While 32-year-old Swindell shows his ability to portray everyday emotions throughout his lyrics, he also knows a thing or two about having a good time. “I don’t want to be a one night boy / I don’t want to be an ain’t right boy / I don’t wanna be a had a ball waited out no call kinda love song boy / I don’t want to be a regret / Or the one that she forgets,” he sings.
Meanwhile, “Remember Boys” embodies a sweet sentiment offering men advice on how to treat their ladies like opening the door for her, telling her that he loves her and filling her dreams with hope. Co-written with Ashley Gorley and Zach Crowell, “Middle of a Memory” provides a vivid storyline sang from the perspective of a guy regretting not getting a girl’s number. On “Middle of a Memory” Swindell is left alone on the dance floor when his dance partner’s friends interrupt and drag her away. Where “You Should Be Here” shows Swindell’s depth, other songs like “Middle of a Memory” and “Remember Boys” demonstrate his romantic side. A timeless single, Swindell has said he moved to Nashville to write songs like the powerful title track.
An all too real song about the loss of a loved one, it became somewhat of a movement online as fans would use the song’s title as a hashtag to tell their own stories of moments where they wished a loved one was still with them. “You Should Be Here” fittingly is the backbone of the album. 1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase charts thanks to the relatability and poignant storytelling within the song.
The Georgia native debuted the title track as the first single off the project in December and it quickly rose to No. Swindell co-wrote seven of the 12 songs on You Should Be Here, which follows his successful 2014 RIAA Platinum certified self-titled release. While his fun side remains intact on songs like the upbeat opening track “Flatliner,” which features Dierks Bentley, and weekend party anthem “No Can Left Behind,” his maturity shines through on nostalgic tracks like “Middle of a Memory,” “You Should Be Here” and album closer “Remember Boys.” Cole Swindell continues to show his vulnerability and songwriting talents throughout his sophomore album, You Should Be Here.