Dean Johnson shares ‘Before You Hit the Ground,’ a bittersweet single from upcoming LP I Hope We Can Still Be Friends
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Dean Johnson returns with ‘Before You Hit the Ground,’ the lead single from his upcoming Saddle Creek debut, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, out August 22, 2025. The track arrives alongside a stirring music video directed by Ryan McMackin.
‘Before You Hit the Ground’ distills the songwriter’s talent for crafting emotionally resonant vignettes, pairing his haunting tenor with warm, earthy instrumentation. Drawing inspiration from both natural disaster and classic rock iconography, Johnson sings, “Buddy Holly, hear him ravin’ on / Well, I went to try them Texas skies / But by Oklahoma, a twister took me by the hand And lifted me a mile high.” The result is a meditation on fleeting optimism in the face of growing dread, captured with understated beauty and layered emotional weight. The accompanying video references Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, nodding to existential questions that match the song’s tone.
On the track, Johnson shares:
“This song speaks to the challenges I’ve had writing upbeat lyrics, and more broadly suggests how difficult it’s become to feel hopeful amidst the literal and figurative tornadoes and tempests surrounding all of us. These sentiments contrast references to Buddy Holly, a guy renowned for finding the sunny side. Ultimately, it has more congruity with his plane going down and evokes the growing divide between us and the chances of happy outcomes. Hey Buddy, did ya close your eyes and pray that you would wake up?”
‘Before You Hit the Ground’ is out now.
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