ERNEST delivered a heartwarming “shoutout to the best things in my life,” with his latest ballad that released on Wednesday (May 10). The country singer-songwriter debuted “Takes After You,” a sweet song that nods to his wife, Delaney Royer, and the couple’s son, Ryman. It comes just in time for Mothers Day on Sunday (May 14).
ERNEST penned “Take After You” with Jordan Schmidt, and Josh Thompson, and Joey Moi produced it. ERNEST sings on the track: “I know that boy won’t walk on water ‘cause he comes from my blood/ And I pray one day he’ll look back and not be all I was/ He might not live by all red letters, somethin’ close to that will do/ Oh if he don’t take after Jesus I hope he takes after you.”
The Two Dozen Roses artist shared, per his record label, that a message to music legend Johnny Cash inspired the idea behind “Takes After You.”
“I heard someone talking to Johnny Cash in a video,” ERNEST said. “They said ‘Johnny I’ve known ya a long time. I got a son now, and if he don’t take after Jesus, I’d be quite alright if he took after you.’ So I immediately thought, I couldn’t agree more with Ryman and Delaney. She is the most humble, kind, empathetic, nature loving, giving, selfless, and downright wholesome human I know. The things she’ll teach Ryman in this life by her actions will transcend anything he’ll learn in a building.”
He recently added in a tweet that although the song is specific to him and his family, “I think there are a LOT of parents out there who likely feel the same as me. Y’all moms are something special and a strong woman who leads by example will have an incredible impact on a young man. Thank y’all.”