Song Premiere: Kyle Cox, “Trusty Ol’ Pair of Boots”

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kyle Cox is no longer writing songs from the comfort of his Orlando front porch, but one of the tracks off his upcoming EP, Trio & Friends, goes back to a moment on that porch when a quick glance at his work boots turned into an instant love song.

“I remember writing this song on the front porch of my house in Orlando,” Cox said. “Sarah was off at work, and I just had my feet kicked up and I was messing with my guitar. As I was looking down at my feet, I started fitting the first lyric of the song — “Like a trusty ol’ pair of boots, honey I wear your love just right …” — into what I was strumming. From there the song basically wrote itself. It was one of those fun, rare moments as a songwriter that you feel you discovered the song, not wrote the song.

In advance of his forthcoming EP, out June 3, Cox is sharing “Trusty Ol’ Pair of Boots,” a two-and-a-half-minute track that compares the warm feeling of love to a well-fitting pair of work boots, with lyrics like, “Built to last and never fall apart/ only fits better over time” and “I’m not trying on others/ your love’s just my size.” Cox’s half-sung/half-spoken melodies on the track recall those of the Avett Brothers, which is fitting since Trio & Friends was produced by the band’s drummer, Mike Marsh.

Listen to “Trusty Ol’ Pair of Boots” below: