Canaan Smith, ‘Hole in a Bottle’ [Listen]

Canaan Smith’s straight-forward drinking song could become his biggest hit to date. “Hole in a Bottle” is an easy-to-sip, rowdy country-rocker that finds the singer wallowing in self-pity, much to his fans’ enjoyment.

“Hole in a Bottle” is all about holes. The songwriting team reveals a few on its way to telling this story of heartbreak. It’s a clever, backdoor way to reveal the guy is hurting.

“Got a hole in my boots / So I gotta watch where I spit every time I chew / Got a hole in my boots,” Smith sings to begin the second single from Bronco.

“Got a hole in my jeans / Been working so hard they're about to fall apart at the seams / I got a hole in my jeans.”

Sonically the arrangement steals your attention with a few quick guitar chords. The chorus finishes with: “There's a hole in a bottle / Just hit me bartender / Gonna sink to the bottom and drink my way out.”

During the third verse, the song takes a personal turn that’s foreshadowed through the placement of other familiar details and images earlier. “Well I got a hole in my heart / I can slide right up to some pretty little thing at the bar / Patch that hole in my heart,” Smith sings before breaking from a more spoken-word style to really power through the chorus.

“Hole in a Bottle” is a perfect blend of modern and traditional country influences. Smith leaned pop on “Love You Like That,” and he leans even further in that direction during other songs from his debut album. But this song and a number of others like it showcase his diverse list of influences and capabilities.

Why Fans Will Love It: There's always room for a good drinking song on the radio, and Smith has one with "Hole in a Bottle."

Key Lyrics: "There's a hole in a bottle / Tonight I'm climbing in it / Taking all my worries / Gonna bury 'em down."

Did You Know?: Smith found out his previous single "Love You Like That" hit No. 1 when Dierks Bentley pranked him on tour. The entire tour lineup dressed in white hazmat suits and crashed his stage.

Listen to Canaan Smith, “Hole in a Bottle”

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