You know that feeling when you're driving at 2:00 AM and a song comes on that just stops your breath for a second? That’s what Craig Morgan Wake Up Lovin' You does to people. It’s not your typical "my truck broke down and my dog ran away" country tune. Honestly, it’s much darker. It's heavier.
Released in July 2013, this track was the lead single for his compilation album The Journey (Livin' Hits). At the time, Craig Morgan was already a household name. He had the massive hits like "That's What I Love About Sunday" and "Redneck Yacht Club" under his belt. But those were sunny. They were comfortable. "Wake Up Lovin' You" was a pivot. It was a vocal powerhouse that showed a side of Craig we hadn't really seen before—a man absolutely wrecked by a ghost.
The Story Behind the Lyrics
The song was penned by Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, and Trevor Rosen. If those names sound familiar, it’s because Ramsey and Rosen are the backbone of the band Old Dominion. You can actually hear their signature melodic DNA in the structure.
Basically, the song is about the futility of moving on. The narrator tries everything. He drinks. He stays out late. He finds "someone else to hold" in cheap hotels just to keep the memories at bay. It’s a gritty, honest look at the messy side of heartbreak. But no matter what he does, the morning always wins. He wakes up, and that love is still right there, waiting for him like a physical weight.
Craig himself has said that when he first heard the track, he thought of his wife, Karen. They’ve been together for decades. He told The Boot that he imagined what his life would look like if something ever happened to her. That’s where that raw, desperate emotion in his voice comes from. He wasn't just singing a story; he was singing his worst nightmare.
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A Vocal Masterclass
Let's talk about that bridge.
Most country singers stay in a pretty safe "pocket." Not here. The song starts as a mid-tempo ballad, sort of brooding and quiet. But then it builds. By the time Craig hits the final chorus, he’s reaching for notes that would make most Nashville singers sweat.
- The Whisper: In the final third, the music drops out. Craig almost whispers, "But I wake up lovin' you."
- The Explosion: Then, he hammers into the final hook with a power that feels like a physical release.
Critics noticed. Billy Dukes from Taste of Country gave it four out of five stars, noting that the "strength of the vocals rub against the vulnerability of the lyrics." It was a "turning point" for Morgan. He wasn't just the guy who sang about tractors anymore. He was a world-class vocalist.
Why the Charts Don't Tell the Whole Story
On paper, Craig Morgan Wake Up Lovin' You was a solid hit, but maybe not the "career-defining" chart-topper he initially predicted. It peaked at:
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- Number 14 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
- Number 20 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
- Number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It spent a massive 45 weeks on the airplay charts. That is a long time for a single to stick around. It sold nearly a quarter-million digital copies within its first year. While it didn't hit Number 1, it became what people in the industry call a "staple." It’s the song that fans scream for at his live shows because it hits a nerve that "Redneck Yacht Club" just can't touch.
The Music Video’s Dark Edge
The music video, directed by Kristin Barlowe, didn't shy away from the song's darker themes. It features a man—not Craig, but an actor—spiraling through a series of one-night stands and empty bottles. It’s bleak. It’s grainy. It feels like a hangover.
Watching the protagonist escape through a hotel window in the early morning light perfectly captures that "runaway" feeling the lyrics describe. It’s a visual representation of a man who is physically present but emotionally trapped in a past that won't let him go.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think this song was written after the tragic loss of Craig’s son, Jerry, in 2016. Because the song is so grief-stricken, fans often retroactively apply that pain to the track.
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However, the song actually predates that tragedy by three years. It’s a testament to Craig’s ability as an artist that he could tap into that level of profound loss before he had even experienced it himself. After Jerry’s passing, the song took on an even deeper, more hauntological meaning for his fanbase. It shifted from being a "breakup song" to a "loss song."
Actionable Insights for Your Playlist
If you're revisiting this era of country music or just discovering Craig Morgan for the first time, here is how to appreciate the depth of "Wake Up Lovin' You":
- Listen for the Old Dominion Influence: Now that you know Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen wrote it, listen to the phrasing. You can hear the beginnings of the "Old Dominion sound" buried in the arrangement.
- Compare it to "The Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost": If you want to see the evolution of a man dealing with pain, listen to these two songs back-to-back. One is about the ghost of a lover; the other is about the presence of a lost child.
- Check out the Acoustic Versions: Craig often performs this song with just a guitar or piano. Without the big production, the desperation in his voice is even more apparent.
The legacy of "Wake Up Lovin' You" isn't about where it landed on a chart in 2014. It’s about the fact that twelve years later, it’s still the song people put on when they can't stop thinking about someone they've lost. It's country music at its most human.
To fully experience the impact of this track, watch the official music video on YouTube or find a live recording from the Grand Ole Opry to hear how Craig’s voice has matured since the original studio session. All the technical prowess in the world doesn't matter if you don't feel it, and Craig Morgan makes sure you feel every single note.
Next Steps:
- Add the 2013 studio version to your "Late Night Country" playlist.
- Compare the lyrics to Kris Kristofferson’s "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" to see how the theme of the "morning-after" has evolved in country music.
- Look up the Old Dominion cover of the song to hear how the original songwriters interpret their own work.