Jamey Johnson & Riley Green Team Up for “Smoke”
Alabama natives Jamey Johnson and Riley Green have joined forces on a gritty, Southern rock–infused breakup anthem titled “Smoke.” The track blends classic country storytelling with swampy attitude, capturing the haze of heartbreak and the ways people hide behind the smoke — both literal and emotional.
A Song About Heartbreak, Hiding, and Letting Go
The track uses “smoke” as a powerful double entendre — from the dust cloud left by a lover driving away to the haze of a cigarette masking the pain. In the chorus, the duo sing:
“Couldn’t see which way she went / Or which way I went wrong / Couldn’t see why she left so early / Or why she stayed so long / There was something burning my eyes / Turning my head to stone / I bet it would’ve hurt to watch her go / Good thing I can’t see through all this smoke.”
The lyrics perfectly capture that stubborn mix of heartbreak and pride — a man too proud (or too numb) to face the truth head-on.
Written in Legendary Studios
Co-written by Johnson, Green, and Erik Dylan, “Smoke” was born in two iconic recording spaces — The Cash Cabin and Big Gassed Studios. Produced by Kyle Lehning and Jim “Moose” Brown, with T.W. Cargile behind the console, the song marks Johnson’s first full collaboration with Lehning on one of his own originals.
Johnson revealed that the song idea came from Green:
“He called me and we booked some time to get together with Erik Dylan. We sat down and scribbled it out over about an hour,” Johnson shared. “It has an interesting sound… one part going down while the other part goes up. That smoke probably has a lot to do with it.”
Friends Turned Collaborators
Green said that working with Johnson felt effortless:
“Writing this song with Jamey was a lot of fun. After spending time on the road together earlier this year, it just felt natural to get in the studio and make some country music together.”
Johnson admitted he was so excited that he cut the track before even telling Green.
“I guess I should have talked to him before I ran into the studio and recorded it,” Johnson joked. “If he was thinking about recording it for his record, I guess I ruined that! My apologies to Riley Green. I probably owe him a song!”
On the Road Together
“Smoke” arrives right as Johnson gears up to join Green’s “Damn Country Music Tour” for nine shows this November:
Nov. 6 – Grand Rapids, MI
Nov. 7 – St. Louis, MO
Nov. 8 – Kansas City, MO
Nov. 13 – University Park, PA
Nov. 14 – Toledo, OH
Nov. 15 – Peoria, IL
Nov. 20 – Lincoln, NE
Nov. 21 – Oklahoma City, OK
Nov. 22 – North Little Rock, AR
With their shared Alabama roots and undeniable chemistry, Johnson and Green’s “Smoke” is as real and raw as country music gets — a song that burns slow, stings deep, and lingers long after it’s gone.
