Story Behind the Song: Ashley Monroe, ‘Hands on You’
Much of Ashley Monroe's latest album, Sparrow, is an exploration into traumatic experiences the country singer and songwriter experienced early in life; however, the project's lead-off single, "Hands on You," deals with flirtier themes. An ode to the more sensual side of being a woman, the song describes a romantic encounter filled with unrealized sexual tension.
Despite the flirtatious lyrics, the song emerged from distinctly unsexy origins. Read on to learn more about how Monroe came up with the idea for "Hands on You," and how one fan in particular reacted to the song.
It was actually the last song that I wrote for the album. I was pregnant when I wrote it.
It's not a sexy story at all! I had gone to Florida for a few days with a couple of friends of mine, and we were just going to chill by the beach; I was planning to just plop and read and eat. Anyway, when we got down there, I got a stomach virus -- a bad one. My friends went out, and I stayed back in the room, because I was sick. They came back, and they were good and buzzed, and they were giddy because they had met this cute guy.
They were having the best time. Well, I think I just channeled their energy and put it onto myself! When I went to bed that night, I started singing the first line of the song, "I wish I would've laid my hands on you," and I thought, "Ooh, I like that!" When I got back from that trip, I had a co-write with Jon Randall, who's one of my favorites ever, and I brought it to him, and he loved it. We wrote that one pretty fast.
I think it's cool that it shows a sexual or sexy side. I like to see women show that side. Actually, the other day, a woman who worked in security stopped me in the airport; she was a little younger than my grandmother, probably, but she was an older lady. She said, "Are you Ashley Monroe?" I told her I was, and she said, "Your new song, I just can't quit playing it. I have chills just thinking about it." She showed me the goosebumps on her arm. I thought that was awesome.