Story Behind The Song

The Story Behind "The Craft" - Written by Shawn Ash & CJ Solar Lately, I've been sharing a lot of original songs--most of which I had the honor of co-writing with my good buddy, CJ Solar, back in the day. I've also written a few solo ones like "Through It All," "Anywhere," "So Beautiful," and "Who's Gonna Rock Your Country Tonight." Every one of these songs, whether co-written or written by me alone, was created the old-fashioned way--no AI, no shortcuts, just real songwriting. This next one, "The Craft," holds a special place in my heart. With the exception of removing two lines from the third verse, this song has stayed exactly as CJ and I wrote it one afternoon at his place in Nashville in 2010. The idea came from my buddy, Doug Gibbs, who once told me, "Since you dropped 'Craft' from your last name to go by Shawn Ash, you oughta write a song called 'The Craft.' After all, writing is a craft." So I brought the title to CJ, and 45 minutes later, we had it written and recorded as an acoustic demo. One of the fastest and most meaningful songs I've ever been a part of.

Song Description

The Craft is more than just a song--it's a heartfelt ode to the raw, unfiltered soul of country music, co-written by independent Florida singer-songwriter Shawn Ash and Nashville powerhouse CJ Solar. Clocking in at a soul-stirring runtime, this original track transports you to the dusty edges of a sweltering summer night, where the hum of Highway 75 meets the haze of a forgotten roadside bar. With its fingerpicked acoustic guitar, twangy rhythms, and a voice gravelly from life's hard miles, "The Craft" embodies the timeless tradition of country storytelling: the kind that pours out like straight-up Jack Daniels, honest and unapologetic. The narrative kicks off with our protagonist, scraped down to his last twelve bucks and nursing a streak of bad luck, pulling his truck into a dimly lit dive. Armed only with his six-string, he steps into a world of smoke, stale beer, and second chances. The bartender, sensing a kindred spirit, offers a gig in the corner, but it's the enigmatic old-timer--eyes bloodshot, fingers calloused from decades of strumming--who steals the spotlight. This weathered mentor, with an unlit cigarette dangling like a badge of survival, challenges the young musician: Can you play through the pain, wear your heart on your sleeve, and capture the ache of lost love in every lyric? It's a masterclass in authenticity, questioning whether the drive comes from chasing dollars or the pure freedom of the craft. As the verses unfold, the bar comes alive with vivid scenes: the sharp tang of homemade shine from a hidden still, the crowd's collective sigh after a tune about a girl named June, and the old man's final, tear-streaked validation. The choruses build with raspy intensity, repeating that mantra of resilience--playing all night while tying one on, living in the shadows when everything's gone, and finding liberation in words that hit just right. An instrumental break lets the emotion breathe, leading into a spoken-word close that seals the deal: "N

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Late one hot, summer night
I saw a broke down bar, off 75
12 dollars to my name, and down on my luck
So I grabbed my 6 string, and parked my truck

[Verse 2]
Bartender asked son, what'll it be
I told him, Jack straight up, and a gig for me
He said what do you play
I told him, country music, gets me through the day
He pointed to the corner said there's your Man

[Bridge Chorus]
His eyes were bloodshot and wide
Fingers calloused, cracked, and dried
An unlit cigarette, dangled from his lips
His voice a rasp, he said son, answer me this

[Raised Chorus 1]
Can ya play all night while you tie one on
Have you lived in the shadows, with everything gone
Do you wear your heart, right there, on your sleeve
Had the woman you love pick up and leave
Do you do it for the money or cuz it sets you free
Can you put the words right where they belong
Cuz that's The Craft of writing a country song

Hmmmmmhhhhhmmmmm........

[Verse 3]
Smoke and beer hit me like a wall
A still in the corner pure grain alcohol
I sat down on that stool and picked my tune
Played out a rhythm bout' a girl named June

[Verse 4]
When I finished I heard the crowd sigh
That old man in the corner had tears in his eyes
He lit that cigarette dangling from his lips
Drew in his last breath and took his last sip

[Bridge chorus]
His eyes were bloodshot and wide
Fingers calloused, cracked, and dried
That Lit cigarette dangled from his lips
His voice a rasp, he said son...You have a hit

[Raised Chorus 2]
Cuz you can play all night, while you tie one on
You've lived in the shadows, with everything gone
You wear your heart, right there, on your sleeve
Had the woman you love pick up and leave
You don't do it for the money cuz it sets you free
You can put the words right where they belong
Cuz you've got the craft of writin' a country song

[Instrumental]

[Spoken]
Now that's a country song