The Red Clay Strays, If I Didn’t Know You | Song Review

South Alabama country rock band The Red Clay Strays delivers a gorgeous, moving, and utterly sincere record with “If I Didn’t Know You.”

Thank goodness! South Alabama country rock band The Red Clay Strays (Brandon Coleman, Drew Nix, Zach Rishel, Andrew Bishop, and John Hall) ‘bring it’ on the moving ballad “If I Didn’t Know You”. Nix and Natalie Hemby penned “If I Didn’t Know You” while the renowned Dave Cobb produced it. Fun fact: the music video features one of the hottest comedians, Matt Rife, with his hair dyed blonde.  And guess what, he’s not playing a comedic role – he’s searching for a girl he vibed with on a bus!

Refocusing on “If I Didn’t Know You” the song, there is so much to love.  It begins as a piano ballad, with a single piano chord preceding the vocals. Brandon Coleman sounds amazing, delivering authentic and expressive vocals from the get-go. He brings Nix’s and Hemby’s thoughtful songwriting to life masterfully. “I was down and out, running with the wrong crowd / I was walking through every wrong door,” Coleman sings introspectively in the first verse, and continues, “I can’t imagine all the trouble I’d be if you never made me yours.” Wow.  In the second verse, he addresses his beloved, singing, “Well, you found me, lost, I see, tossed and turned around / Held on through the ebb and flow, yeah, you ain’t putting me down.” Notably, the second verse features more fully developed musical accompaniment in the traditional country music style. The chorus is the crowning achievement and the most memorable and tuneful section of the song.

“And if I didn’t know you, I wouldn’t know how to love

I wouldn’t know what it feels like to be someone’s only one

And if I never saw your eyes, it’s like I’d never see the sun

What would I do if I didn’t know you?”

The bridge distinguishes itself from the verses and chorus in harmonic progression. The theme, however, is much the same: she was his savior, of sorts. Coleman brings even more powerful vocals during this section.  Following a brief guitar solo post-bridge, the familiarity returns with the high-flying chorus to conclude “If I Didn’t Know You.” All in all, “If I Didn’t Know You” is a gorgeous record. It shines thanks to the thoughtful songwriting, moving, nuanced, and sincere vocal performance, and solid production.  Again, a music video with Matt Riffe doesn’t hurt either!

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The Red Clay Strays » “If I Didn’t Know You” » RCA Records / HBYCO Records » 2.12.26 [📷: RCA Records / HBYCO Records]

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