Song

Cover Me Up

Jason Isbell

Album:

Southeastern

Cover Me Up Song Meaning by Jason Isbell (covered by Morgan Wallen)

The song was written for Isbell's wife, Amanda Shires, he revealed to NPR in 2013. He thought that the song portrayed his love for Shires so deeply that it was "a hard one for me to even get through without breaking down the first time." After Isbell finished his alcohol treatment, the matching album was released.

Before his studio version was released, Morgan Wallen had been performing live covers of the song for over a year. These performances included a tour with Luke Combs and a video shoot for the country music website Taste of Country. Although fans' reactions to Wallen's live covers had been varied, Isbell expressed his support of Wallen's performance, according to the latter outlet. Wallen's version appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Canadian Hot 100 charts in 2019 and 2020 despite not being issued as a single.

Cover Me Up lyrics by Jason Isbell

A heart on the run keeps a hand on the gun you can't trust anyone

I was so sure what I needed was more tried to shoot out the sun

Days when we raged, we flew off the page such damage was done

But I made it through, cause somebody knew I was meant for someone

So girl, leave your boots by the bed we ain't leaving this room

Till someone needs medical help or the magnolias bloom

It's cold in this house and I ain't going out to chop wood

So cover me up and know you're enough to use me for good

Put your faith to the test when I tore off your dress in Richmond on high

But I sobered up and I swore off that stuff forever, this time

And the old lovers sing “I thought it'd be me who helped him get home”