I Can't Sleep (song)

Last updated
"I Can't Sleep"
Claywalker361715.jpg
Single by Clay Walker
from the album A Few Questions
ReleasedJanuary 5, 2004
Genre Country
Length4:02
Label RCA Nashville
Songwriter(s) Chely Wright
Clay Walker
Producer(s) Jimmy Ritchey
Clay Walker
Clay Walker singles chronology
"A Few Questions"
(2003)
"I Can't Sleep"
(2004)
"Jesus Was a Country Boy"
(2004)

"I Can't Sleep" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in January 2004 as the second single from his album A Few Questions , it peaked at #9 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart. Walker co-wrote the song with fellow country singer Chely Wright.

Contents

Background

In an interview with Country Weekly , Walker said, "It's an R&B kind of song I started one day at the beach. Not long after that, Chely Wright and Lonestar's Richie McDonald came on my bus at a show in Colorado and we played songs we'd each started writing. When I played a piece of 'I Can't Sleep,' Chely said she could help me finish it. And when we played it at Chely's annual charity fundraiser during Fan Fair last June, it got a standing ovation." [1]

Wright told Jam! , "The most creative thing happened the other night when we were in Colorado and Clay Walker was on the show as well. I popped up on his bus to say hi ... we got to talkin' about songs and we passed the guitar back and forth a couple of times and played some new stuff we'd written. We sat there and wrote a brand new song. It's moments like that which are the most exciting ... a song just pops out because you love music." [2]

Content

The song describes a narrator who has been up all night long waiting for his wife to return home.

In the second verse of the song, the narrator looks back at when his wife said, "We couldn't last / [He] couldn't swallow [his] pride", and that losing her wakes him up in the middle of the night.

Critical reception

Mandy Davis of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch commented in her review of "A Few Questions", "On "I Can't Sleep," you can almost hear Walker pleading for the crossover success of Garth Brooks or Tim McGraw.". [3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy. It features Clay wandering the streets of a foreign city looking for the one he loves. Some scenes also feature him sitting on his bed singing the song. The music video premiered on CMT's "Most Wanted Live" on January 24, 2004. [4]

The music video was filmed in Havana, Cuba in December 2003, Walker stated, "If anyone has any doubt as to what life would be like without the freedoms and liberties granted to us in America, I suggest they spend a little time in a Communist country like Cuba." [5] During an interview with The Dallas Morning News Walker said, "It's really different being in a communist country. I never realized how oppressive communism is. It was depressing to me. As Americans, we are all in 100 percent control of our attitudes. But when you live in a communist country, you have no hope. I don't care what you are, a conservative Republican or a liberal Democrat, before you open your mouth to run down this country, you should go spend a week in Cuba and see how things are in that country. There will be no food wasted on my plate. People have nothing to eat there." [6]

Chart performance

This song debuted at number 55 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart dated December 13, 2003. The song charted for a total of 29 weeks, and finally peaked at number 9 on the chart dated June 19, 2004. Additionally, it peaked at number 61 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Walker</span> American country musician

Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You", which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die". Both singles were included on his self-titled debut album, released in 1993 via Giant Records. He stayed with the label until its 2001 closure, later recording for Warner Bros. Records, RCA Records Nashville, and Curb Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Ready to Make Nice</span> 2006 single by The Dixie Chicks

"Not Ready to Make Nice" is a song co-written and performed by American country music trio Dixie Chicks. It was released in March 20, 2006 as the first single from the band's seventh studio album, Taking the Long Way. The Dixie Chicks wrote the song in response to the backlash they experienced in 2003 after criticizing President George W. Bush.

<i>Rumor Has It</i> (Clay Walker album) 1997 studio album by Clay Walker

Rumor Has It is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released April 8, 1997, on Giant Records. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and reached #32 on the Billboard album charts. Singles released from it include the title track, "One, Two, I Love You", "Watch This", and "Then What?", which respectively reached #1, #18, #4, and #2 on the Hot Country Songs charts between 1997 and 1998.

<i>A Few Questions</i> 2003 studio album by Clay Walker

A Few Questions is the seventh studio album by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released September 9, 2003. The album reached #23 on Billboard magazine's album chart. Released from this album were the singles "A Few Questions" and "I Can't Sleep", both of which reached Top Ten on the Hot Country Songs charts. "Jesus Was a Country Boy" reached #31 on the same chart. This was also Walker's only studio album for the RCA label, after Giant Records closed its doors in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">'Fore She Was Mama</span> 2006 single by Clay Walker

"'Fore She Was Mama" is a song written by Casey Beathard and Phil O'Donnell, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in October 2006 as the first single from his album Fall. It peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in 2007. It was also his first chart entry since "Jesus Was a Country Boy" in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall (Clay Walker song)</span> 2007 country song

