In Camouflage Cowboy, Drew Parker Doesn’t Hide Who He Is
Hit Singer & Songwriter Drew Parker Talks Time On Deer Stand & A Brush With Death By Catfish
As Drew Parker was putting the finishing touches on his debut album, Camouflage Cowboy, he wrote one last song on a whim.
As it turns out, “Love the Leavin’” was so good that several major country music stars wanted to record it. Previously, Parker wrote hits for other artists, such as Luke Combs’ “Doin’ This” and “Forever After All,” and Jake Owen’s “Homemade.” So, when “Love the Leavin’” caught the interest of Combs, Morgan Wallen and Nate Smith, Parker figured he had another hit for someone else to record.
But his record label had other ideas.
“We had a meeting and I played them that song, just to get their thoughts, but I said I doubt we can record it because it’s on hold with these other artists and my record is done,” Parker says. “The head of the record label heard the song and said ‘Your record is not done.’”
“Love the Leavin’” was the first single released from the album, and the bluesy ballad gave Parker a boost of confidence. For years he wrote hits for others, now he was doing I for himself.
Behind Drew Parker’s Lyrics
While the 32-year-old is established as a successful songwriter, he admits to being a little unproven as an artist. That’s why Parker felt it was important to put himself out there with the new 14-track album, using details of his life as the basis for the songs.
“When you start putting together a record for yourself, you want to be way more honest because you’re basically writing about yourself,” Parker says.
Still, it’s not easy to put one’s emotions in a song for the world to hear, yet Parker didn’t shy away from sharing everything.
The album’s title track focuses on mental health and how Parker deals with the pressures of being a husband, father and a rising country music star building a career. He may have a tough exterior, but Parker admits it’s daunting and a little bit freeing to express the challenges of life in a song.
“It’s important to let your fans know exactly who you are, your loves, your struggles and your faith. I’m open and honest about all of it,” he says.
Parker Is Outdoors Through & Through
In Camouflage Cowboy, Parker hides nothing about his life and his outdoor roots.
He grew up hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather in Georgia. Together, they bowhunted for deer and burned through shotgun shells on bird hunts, specifically dove, quail, pheasant and duck. Shooting birds remains his favorite pursuit in the field, but on the water there’s no question which species tops the list.
“If I can fill up a cooler with catfish or crappie, that’s truly what I love to do,” Parker says.
In fact, his love of catfish led to a near-tragic experience years ago.
Shortly after Parker graduated from high school, he and his buddies spent the weekend running jug lines for catfish on Lake Sinclair in Georgia.
Near-Death Catfish Experience
Lake Sinclair is a man-made impoundment created by the Wallace Dam, which is operated by Georgia Power. Parker and his friends often spent weekends there fishing for catfish, but on this occasion, the trip took a turn for the worse.
With the jugs on the water, Parker and his buddies hung out in the boat waiting for the catfish to hit. After a while, they noticed the jugs—and the boat—drifting closer to the dam. Water was being pulled back by the dam’s turbines to re-fill Lake Oconee on the other side, and the boat was being pulled along as well.
“At one point, we were like alright, we should pick everything up and get out of here,” Parker recalls. “But the motor wouldn’t crank.”
In a last-ditch effort, the group grabbed a few oars and tried in vain to paddle against the strong current. Soon, the boat was pulled against the dam, and fear set in.
“We were holding ourselves off the dam with the oars. I thought this is how I’m going to die,” Parker says.
Finally, with one last desperate attempt, the motor cranked and fired and Parker and his buddies high-tailed it out of there.
The only thing lost that night was a bunch of catfish jugs.
Drew Parker’s Trail Ahead
With most of his time today spent on the road touring or with his family, Drew Parker’s outdoor adventures are a bit more… safe. Aside from a few fishing trips between shows, most of his outdoor time is spent on a mountain bike, exploring the countryside whenever the tour bus stops for the next show.
Whether it’s on a bike, in a boat or sitting in a deer stand, any time Parker can spend outdoors serves as inspiration for the next hit song. If he’s going to be honest with fans about who he is, it’s no surprise that Parker’s songs reflect his love of hunting and fishing.
“I’ve always tried to write songs that make me feel nostalgic, and that includes those awesome times I spent hunting with my dad and fishing with my buddies,” he says.
Check out more from Drew Parker at https://www.drewparkermusic.com.
Camouflage Cowboy Track List
1. The Truck (Drew Parker, James McNair, Lindsay Rimes, Dylan Marlowe)
2. Fishin’ On A River (Parker, Cole Taylor, David Fanning)
3. Tomorrow (Parker, Harley Parker, Jon Nite, Rimes)
4. Whiskey Proof (Parker, Nite, Andrew DeRoberts)
5. Love The Leavin’ (Parker, Matt Rogers, Rimes)
6. Better On A Boat (Parker, Dan Isbell, Jacob Rice)
7. Luck Don’t Live Around Here (Neil Thrasher, Kelley Lovelace, Chris DeStefano)
8. The Time We Had (Parker, Billy Dawson, Lee Thomas Miller)
9. Camouflage Cowboy (Parker)
10. Hillbilly Billionaires (Parker, Rice, Jordan Walker)
11. Clearly Confused (John Morgan, Jeb Gipson)
12. Hill I’m Climbing (Parker, Rimes, Cary Barlowe)
13. Running On The Wild Side (Parker, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell)
14. What A Day That Will Be (feat. The Isaacs) (Traditional Hymn)