Appalachia Forever

Bulldog

Goodbyes Are Hard to Listen To

Basic

The Six String Sorrow Sessions

Empty Hole (Rerecorded) [feat. Hudson Westbrook]

Dirt

Mae Estes

I Better Go

In A Perfect World

Pretty Please

Oklahoma

The Black Lullaby

I want you to imagine the moment the sun is low, painting the sky in a bruised gold, and all you have for company is the steady sound of hooves hitting the dust. That feeling—the raw, aching solitude of riding away from something you can’t get back—that’s what I poured into this song.

When I sat down to write "The Heartbeat in the Saddle," I was lost. My memory felt like a phantom limb, always trailing right behind me, like a shadow I couldn't shake off. Every rhythmic chord from the acoustic guitar in the intro is meant to sound like the trot of a horse, a physical, constant presence to anchor the grief. The mandolin—that light, shimmering sound—is the fragile whisper of my memory, and the fiddle is the soul itself, echoing the long, mournful cry of longing that just won’t cease.

I know, because I lived it, that the hardest part is that final, undeniable moment: the "gone, and I ride away." This ballad is my way of singing through the tears, wishing I could turn back time and make you stay.

But what truly lifts this song is the spirit of Kathy Trevelyan. Her voice is the very air over those lonely fields—it’s soft, filled with longing, yet possesses an incredible, soaring, soulful ache that captures every bit of my despair. When she hits those final notes in the chorus, you don’t just hear the words; you feel the genuine, broken heart beneath them. She makes the sorrow sound beautiful, and she turns my lonely ride into a journey we can all understand.

I hope that when you listen to the Bridge—the part where I sing, "Maybe someday I’ll find my peace"—you feel that fragile, supportive flicker of hope, too.

[Verse 1]
Riding through the fields, with tears in my eyes,
Thinking ’bout the love that’s gone, and how I cried,
Your memory’s a shadow, trailing behind,
Lost in the lonely night.  

[Verse 2]
The wind’s whispering, just like your name,
Across the land, I feel the pain,
Each hoofbeat echoes my despair,
Wishing you were here.  

[Chorus]
Riding through the tears, beneath the sky,
With a broken heart and a longing cry,
Wish I could turn back time, make you stay,
But you’re gone, and I ride away.
In this saddle, I’m all alone,
Longing for the love I’ve known,
Tears in my eyes, I can’t deny,
I’m still lost in your goodbye.  

[Verse 3]
The sun dips low, shadows grow long,
I sing my sorrow in this song,
Your memory’s a fire I can’t burn out,
But I’m riding on, no doubt.  

[Bridge]
Maybe someday I’ll find my peace,
Until then, my heart won’t cease,
Riding through this lonely land,
Missing your touch, your hand.  

[Outro]
So I ride these trails, with tears in my eyes,
Hoping someday, beyond the skies,
I’ll find you waiting, in the great unknown,
Until then, I’ll ride alone.

Riding Through the Tears

“Angel In Distress” is a cinematic country ballad that tells the story of a broken-hearted woman blown in on a familiar Southern wind — searching for hope, love, and a way to heal.
With emotional duet vocals, rich storytelling, and a warm atmospheric sound, the song captures the pain of giving everything you’ve got when life keeps taking.
A soulful mix of modern country, melodic rhythm, and heartfelt Southern emotion.

Angel in Distress

Just tryin' to make Mama and Keith Whitley proud.

I Better Go

Mae Estes

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Cody McLightfoot

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