Lainey Wilson’s ‘Whiskey Colored Crayon’ Captures A Powerful Story Of Addiction And Redemption

Lainey Wilson poured her heart and soul into her new album, Whirlwind, which dropped today. The project features 14 tracks, all co-written by Wilson, and many reflect her experiences over the past few years. Whirlwind weaves tales of perseverance, heartbreak, and love, with a touch of humor added in (in true Lainey Wilson fashion!). But one track immediately stands out among the rest: “Whiskey Colored Crayon.” 

This song highlights Wilson’s undeniable storytelling skills as the storyline depicts something that she has not personally experienced, however, as a daughter of a teacher and someone who has a true appreciation for country music’s storytelling songs, Wilson uses her signature vocals to share the heartbreaking story, which ultimately has a happy ending. 

Co-written by the Louisiana native with Josh Kear and Wyatt McCubbin, “Whiskey Colored Crayon” begins with the tale of a young boy who is asked to draw a picture of his home while in his Kindergarten class. 

His hand-drawn picture depicted the heartbreaking reality of his home life, which includes his mom, brother, and sister and a father who is seemingly absent due to alcoholism. 

“A little red house with a little green tree / A little blue car parked out on the street / Brother with a football sister with a puppy dog / Mama with a smile and a church dress on / Then he raised his hand / Said teacher I can’t draw deddy / Do you have a whiskey colored crayon,” she sings on the chorus. 

Upon realization of what the child depicted in his artwork, the teacher called his mom who understandably had an emotional response to the picture. 

“She didn’t know what to say, But her mascara rained,” the song goes. 

The story takes a turn for the better when listeners learn that the young boy’s work of art inspired his father to get sober. 

“He stood up in that circle / Said I’m sober seven years / And all because our little boy drew this picture here,” the final verse states.  

Jay Joyce delivered exceptional production, elevating the song’s intimate storyline and allowing listeners to visualize the narrative without distraction.

The reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year opened up about the power of storytelling and the fact that it is deeply ingrained in her during an interview with Zane Lowe / Apple Music 1. 

“I don’t know any better. I don’t know any different. I knew that I was going to chase this thing no matter what. Even if still nothing was happening, I’d still be chasing it. I didn’t know exactly what it was going to look like. And I had a feeling at a very early age that I was going to be in this industry. I was going to tell stories,” she explained. “I got bit by the storytelling bug from my parents sitting around the kitchen table and telling stories from their childhood about an alligator or this or whatever it was, and me and my sister would be like, ‘Tell us that story again.’ And every single time we would hear it, it’s like I would hear something knew about it that I didn’t before. I’d laugh in a certain place that I didn’t the time before and I just loved storytelling.” 

“Whiskey Colored Crayon” is the 14th and final track on Wilson’s new album, Whirlwind, which is available everywhere now.

WHIRLWIND TRACK LIST

1. Keep Up With Jones (Lainey Wilson, Josh Kear, Wyatt McCubbin)
2. Country’s Cool Again (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Aslan Freeman)
3. Good Horses (feat. Miranda Lambert) (Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick)
4. Broken Hearts Still Beat (Lainey Wilson, Dallas Wilson, Josh Thompson, Blake Pendergrass)
5. Whirlwind (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson)
6. Call A Cowboy (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson)
7. Hang Tight Honey (Lainey Wilson, Driver Williams, Jason Nix, Paul Sikes)
8. Bar In Baton Rouge (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Kasey Tyndall, Jason Nix)
9. Counting Chickens (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Josh Kear, Dallas Wilson, Jon Decious)
10. 4x4xU (Lainey Wilson, Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere)
11. Ring Finger (Lainey Wilson, Aaron Raitiere, Marti Dodson, Jon Decious)
12. Middle Of It (Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson)
13. Devil Don’t Go There (Lainey Wilson, Abram Dean, Lance Miller, Joe Fox)
14. Whiskey Colored Crayon (Lainey Wilson, Josh Kear, Wyatt McCubbin)