesn't hold much back.

"We’re so toxic, / But we can’t stop it / We’re supposed to be broke up / But that bed’s rocking," Gilbert sings to close the first verse. Full lyrics are below.

Wanting to make the song a duet, he began to search for the right partner and recalled playing a show with Cooke several months prior. He'd been impressed by her drive and motivation, and her 24-song Shot in the Dark album (2024). The concert was next level.

"There were fireworks on stage," he says, presumably metaphorically. "I’m proud to be on a song with her. She’s a rock star."

The only other time Gilbert released a male/female duet to country radio, it shot to No. 1. "What Happens in a Small Town" with Lindsey Ell is perhaps his biggest hit, but it also boosted her career in new ways.

Cooke is already enjoying commercial success, but as a longtime fan of Gilbert's, she couldn't turn him down.

Brantley Gilbert, Ashley Cooke, "Over When We're Sober" Lyrics:

Gilbert:
I’m hungover / Still smell your perfume, it’s all over / Me and this bedroom and the sun rising / Finding all your goodbyes, your make up on the pillowcase / Your hair tie on the bedside, we’re so toxic / But we can’t stop it / We’re supposed to be broke up but that bed’s rocking.

Chorus:
It’s only over when we’re sober / We don’t believe it when we say goodbye / We always say we want some closure / Last night was just another last time / Rewind to I hate you and you hate me / ‘Til three shots of that whiskey / Turns into I miss you and you miss me / They say it’s over when it’s over / But they don’t know us / It’s only over when we’re sober.

Cooke:
We’re back at it / If this is love, then we’re bad at it / Your friends and my friends, they’ve all had it / There’s nothing we can do / Everybody’s moving on but me and you.

Repeat Chorus

It’s only over when we’re sober / When we’re sober.

There’s one bar in this small town and it’s Friday night / We’re both gone and the band’s playing "Closing Time" / I see you smiling at me, I see you singing along / Baby I know who you want to take you home.

Repeat Chorus

Billy Dukes is a Senior Editor and Executive Producer of Video Content at Taste of Country. He specializes in country music interviews, trend analysis and the Secret History of Country Music. Additionally, Billy covers Yellowstone, 1923 and related television shows through the Dutton Rules podcast. To date, he's written more than 13,000 articles for Taste of Country and produced over 3,000 videos for the Taste of Country YouTube channel.

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