Sometimes, a song comes from a place so rooted in your everyday that it almost writes itself. That’s what happened with Old Boots Got Soul. I wasn’t just trying to write about boots, I was trying to write about people, about how we keep going when things are cracked and uncertain. The boots were just the metaphor I knew best.
A Morning Step Into an Uneasy World
The opening lines:
“I step out in the morning / On an uneasy day”
Set the tone for the whole song. I think we all know that feeling. You wake up, scroll through the headlines, feel the weight of uncertainty hanging in the air. It might be the world at large, or it might just be something personal you're going through. But either way, that morning step matters. It’s about intention.
I put on my boots, not just to get ready for the day, but to remind myself who I am. Each scuff, each worn-in crease, every resole, they all hold a piece of my story. That’s where the line “With every footfall I remember who I am” comes from. The ground we’ve walked tells us where we’ve been, and gives us the strength to keep stepping forward.
Cracks That Shine
One of my favorite lines in the whole song is:
“We are cracked / But we shine”
It’s simple, but to me, it’s one of the truest things I’ve ever written. Nobody gets through life without some damage. We get scuffed, dinged, bruised (emotionally, spiritually, even physically) and we all have flaws too. But it's how the soul shines through.
That’s what I’ve always loved about old boots. They’ve been through it, just like us. They get used and abused but you can still shine them up for a special occasion. Maybe they're not perfect, but they still do the job. And they do it with more character than anything fresh off the shelf. That’s what I was trying to say when I wrote:
“Old boots got soul / So I patch them when they need it / And this life has a toll / So I bandage when I’m bleeding.”
Taking care of your boots is just like taking care of yourself. It's maintenance. It's love. It's survival. You don’t throw things out just because they’ve seen some wear. You make them stronger. You make yourself stronger.
Pride in the Everyday
When I sing about coming home after a hard day’s work, I’m thinking of all the times I’ve walked through the door exhausted but fulfilled. Even if the paycheck ain’t much, there’s value in putting in an honest day’s effort.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done / Even if it’s just for a little pay”
That line comes from my own experience, but I know it resonates with a lot of folks. Not everything we do is glamorous, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. Work deserves pride.
And those boots come off at the end of the day like they’ve earned their rest too.
Moving Forward with Soul
At its core, Old Boots Got Soul is about resilience. It's about moving through life with all its messiness and not only surviving but becoming better because of it.
“So we get better every day.”
That’s the hope behind this song. That every scuff, every crack, every patch is proof of progress, not decline. That old boots—and old souls—still got something to give. Still got somewhere to go.
Why I Wrote It
I wrote this song with my first boots in mind. They are cracked from a gasoline spill, scuffed up from a life on the road, plus they're creased and sagging unique to the way I've lived in them. They remind me of how much I've grown and how much I've learned. Those lessons make me better everyday.
Maybe this is something other boot wearers can relate with. I see beauty in my old boots just like I see beauty in the souls around me.
Step Strong!