Russell Dickerson Shares The Story Behind ‘Bones,’ Reveals His Wife’s Sweet Reaction To The Song [Exclusive]

This may be Dickerson’s most special song yet.

By

Madeleine O’Connell

| Posted on

July 12, 2024

at

10:05 am

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Russell Dickerson; Photo by Harper Smith

Russell Dickerson has found yet another profound way to say “I love you” to his wife of 11 years, Kailey. With his new song, “Bones,” the country star reflects on their journey together while emphasizing his lifelong commitment to loving her with his whole heart until the day he dies. 

The word “Bones” had been sitting in Dickerson’s ongoing list of possible song titles just waiting for inspiration to strike. Then one day, while writing with Chase McGill, Chris LaCorte and Parker Welling, his vision of turning this one-word title into a love song finally unfolded better than he could have ever expected. 

“It might have been Chase or Parker who said something about, ‘Love you ’til I’m in the ground and the gold on my fingers wrapped around nothing but bones.’ I just remember freaking out. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s crazy.’  I started playing the chord progression, kind of messing around, and I was like, ‘Oh, dope, that’s cool.’ It kind of gave it the energy that it needed without being an uptempo song.”

Together with his co-writers, the tender narrative started to flow out with ease, and soon they had developed an incredible confession of love that will find fans reflecting on their own relationships as they take in Dickerson’s emotionally fueled vocals.

Russell Dickerson; Bones
Russell Dickerson; Bones

The beginning of the song illustrates how Dickerson was first drawn in by Kailey’s “Chesnutt hair and steel blue eyes,” and over time that physical attraction turned emotional, the more they got to know each other. As the song continues, the passion slowly intensifies along with the evolution of the storyline. 

The songwriters used clever wordplay by displaying the title in a variety of ways, from the Tennessee native admitting he “felt it in my bones” that she was the one for him, to “shaking right down to my bones” as he hoped and prayed she would say yes to his marriage proposal, to making the ultimate promise to be there for each other until the very end. 

“Sayin’, ‘I love you’ till the stars above you/ Ain’t shining in the sky no more/ Long as I’m livin’, baby I ain’t quittin’/ That’s a love you can bet your life on/ Yeah, I’ll love you till I’m six feet down in the ground/ And the gold on my finger’s wrapped around nothing but bones,” Dickerson sings on the chorus. 

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While the lyrics may be tender and filled with powerful confessions of admiration, “Bones” is by no means a slow, sappy tune. It still caters to Dickerson’s lively personality through uplifting instrumentals and positivity racing through the lyrics. 

Dickerson has released plenty of heartfelt tunes throughout his career, each time drawing inspiration from different chapters of his personal love story, however, “Bones” might be his most special proclamation from the heart yet. He revealed that it was Kailey’s reaction to the song that made him believe this song was different than any of his previous releases.

“She had a girl’s night and I’m sure they had some white wine and were chillin’. It was literally like two streets over. I’m at home alone, putting the kids down, whatever, and it’s around 10 o’clock, 10:30, I’m like, she should probably be home by now. Then it’s 11:30, 12, 12:30, I’m like, ‘babe, where are you?’ She came walking in, probably 12:31, and kind of looked shook a little bit, kind of teary. She was like, ‘babe, I’ve just been driving around for the last two hours, just listening to ‘Bones’ on repeat.’ I was like, that’s the highest compliment anyone’s ever given me,” he shared before adding, “That’s the biggest reaction I’ve ever gotten out of her for one of my songs so that was cool.”

“Bones” comes hot on the heels of Dickerson’s recent release, “Good Day To Have A Great Day,” which offers a completely different energy as the ultimate party track that’s sure to evoke some rowdy tendencies on a late night.

“Good Day To Have A Great Day” also inspired the name of Dickerson’s upcoming headline run, which will take him across the UK and Europe in August. Before heading overseas, he will continue performing as a special guest on Sam Hunt’s Locked Up Tour. 

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Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.