Morgan Wallen is one of the most popular and controversial country music stars today. His 2021 album, Dangerous: The Double Album, broke several records and spawned multiple hit singles, including Wasted on You. But what is the song really about, and what inspired Wallen to write it?
In this article, we will explore the meaning behind the lyrics of Wasted on You and the story behind its creation.
What is Wasted on You about?
Wasted on You is a song about regret, heartbreak, and alcohol. It describes the feelings of a man who can’t get over his ex-girlfriend and resorts to drinking to cope with his loneliness. He realises that he wasted his time, money, and emotions on someone who didn’t appreciate him and left him. He also blames himself for ruining the relationship and wishes he could have done things differently.
The song begins with the lines:
I don’t always wake up in the mornin’ Pour myself a strong one Aw, but when I get lonely I do Your memory gets burnin’ Lean back on the bourbon Sure as hell can’t keep leanin’ on you
Here, Wallen admits that he doesn’t usually drink in the morning, but he does when he misses his ex. He tries to forget her by getting drunk, but he knows that it’s not a healthy way to deal with his pain. He can’t rely on her anymore, so he leans on the bourbon instead.
The Pre-Chorus goes:
Looks like I’m learnin’ the hard way again It’s all my fault
Yeah, I dropped the ball You’re gone and I’m gone three sheets to the wind Thinkin’ ’bout all I’ve wasted on you
The chorus goes:
All of this time and all of this money All of these sorries I don’t owe you honey All of these miles on this Chevy, and prayers in a pew All them days I spent, wasted on you Wasted on you
Here, Wallen lists all the things he invested in the relationship, such as time, money, apologies, travel, and faith. He feels like he gave her everything he had, but she didn’t care or reciprocate. He regrets spending so much of his life on her, only to end up wasted on her.
The second verse continues:
Yeah, I swore this one’d be different My heart wouldn’t listen to my head and these boots on my feet Looks like I’m learning the hard way again That’s why I’ve been wasted on you
Here, Wallen reveals that he had high hopes for this relationship and thought it would be different from his previous ones. He ignored his logic and followed his heart, but it led him to disappointment. He admits that he’s making the same mistake again, and that’s why he’s been wasted on her.
The bridge adds:
Like this pile of your stuff that’s packed up in the back Right down to the flame of this match Wasted on you, wasted on you Wasted on you, wasted on you Wasted on you
Here, Wallen compares his feelings to a pile of his ex’s belongings that he wants to get rid of. He also implies that he wants to burn them with a match, symbolising his anger and resentment. He repeats the phrase “wasted on you” several times, emphasising his frustration and regret.
Final Chorus:
All of this time and all of this money All these sorries I don’t owe you, honey All of these miles on this Chevy and prayers in a pew
All them days I spent, wasted on you Wasted on you
What inspired Wasted on You?
According to Genius, “Wasted on You” was written by Morgan Wallen along with Josh Thompson, Charlie Handsome, and ERNEST. It was produced by Jacob Durrett and Joey Moi. It was released as part of Wallen’s second studio album, Dangerous: The Double Album, on January 8, 2021. It debuted at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Wallen’s fourth number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart.
In an interview with Apple Music, Wallen said that he wrote Wasted on You during a difficult time in his personal life. He said:
“I was going through some stuff at home at that point in time when we wrote it. And I just felt like it was something that needed to be said from me personally.”
Wallen also revealed that he was inspired by his own experiences with drinking and driving. He said:
“I’ve been in trouble before, you know, with drinking and driving. And I’ve learned my lesson from that. And I just kind of wanted to put that into a song.”
However, Wallen’s troubles with alcohol did not end there. In May 2020, he was arrested on public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges after being kicked out of Kid Rock’s bar in Nashville. He later apologised on Twitter and said he was “horse-playing” with his friends. In October 2020, he was dropped as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live after violating COVID-19 protocols by partying without a mask in Alabama. He again apologised and said he was “pretty short-sighted” and “missed a long-term opportunity for a momentary lapse in judgement.” In May 2021, he was arrested again for driving under the influence after striking a vehicle carrying three other civilians, leaving one of them in critical condition. He was charged with DUI and released on a $2,500 bond.
How did fans and critics react to Wasted on You?
Despite Wallen’s legal and personal issues, Wasted on You was a huge commercial success. It became his fourth number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart and his first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
It also received positive reviews from critics, who praised Wallen’s vocals, lyrics, and production. For example, Billy Dukes of Taste of Country wrote:
The song is a showcase for Wallen’s vocal range and ability to emote. He’s convincing as a heartbroken man who can’t quit the bottle or the girl who left him behind. The production is sparse but effective, allowing his voice to carry the weight of the song.
Fans also loved the song and related to its message of regret and sorrow. Many of them shared their own stories of wasted love and alcohol on social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. Some of them even created their own covers or remixes of the song.
Conclusion
Wasted on You is a song by Morgan Wallen that reflects his personal struggles with alcohol and relationships. It is a song about regretting spending so much time, money, and emotions on someone who didn’t appreciate him and left him. It is also a song about blaming himself for ruining the relationship and wishing he could have done things differently.
The song was inspired by Wallen’s own experiences with drinking and driving, which landed him in trouble with the law several times. The song was a huge hit among fans and critics, who praised Wallen’s vocals, lyrics, and production. It became his fourth number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart and his first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.