“Something in The Orange” Single Review

By: Sydney Hise

Something in The Orange by Zach Bryan is a 3-and-a-half-minute-long whiskey lullaby about heartache and once-had feelings. The song starts with a lone guitar, a symbolization of the bitter loneliness that Bryan profoundly feels. It is musically straightforward: just guitar and later, a single banjo and drum. The combination of the instruments creates a rich, deep sound, pulling images of an intensely painted Southern sunset. The tone of Bryan’s raspy, muddled voice pairs perfectly with the pained and melancholy-soaked anecdotes he sings about. You can almost feel the ache and conflict he is going through in your body. 

Halfway through the first verse, Bryan croons, “I’m damned if I do, and I’m damned if I don’t / Cause if I say I miss you I know that you won't,” a vulnerable and very transparent line about his inner turmoil over this girl and an acknowledgment that their relationship has gone sour. Still, he sings, “But I miss you in the mornings when I see the sun / Something in the orange tells me we're not done.” There is a bit of hope and possibility shining through the darkness of the lyrics, shown in the lightness of his voice in these lines.

But still, there is a huge conflict in the chorus nonetheless: “To you I'm just a man, to me you're all I am / Where the hell am I supposed to go? / I poisoned myself again / Something in the orange tells me you're never coming home.” This feeling of knowing you should let the person go but not fully wanting to is relatable to most people, which makes this song even more impactful. Zach’s brutally bittersweet tone helps to pass on his message as well. 

If you are a fan of older, outlaw style country music, Zach Bryan’s style and instrumentals will fit perfectly into your daily listening rotations. You can catch him on his nationwide tour this summer, and find Something in The Orange on a country station near you.