Format Digital download Length 3:49 | Recorded 2010 Label EMI Nashville | |
Released February 28, 2011 (2011-02-28) Writer(s) Eric Church
Casey Beathard | ||
"Homeboy" is a song co-written by American country music artist Eric Church. It was released in February 2011 as the ninth single of his career, and the first from his album Chief. Church wrote the song with Casey Beathard.
Contents
Content
In "Homeboy", the narrator addresses a delinquent brother who has taken to a destructive urban lifestyle. The lyrics play on the word "homeboy", turning it into a plea for his brother to "come on home, boy." Church wrote the song with Casey Beathard, who came up with the song's idea after hearing his son say "come on, homeboy" to a friend. He made the song available as a free digital download from his website between February 20 and 24, 2011, although it was not available from retailers until March 8.
Critical reception
Matt Bjorke of Roughstock rated the single four stars out of five, calling it "relatable on many levels" and praising the "interesting musical accompaniment". He thought that the "loud guitars are sure to turn off some people", but thought that the song would appeal to fans of Hank Williams, Jr. or Charlie Daniels. Stephen M. Deusner of Engine 145 gave the song a "thumbs down", calling it "actively, even aggressively bad to the point of insulting, both culturally and musically." He thought that the song stereotyped the urban lifestyle, and thought that the production "topples over into self-parody".
Music video
The music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and premiered in May 2011. It was filmed at the former Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, Tennessee, where Church also filmed the video for "Lightning", an album track from his first album. In the video, the brother character is shown being pursued by police officers, jailed, and then leaving jail while realizing the effects of his decisions.