- Bryon Harris
Bill Abernathy - 'Can't Go Back'
BWH Music Group’s Keepin' It Country, Vol. One, by Various Artists, contains an eclectic mix of 17 songs by today's best independent country artists and Songwriters. With great storytelling and heart-felt performances at the core of each song, the album spans traditional and contemporary Country music. Off the compilation, Bill Abernathy's single, "Can't Go Back," will remind you of the good old days and why you can't relive them unless, of course, it's through great music.
A downbeat on the drums paves the way for the twangy guitar centered, easy-to-tap your foot to, introduction that opens “Can’t Go Back.” The vibe is inviting and laid-back. Bill Abernathy wastes no time getting to the point, “I’ve been sitting around thinking about the good old days,all the good times we had, the games that we played. Didn’t know what we had then. It kinda makes me laugh. I’m so glad that we can never go back.”
There’s no turning back the clock in this upbeat, easy-to-relate to song. Vocally, Bill is unpretentious and down-to-earth; he's a great story-teller who unfolds the good old days with a nice sense of nostalgia in his vocal presentation. Lyrically, the song paints a vivid picture that captures a moment and a feeling. Lyrically, the writing is observational picking up on small details that say it all. “Later in life you meet, and they’re dressed to impress as a hot mess in a tight red sequined dress.”
The band is Bill Abernathy on guitars and vocals, Max Berry on guitars, bass and vocals, Paul Roberts on keyboards, and Thomas Freight Train Walker on drums. They keep the energy up from the first note to the last. A well-conceived bridge and instrumental section builds nicely to the catchy chorus. Written by Bill Abernathy and Randy Seedorff, the chorus, which repeats the phrase “No You Can’t Go Back. You Can’t Gp Back. You Can’t relive your past. You Can Never Go Back” is as catchy as a past memory that gets stuck in your head - soon you’ll be singing along, but in this case you will want to go back...and repeat the song.
Bill Abernathy delivers a slice of nostalgic memories sprinkled with some good old-fashioned advise in “Can’t Go Back” and this is a theme that everyone can relate to. The universal emotion of longing for the past then realizing it’s too late to relive it is captured with good-nature lyrics and great music in “Can’t Go Back.” Bill Abernathy delivers a slice of life in every well-written song.
'Keepin' It Country, Vol. One' is available on all major digital outlets. For more information about the album and artists, visit BWH Music Group.
About Bill Abernathy
Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Bill Abernathy fell in love with music at an early age and was writing original music in his teen years. As a young man, his attentions turned to raising a family and a business career. Bill’s hiatus from the music would ended shortly after his children finished school.
In 2017, Bill Abernathy’s album “Find A Way” reached #5 on the Roots Music Report Traditional Folk Albums chart, spending more than a year on the chart and his single, “Goodbye Will Never Come Again” reached #1 on the Traditional Folk Songs chart. Off his latest album, “Crossing Willow Creek,” which has received extensive accolades, his first single, “Cry Wolf” climbed several radio airplay charts. Bill’s reemergence into the music limelight is heralded by his signature storytelling style. Bill is a pure lyrics-writer and a gripping storyteller; his music grows from the seeds of experience first writer and a gripping storyteller; his music grows from the seeds of experience.