When Chris Young and songwriters Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley met up for a songwriting session, they decided to draw inspiration from true life. Conversations led to Chris Young's 'Aw Naw' lyrics, which describe the group's shared experience of staying out way too late, partying with friends. 

'Aw Naw' is song that has pushed Young out of his comfort zone as a songwriter. He told Taste of Country during a phone interview that when DeStefano came up with the song title, Young thought it was ridiculous.

"You're gonna have to tell people how to spell that," he says he told his co-writing partner.

But not knowing how to spell the song name hasn't stopped country fans from loving the tune. Despite any discomfort Young might have had while penning the 'Aw Naw' lyrics, he has enjoyed watching country fans react to the song.

“It’s been so much fun, man, to see people’s reaction to this song," he tells Country Weekly. "Like, getting onstage playing it is just like instant party when the song’s on."

The country-rock song is louder than any single Young has released to date, but the Tennessee native says he wasn't concerned about the reaction to it. It was time for something different, because an artist that isn't pushed to his limit can become too predictable over time.

The 'Aw Naw' chorus is so catchy -- and so familiar to country fans -- that it's easy for people to get excited about the tune.

"Aw naw, somebody just bought a shot of that Patron / Hang on, I just might have to stay / Aw naw, look at the time, y’all / What happened to coats on, long gone / I should be halfway home, but aw naw," Young sings in the chorus.

"I’ve been in that situation before. So have my co-writers. That’s one of the reasons why this song kinda came out,” he explains.

“We’ve all hung out before and been like, ’Aw, we’re gonna go home,’" Young adds. "And then we all end up celebrating ’cause we wrote a good song or done something, acted like we really changed the world that day, or something."

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