"Fall", written by Clay Mills, Sonny LeMaire, and Shane Minor, is a song that has been recorded by both country singer Clay Walker and pop singer Kimberley Locke, both of whom are signed to Curb Records. Both versions were released within weeks of each other, in mid-2007. While Walker's version was released to country radio, Locke's went to adult contemporary radio format. Walker's reached number five on the U.S. country singles charts and Locke's achieved number one on the U.S. dance charts. Go West frontman Peter Cox recorded a version of "Fall" on his 2010 album, The S1 Sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chain of Love</span> 2000 single by Clay Walker

"The Chain of Love" is a song written by Rory Feek and Jonnie Barnett, and recorded by American country music singer Charlie Pride and then Clay Walker. It was released in January 2000 by Clay Walker as the third single from his album Live, Laugh, Love. "The Chain of Love" reached a peak of number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, providing Walker with his thirteenth Top Ten hit on that chart. It was also his second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Few Questions (song)</span> 2003 single by Clay Walker

"A Few Questions" is a song written by Ray Scott, Phillip Moore and Adam Wheeler, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in April 2003 as the lead-off single and title track from his album A Few Questions. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rumor Has It (Clay Walker song)</span> 1997 single by Clay Walker

"Rumor Has It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It was released in February 1997 as the first single and title track from his album of the same name. The song was written by Walker and M. Jason Greene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's It to You</span> 1993 single by Clay Walker

"What's It To You" is a debut song written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released In July 1993 as his debut single, and was served as the lead-off single from his self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live Until I Die</span> 1993 single by Clay Walker

"Live Until I Die" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in October 1993 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Then What?</span> 1998 single by Clay Walker

"Then What?" is a song written by Jon Vezner and Randy Sharp, and recorded by American country music artist Clay Walker that reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released in January 1998 as the fourth and final single from his album Rumor Has It.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's Your Daddy? (Toby Keith song)</span> 2002 single by Toby Keith

"Who's Your Daddy?" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in August 2002 as the second single from his 2002 album Unleashed. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Needs You Baby</span> 1995 single by Clay Walker

"Who Needs You Baby" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Clay Walker. It was released in September 1995 as the lead-off single to his album Hypnotize the Moon. It peaked at #2 in both the United States and Canada. The song was written by Walker, Kim Williams and Randy Boudreaux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It</span> 1996 single by Tim McGraw

"Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It" is a song written by Jerry Laseter and Kerry Kurt Phillips, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in October 1996 as the fifth and final single from his third studio album All I Want (1995). It peaked at number 4 on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while it reached number one on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Won't Be Lonely Long (song)</span> 2009 single by Clay Walker

"She Won't Be Lonely Long" is a song written by Galen Griffin, Doug Johnson and Phil O'Donnell, and recorded by American country music artist Clay Walker. It was released in December 2009 as the first single and title track from his album She Won't Be Lonely Long. It is his most successful charting single since "The Chain of Love" in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Do I Go from You</span> 2010 single by Clay Walker

"Where Do I Go from You" is a song written by Don Cook, Clint Daniels and Ryan Tyndell and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in August 2010 as the second single to his album She Won't Be Lonely Long. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, becoming his 28th top 40 hit on the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She's Always Right</span> 1999 single by Clay Walker

"She's Always Right" is a song written by Richie McDonald, Phil Barnhart and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in January 1999 as the first single from his album Live, Laugh, Love. It peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, becoming his 17th Top 20 hit on that chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus Was a Country Boy</span> 2004 single by Clay Walker

"'Jesus Was a Country Boy" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Clay Walker. It was released in July 2004 as the third and final single from his album A Few Questions. It peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in 2004. The song was written by Walker and Rivers Rutherford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Young discography</span>

American country music singer and songwriter Chris Young has released eight studio albums, twenty three singles, and nineteen music videos. Eleven of his singles have reached number one on either the US Billboard Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts. In 2006, Young rose to fame as the winner of season four of American reality singing competition Nashville Star. He released his debut self-titled album in October of that year, which produced two singles that failed to reach the Top 40 of the Country Songs chart.

References

  1. Holden, Larry Country Weekly Questions and Answers Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine October 9th 2003
  2. Van Wyk, Anika Jam! Calgary has the Wright stuff [usurped] (July 5, 2002)
  3. Davis, Mandy St. Louis Post-Dispatch CD Review - Clay Walker (11 September 2003)
  4. Clay's Video Premiere ClayWalker.com (January 22, 2004)
  5. Walker Cash Prepare New Videos
  6. Tarradell, Mario The Dallas Morning News The molding of Clay A look at the things shaping Walker's outlook and career. (March 26, 2004)
  7. "Clay Walker Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  8. "Clay Walker Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. Billboard 2004 Year End Charts - HOT COUNTRY SINGLES & TRACKS TITLES Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine (December 25, 2004)