A lazy shuffle of brushed drums, twang-kissed guitars and Welles’ chiming harmonica set the scene. Price’s voice glides in with soft defiance, trading lines with Welles about wanting “a hit of that highway air.” The chemistry clicks: her honey-and-smoke drawl complements his dusty tenor, turning the chorus into an invitation you can’t refuse.
Lyrically, it’s pure wanderlust. Price says the words began as a poem inspired by Arkansas poet Frank Stanford before she and husband/co-writer Jeremy Ivey shaped it into a song (Stereogum). Images of Waffle Houses, cow pastures and 24-hour diners flicker like mile-marker memories—perfect fuel for restless spirits.
Production stays loose and analog-warm, courtesy of producer Jonathan Wilson. Instead of chasing radio gloss, they let tambourines jangle, guitars ring and harmonies breathe, echoing Price’s stated goal to keep this record “free-wheeling and fearless” (Hot Press). The result lands somewhere between cosmic Americana and back-porch country-soul.
The Hannah Gray Hall–directed video seals the vibe: cue cards flashed on a downtown Nashville street, vintage motel signs, sunrise drives—Dylan reference fully intact but spun with Price’s own rebel flair (Holler Country). It feels like thumbing a ride through an Americana fever-dream.
Final Verdict:
“Don’t Wake Me Up” is both an homage and a forward push—proof that Margo Price can honor the canon while carving her own lane. Paired with Jesse Welles’ raw harmonies, the song drifts like highway air through open windows: sweet, restless and impossible to bottle. If the rest of Hard Headed Woman keeps this momentum, buckle up—the ride’s just beginning.
