Country music has always been obsessed with the mess. We love the heartbreak, the whiskey, and the 2:00 AM texts that definitely shouldn't have been sent. But every once in a while, a track comes along that captures that specific, agonizing middle ground between "I hate you" and "I can't leave." That is exactly what happened when Koe Wetzel teamed up with Jessie Murph for their hit High Road. It isn't just another radio-friendly collaboration; it’s a gritty, honest look at a relationship that has run out of gas but keeps trying to find a spark.
Honestly, the chemistry here is what sells it. Koe Wetzel has spent years building a reputation as the "bad boy" of the Texas scene, blending grunge with outlaw country in a way that feels reckless. Then you have Jessie Murph. She brings this soulful, almost R&B-inflected rasp that makes her sound like she’s lived three lifetimes by the age of 20. When they collide on High Road, it doesn’t sound like a polished Nashville product. It sounds like an argument in a parking lot.
The Story Behind the High Road Lyrics
Most people hear the title and expect a song about being the bigger person. You know, taking the "high road" to move on and be healthy. But Koe and Jessie flip that on its head. In this song, the high road is something they are struggling to find, mostly because they are too busy being high or being miserable. It’s a play on words that feels very on-brand for Wetzel.
The song dropped as part of Koe’s 2024 album, 97, and it immediately stood out because it felt more vulnerable than his usual rowdy anthems like "S.O.B." or "February 28, 2016." It deals with the cyclical nature of toxic love. One minute you’re done, the next you’re back in the same bed, wondering how you got there again.
Jessie Murph’s verse is particularly biting. She matches Koe’s energy perfectly, proving she can hang with the country crowd without losing her pop-trap edge. Her presence on the track helped it blow up on TikTok and Instagram Reels, where users latched onto the lyrics about being "sick of the games" while simultaneously playing them. It's relatable. It's messy. It's real life.
Why This Specific Country Song High Road Hits Different
What makes High Road work so well is the production. It isn't overproduced. You can hear the grit in Koe's voice. You can hear the slight break in Jessie's.
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- The Vocal Contrast: Koe has a heavy, gravelly baritone. Jessie has a sharp, emotive alto. Together, they create a sonic tension that mirrors the lyrical conflict.
- The "Texas" Influence: Even though this went mainstream, it still carries that Texas Country DNA—unapologetic, loud, and slightly distorted.
- The Narrative Flip: Usually, country duets are about "we're so in love" or "I miss you so much." This one is about "we are bad for each other, and we both know it."
There is a specific kind of exhaustion in Koe’s delivery when he sings about being tired of the same old cycle. He isn't just singing lyrics; he sounds like a man who has actually stayed up until 4:00 AM arguing about nothing. That authenticity is why he has one of the most loyal fanbases in the genre. They don't want "pretty." They want the truth.
The Rise of the Country-Pop Crossover
We have to talk about how High Road fits into the bigger picture of music in 2024 and 2025. The walls between genres have basically collapsed. Post Malone is doing country. Beyoncé did country. Jessie Murph, who started more in the hip-hop and pop lane, fits perfectly into this new landscape because "country" is becoming more about the storytelling and the vibe than just a steel guitar.
Wetzel has always been a genre-bender. He’s been called "Pollywog" country, "Grunge-Country," and a dozen other things. By bringing Jessie Murph onto High Road, he signaled that he isn't afraid to step outside the traditional box to find a voice that complements his own. It worked. The song climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated streaming platforms, proving that listeners are hungry for this kind of "alt-country" grit.
Breaking Down the Music Video and Visuals
The music video for High Road isn't some glitzy, high-budget affair with a scripted plot line. It leans into the aesthetic of the song: dark, moody, and a little bit lonely. It features Koe and Jessie in various states of isolation and togetherness, emphasizing the distance between two people even when they are in the same room.
The color grading is cool-toned, lots of blues and greys. It matches the "cold" feeling of a dying relationship. When you watch them perform it live, like they did at various festivals, the energy is electric. There is a mutual respect there. Jessie Murph doesn't feel like a "featured artist"; she feels like a co-lead.
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What Critics and Fans Are Saying
Critics were surprisingly kind to this one. Sometimes, when a country artist goes "pop-heavy" with a feature, the purists complain. But because Koe Wetzel has never been a "purist" artist to begin with, he got a pass.
Fans, on the other hand, went wild. On Reddit and Twitter, the consensus was clear: this is the best Koe has sounded in years. People praised the vulnerability. They loved the fact that a guy known for singing about beer and tacos was finally leaning into the emotional weight of a crumbling romance.
How to Lean Into the High Road Vibe
If you're a fan of the country song High Road, you're probably looking for more music that hits that same nerve. You aren't looking for "pickup trucks and dirt roads" country. You’re looking for "broken hearts and cheap motels" country.
- Check out Morgan Wallen’s "Lies Lies Lies": It has that same sense of self-awareness and regret.
- Dive into Jessie Murph’s solo work: Specifically tracks like "Wild Ones." She carries that same "edge" throughout her discography.
- Explore the Texas Country scene: Look at artists like Treaty Oak Revival or Pecos & the Rooftops. They share that "rock-leaning" country sound that Wetzel pioneered.
The Lasting Impact of High Road
It’s rare for a song to feel both "of the moment" and timeless, but High Road manages it. It captures the specific anxiety of modern dating—the constant "on-again, off-again" nature of relationships fueled by social media and late-night impulses.
Koe Wetzel didn't just make a hit; he made a statement. He showed that you can be a massive star without polishing off your rough edges. He showed that country music can be dark, distorted, and uncomfortably honest. And Jessie Murph? She showed the world that she is a force to be reckoned with, capable of holding her own against one of the biggest names in the business.
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Taking Action: Beyond Just Listening
If you want to truly appreciate what Koe and Jessie did here, don't just put it on a playlist and forget it.
- Listen to the full album '97': Context matters. "High Road" hits harder when you hear the tracks that lead up to it. It’s a journey through Koe’s headspace during a very specific time in his life.
- Watch the live acoustic versions: Strip away the studio production. Listen to just the two voices and a guitar. You’ll hear the technical skill involved in those harmonies, which are actually quite complex for a "simple" country-rock song.
- Follow the songwriters: Look up the credits. See who else worked on this. You’ll find a network of writers and producers who are currently redefining what Nashville (and Texas) sounds like.
The country song High Road is a blueprint for the future of the genre. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it doesn't apologize for any of it. Whether you’re a die-hard Koe fan or someone who just discovered Jessie Murph through a TikTok clip, there is no denying that this track is a high point for both of their careers. It reminds us that even when we can't find the actual high road in our lives, we can at least find a damn good song to listen to while we're lost.
Focus on the lyrics next time you play it. Don't just hear the melody—listen to the exhaustion in the bridge. That is where the real magic of this collaboration lives. It’s in the moments where the music almost stops, and you’re left with just two people trying to figure out where it all went wrong. That is country music at its absolute best.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Compare the studio version to the live performance at the 2024 CMA Fest to see how the vocal dynamics shift in front of a crowd.
- Analyze the lyrical parallels between "High Road" and Koe's earlier track "Drunk Driving" to see how his songwriting perspective on toxic relationships has evolved over the last few years.
- Create a "Dark Country" playlist featuring this track alongside artists like Zach Bryan and Jelly Roll to fully immerse yourself in the current "sad-boy country" movement.
The country song High Road isn't going anywhere. It’s a staple now. It’s the song that will be played at 1:00 AM in every Texas bar for the next decade, and for good reason. It’s the truth, set to a melody.