New Randy Travis Song Surfaces, “Lead Me Home”
This story has been updated.
Just like in May when a new song from Randy Travis surfaced called “One in a Row” unexpectedly, we have yet another new song from the Country Music Hall of Famer called “Lead Me Home” that has just been made available to the public via streaming services (listen below). Similar to “One in a Row,” the new song “Lead Me Home” was originally part of an iTunes exclusive during the heyday of the digital music format, released as part of the 2008 album Around The Bend. Now that the exclusive period has expired, the song has been made available to everyone.
The bluegrass-inspired “Lead Me Home” features plenty of dobro, banjo, mandolin, and flat-picked guitar in a song that feels just as much as a love story as a Gospel tune with its reference to cedar trees, and being led home. The Around The Bend album was Randy’s return to secular music after a stint solely recording Gospel, and the song makes a good transition between the two worlds.
Shawn Camp wrote the song with Joe Henry. “Wow! I just found out Randy Travis released a song I co-wrote with Joe Henry as his new Single! “ Camp said on Friday after learning of the release. “I’ve been a fan of his since he started out, always loved his voice! Thanks Randy Travis!”
Likely the personnel featured on the track is the same from the rest of the Around The Bend record, including Rob Ikes on dobro, Bryan Sutton on banjo, and possibly Aubrey Haynie on mandolin.
After suffering his stroke in 2013, it’s been a struggle to get by without any new music from Randy Travis, and we though we’d heard the last of it. Randy Travis released his final two records, Influence: The Man I Am Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, covering many song that made a big impact on his neotraditional style over the years. Volume 1 also included a tribute to George Jones who’d passed away mere months earlier in 2013 called “Tonight I’m Playing Possum” written by long-time Randy Travis friend and producer Keith Gattis.
Travis celebrated his 60th birthday on May 4th, and the Grand Ole Opry paid him a proper tribute on the milestone. He also recently released an autobiography recounting his life in country music called Forever and Ever, Amen, with a special emphasis on his health struggles. He signed his first major record deal in 1985, and a year later was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Randy would go on to sell over 25 million records, win seven Grammy awards, multiple CMA and ACM Awards, and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Randy Travis continues to make efforts to be a part of the country music community despite his health issues stemming from his 2013 stroke, regularly making surprise appearances at concerts and country music functions.
James Hooker
August 16, 2019 @ 10:44 am
Today was a bad day in the studio. Everything I touched blew up in my face. This evening, I shut down, locked up, and came up here to the porch, cracked a beer and clicked on this. Trig, how in the hell did you know this is exactly what I needed? Spooky.
albert
August 16, 2019 @ 12:41 pm
i think its called ” inspiration” james . hard to find it you don’t know where to look .
i just spent 4 days at a bluegrass festival and came back with a headful of song ideas that drove me to my studio for nearly a week loving every minute of it .
crack another one will ya ……..
Melissa W
August 16, 2019 @ 10:58 am
That is fantastic. Do you think or have you heard about them releasing a new record with old recorded songs instead of a song here and there? Seems like a good idea since he hasn’t recovered enough yet to record new music
Trigger
August 16, 2019 @ 11:57 am
If I were Warner, I would have kept these two tracks in my back pocket, paired them with other non-released studio recordings which we know exist, and released a new album. Perhaps that is in the works anyway, but these releases caught them just as much off guard as they have everyone else.
Bill from Wisconsin
August 17, 2019 @ 7:40 am
Maybe like the pre-release songs everyone else seems to be doing (sometimes too many of). That would be great if an album followed, but It does remind me to go back and listen to all the great music Randy has put out already. And that I bought the book and need to get reading it!
Trigger
August 16, 2019 @ 11:54 am
Just updated. Songwriters are Shawn Camp and Joe Henry.
Tom Smith
August 16, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
This is fantastic.
albert
August 16, 2019 @ 12:44 pm
its like randy knows we needed reminding of what real singing sounds like .
if this doesn’t move you it may take a coroner .
Victoria Patton Brown
August 16, 2019 @ 2:43 pm
I’m a die hard Randy Travis fan and each morning when I rise to my feet I ask Alexa to shuffle songs by Randy Travis and it makes me start my day with a smile. To be honest with you, I’m probably the only black female who is hooked on Randy. I love him. Mary has got to be the luckiest woman alive. Please let me know when he’s going to be in the Carolina’s. I’m in Charleston and I’m dying to meet him. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and his music is what kept me going. Thank you Randy. I love the new songs.
Bill from Wisconsin
August 17, 2019 @ 7:44 am
Keep going Victoria! Thanks for the advice, I just gave Alexa the same request!!!!
Steel&Antlers
August 16, 2019 @ 3:52 pm
Great song! In the top 5 of his songs for me.
Strait Country 81
August 17, 2019 @ 7:19 am
It’s not bad but definitely wouldn’t go that far.
Corncaster
August 16, 2019 @ 4:44 pm
Slick fiddle playing over that key change.
Conrad Fisher
August 16, 2019 @ 8:31 pm
This is so nice. I just read Don Cusic’s 1990 or 1991 book on Randy Travis. Good read, even if its only about his early years.
It’s an interesting thing about human nature… 10 comments on this song and 100 on the Blake Shelton thing.
Bill from Wisconsin
August 17, 2019 @ 7:53 am
You are correct, that seems to happen a lot on here. I read just about every article and at least try to give a like to other’s comments here and there just to “count” as having read as appreciation for the news shared by T.
albert
August 17, 2019 @ 9:08 am
if it ain’t broke , we ain’t lookin to fix it ( or remove it ).
i don’t curse my car when WORKS …..but you oughta hear me when it doesn’t .
Ken
August 17, 2019 @ 9:08 am
This is worth a lot more than a million songs from Blake Shelton.
Camille
August 16, 2019 @ 9:04 pm
I love his singing voice and even when he narrated his voice in many children’s movies like Annabell’s Wish. This is a real cool song he just made! I’m glad he’s recovering from the stroke. Keep the songs coming Randy!
DJ
August 17, 2019 @ 5:14 pm
That is some damn fine Blue Grass!
Benny Lee
August 19, 2019 @ 7:48 am
Beautiful song from one of the all-time greats.
I could train for 100 years and never touch the strength, humility, and emotion evoked by that man’s voice.
cinz
August 19, 2019 @ 11:16 am
beautiful music his voice is sooooo amazing God Bless him and continue to heal 🙏