Jamey Johnson has released the track “More Of What Matters,” produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys.
Johnson co-wrote the song in 2007 with Keith Follese and Jon Stone; he originally recorded the song in 2007 and intended to include it on his critically acclaimed 2008 album called ‘That Lonesome Song’ which was certified double platinum. He has now re-recorded a new version of the song for this current release, sharing: “I’m not really sure why I didn’t, but I’m glad now that I didn’t so that I still have it to release today. But I guess at the time I was focusing on something else. Lonesome Song and Guitar Song both did really well. I’m not sure that song would’ve fit either album at the time, as far as its content and message. It really fits now for sure.”
Johnson says in a statement: “Back then, I wrote that from the perspective of somebody who needed to find more things that matter. Looking back on a perspective of 20 years down the road, that guy was naive and didn’t know the gravity of what he was writing. At this age, it hits home. It’s time. The Mavericks’ Raul Malo was a dear friend and passed away at 60. There’s a clock ticking on my life too, and I don’t know when it will be over. I’ve got to reset my priorities and do what is important to me or I will be a life unlived. I don’t want to be too busy and distracted on the road to forget the things that really matter.”
Johnson continues: “At that time, it was an awareness of what happens in our business. Those lines came to me, Keith and Jon in that writing room in a very honest way. That was exactly where I was at the time, looking around and recognizing, man, you can chase that star forever and never catch anything worth a dime.”
Stream “More Of What Matters’ – HERE.
Editorial credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com
Post expires at 6:35am on Monday March 2nd, 2026