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"Desperate Man" is a song recorded by American country music singer Eric Church. Written by Church and Ray Wylie Hubbard, the song is the title track and lead single from his sixth studio album of the same name.

Content

Church announced the single and album via a livestream with his fan club, the Church Choir, in July 2018.

The song has been compared to "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones. Church said that he chose to write with Ray Wylie Hubbard after name-dropping him in his 2015 single "Mr. Misunderstood". This led to the two performing together in concert, and Church collaborating on a song of Hubbard's. Church presented the opening line, about a fortune teller who tells a man that he "has no future", from which Hubbard developed more lyrics and the song's groove. Hubbard told Taste of Country that the song is about being "completely at a point where you're willing to try anything." Church also noted that much of the song's emotion, along with its message of showing hope even when one is feeling troubled, were inspired by the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

In the music video, which also features Hubbard in a cameo, Church gets "busted" by FBI agents whose uniforms read EMI, the name of his record label.

Commercial performance

The song peaked at No 8 on Hot Country Songs for chart dated October 18, 2018. The song has sold 109,000 copies in the United States as of December 2018. It was certified Gold in Canada and Platinum in the US.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Moss, Marisa (July 12, 2018). "Eric Church on New Song 'Desperate Man': 'I Was a Little Lost for a While'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
2. Liptak, Carena (July 12, 2018). "Everything We Know About Eric Church's New Album, 'Desperate Man'". The Boot. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
3. Houghton, Cillea (July 21, 2018). "Lyrics Uncovered: Eric Church, 'Desperate Man'". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
4. Hight, Jewly (July 18, 2018). "Eric Church Gets Busted By His Record Label In New Video For 'Desperate Man'". NPR. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
5. "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. October 20, 2018.
6. Bjorke, Matt (December 3, 2018). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: December 3, 2018". RoughStock. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
7. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Eric Church – Desperate Man". Music Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
8. ^ "American single certifications – Eric Church – Desperate Man". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
9. "Eric Church Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
10. "Eric Church Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
11. "Eric Church Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
12. "Eric Church Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
13. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
14. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

• 2018 singles
• 2018 songs
• EMI Records singles
• Eric Church songs
• Songs written by Eric Church
• Song recordings produced by Jay Joyce