Story Behind the Song: Josh Thompson, ‘Won’t Be Lonely Long’

In November of 2010, Josh Thompson released "Won't Be Lonely Long" as the third single from his Way Out Here album; in 2011, it peaked in the Top 30 on the country charts. Thompson co-wrote the tune with George Ducas and Arlis Albritton, and below, Ducas tells The Boot about writing the track.

I already knew Josh from playing shows around town. We got to be buddies and would get together for beers. We had a couple of mutual friends who were co-writers, one of whom wrote the song with us. Arlis [at the time was] not only a writer, but also Jamey Johnson's tour manager. We all wear a lot of different hats, I guess! [Laughs]

The three of us hooked up at my house to write. We wrote it in my living room. It was maybe the second or third song Josh and I had written together. It was before he got signed. None of us had any preconceived ideas of who we were writing for; we were just trying to write a good, fun song. That is exactly what it turned out to be. We wanted to make it a good, beer drinkin', hitting the bar, hitting the town kind of tune.

I love the track, and I love the way it turned out. Now that I hear the recording, it reminds me a little bit of [Garth Brooks'] "Friends in Low Places." It's got a little bit of that vibe to it. It's got a little bit of something else in it that I can't put my finger on. It's definitely Josh's song; he made it his own.

It was a good day. We probably had a couple of beers afterward ... I can't remember! [Laughs]

This story was originally written by Alanna Conaway, and revised by Angela Stefano.