Midland Continues To Prove They are Masters of Wordplay With “Playboys”

On Midland’s newest release, “Playboys,” the Texan trio continues to put on a masterclass in traditional yet modern country music. With a toe-tapping melody remnant of the heyday of country music, the group also executes a clever play of words that only elevates the song. While there’s always a risk of getting cheesy with wordplay, Midland manages to carry it through the track in a clever and appealing way.

The song tells the story of a troubadour who can’t commit to a woman due to his music career. “She said I thought that I could change you/ But you were born a playboy,” The lament, before cleverly turning the phrase. “So get on the stage and play boy.”

“We ain’t good at love/ We ain’t good at much/ We just know how to play,” The song continues. “I’m just a playboy/ You can’t blame me for the way I was made, boys.” Make sure to stick around for the Brad Paisley-esque guitar solo around 2:20, kicked off appropriately with a shout of “Play boys!”

“Playboys” is the third song released by Midland off their new album, Let It Roll, due out August 23. “We want to keep things fresh and real,” says bassist, Cameron Duddy in a statement. “The beauty of being in Dripping Springs [Texas] and spending so much time on the road, we don’t get caught up in what’s trending. We’re able to follow our hearts—and our livers—to where we think country is the best.”