It was 2015. Country music was stuck in a bit of a "bro-country" rut, dominated by songs about tailgates, tan lines, and cheap beer. Then came the raise em up song. Officially titled "Raise 'Em Up," this duet between Keith Urban and Eric Church didn't just climb the charts; it sort of redefined what a radio hit could feel like. It wasn't loud. It wasn't aggressive. It was actually kind of quiet, focusing on the steady, rhythmic passage of life rather than a Friday night party.
Honestly, when you put two of the biggest guitar slingers in Nashville in the same room, you expect a face-melting solo. You don't get that here. Instead, you get this shimmering, mid-tempo groove that feels like a long drive at sunset. It’s a song about the things we hold high—literally and figuratively.
The Unexpected Pairing of Keith and Eric
People forget how big of a deal this was. Keith Urban is the polished, virtuosic hitmaker with the megawatt smile. Eric Church is the "Chief," the guy in aviators who built his career on being a bit of a rebel. They operate in different lanes. But for the raise em up song, their voices blended in a way that felt completely natural. Urban’s smooth, melodic tenor provides the foundation, while Church’s gritty, slightly weathered delivery adds the necessary weight.
It’s interesting. They didn’t even record it in the same room. Urban actually reached out to Church after hearing the demo, sensing that Church’s "blue-collar" vibe was the missing ingredient. The song was written by Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele, and Tom Douglas. If those names sound familiar, it’s because they’ve written basically half of the hits coming out of Nashville in the last twenty years. Johnston, who fronts the band The Cadillac Three, has a knack for writing lyrics that feel conversational rather than "written."
The lyrics are simple. They’re evocative. You've got imagery of lighters in the air at a concert, trophies on a shelf, and, most importantly, children being raised with good values. It’s a triple-entendre that actually works without feeling cheesy.
What the Lyrics Really Mean
The genius of the raise em up song is how it moves through life stages. It starts with the superficial—the lighter at a show. Then it moves to the patriotic—raising a flag. Finally, it hits the emotional core: raising a child.
👉 See also: Finding a One Piece Full Set That Actually Fits Your Shelf and Your Budget
"Raise 'em up, trophy in the air / Raise 'em up, show 'em that you care."
It sounds like a stadium anthem, doesn't it? But then it shifts. "You’ve got a little man, you’ve got a little hand / You’ve got a little world that you’re holding in yours." That’s where the song gets its legs. It appeals to the father, the patriot, and the music fan all at once. It’s a rare feat of songwriting where the hook serves multiple masters.
There’s a specific line about "black umbrellas in the pouring rain." It’s a somber moment in an otherwise uplifting track. It acknowledges that "raising 'em up" also applies to those we've lost. It’s that nuance that keeps the song from being a Hallmark card. It’s real. It’s messy. Life has funerals just as often as it has football games.
Production and That Shimmering Sound
Nathan Chapman produced this with Keith Urban. If you know Chapman, you know he’s the guy who helped craft Taylor Swift’s early sound. He knows how to make things sparkle. The raise em up song has this pulsing acoustic guitar riff that never really stops. It’s hypnotic.
The drums are crisp. The bass is melodic. But the real star is the atmosphere. There’s a lot of "air" in the recording. It doesn't feel compressed or loud like most modern country-pop. You can hear the pick hitting the strings. This organic feel is why it still sounds fresh today, even as the "snap-track" era of country music has largely faded away.
✨ Don't miss: Evil Kermit: Why We Still Can’t Stop Listening to our Inner Saboteur
Urban's guitar work is tasteful here. He’s one of the best players in the world, but he stays out of the way of the song. He plays for the lyric. That’s a sign of a veteran musician. He knows that a thirty-second shred session would ruin the vibe.
Chart Success and Award Recognition
The song was a massive hit. It became Keith Urban's 18th number one single and Eric Church's fifth. It also picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. It lost to "Girl Crushes" by Little Big Town, which—let’s be honest—was a juggernaut that year.
But awards aren't the point. The point is the longevity. If you walk into a bar in Nashville, or a backyard BBQ in Texas, or a wedding in Ohio, you’re probably going to hear the raise em up song. It has become a staple of the "modern classic" country canon.
- It hit #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
- It was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
- The music video features footage from Urban’s "Raise 'Em Up" tour, capturing that live energy the song describes.
Why People Still Search for This Song
Music moves fast. Why do people still look up the raise em up song nearly a decade later?
Probably because it’s a "milestone" song. It’s the song people play at graduations. It’s the song used in "end of the year" sports montages. It’s the song people listen to when they’re feeling nostalgic about their own kids growing up.
🔗 Read more: Emily Piggford Movies and TV Shows: Why You Recognize That Face
There’s also the "Church" factor. Eric Church fans are famously loyal. Anything he touches becomes part of the "Church Choir" lore. His verse in this song is one of his most accessible moments, bringing in fans who might find his solo work a bit too edgy or rock-leaning.
Actionable Takeaways for Modern Listeners
If you’re revisiting this track or discovering it for the first time, there are a few things to do to really appreciate it.
- Listen on high-quality headphones. The layering of the acoustic guitars is actually pretty complex. You’ll hear things in the left and right channels that you miss on a phone speaker.
- Watch the music video. It captures the specific "lightning in a bottle" energy of Keith Urban’s live shows.
- Check out the songwriters. If you like the vibe of "Raise 'Em Up," look into Jaren Johnston’s work with The Cadillac Three. It’s a bit grittier, but the DNA is the same.
- Compare it to the live version. There are several live recordings from the CMA Awards and various tours where they stretch the ending out. It shows the musicianship that both artists bring to the table.
The raise em up song isn't just a relic of 2015. It’s a masterclass in how to write a song that is broad enough to be a hit but specific enough to feel personal. It balances the commercial needs of Nashville with the artistic integrity of two of its biggest stars. Whether you’re raising a glass, a flag, or a kid, this song provides the perfect soundtrack for the climb.
To get the most out of your listening experience, try pairing this track with other "life stage" country hits like "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney or "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert. You’ll start to see the lineage of storytelling that makes country music so resilient.
The next time you find yourself at a crossroads—maybe seeing a child off to college or starting a new chapter yourself—put this on. It reminds you that the act of "raising" anything is a long-term commitment, full of highs and lows, but always worth the effort in the end.