Florida Georgia Line is an American country pop duo consisting of vocalists Brian Kelley (from Ormond Beach, Florida) and Tyler Hubbard (from Monroe, Georgia). They have achieved major success since their inception and are one of the most successful country music acts of the 2010s.

Their music has been tagged as bro-country, transitioning from the traditional country feel to their hybrid sounds and their lyrical focus about backroads, girls, alcoholic drinks and trucks.

 

 

All analysis contains:

  1. Marked up lyric sheets (PDF's can be downloaded and printed)
  2. Form
  3. Section detailed analysis
  4. Results
  5. Commentary
  6. Toolbox Take-a-ways
  7. Video (or audio) of the entire song
  8. Comment Box
  9. Forums

"This Is How We Roll" Florida Georgia Line feat Luke Brian.  Songwriters: Brian Kelley / Cole Swindell / Luke Bryan / Tyler Hubbard 

Form: (Click here if you's like a pdf of the lyric sheets with markup to print or download) 

Verse: 2 block verse with the first block being closed and the second block being open

Block 1:

  • The first 4 lines have internal rhymes that keeps an emphasis on the melodic cadencing. "tapes" to "drake". "Bumping, thump, thumping". "Drink" to "think". "Grip" to "sip".
  • This block is symetrical: each line is 2 bars.
  • The first 4 lines are sub-divided into 1/8 note rhythms EXCEPT for the "wheel ride" and "feel right" creating a strong closed verse, block 1.
  • Use of "bro-country" slang. "wheel ride" meaning the truck.  "Feel right" meaning booze.  Then in block 2, "jacked up" (raising the truck up on it's suspension) "flat bills flipped back" a specific type of truckers hat being worn backwards.
  • Line 2 "ride" and line 4 "right" are soft or feminine rhymes

Block 2:

  • First line is now 1/4 note rhythms, giving the ear a rest in preparation for the last line.
  • This block acts as a climb in the fact that the lines are shorter and it creates a strong acceleration to the chorus and is open.
  • The last line is an odd meter (6/4) or 1.5 bars which creates a massive acceleration into the hook.

Verse only: 

 

 

 

 

Chorus:

  • "This is how we roll" a pop phrase meaning this is our style, our method.  A very personal, patriotic statement since 9/11 flight 93.  Todd Beamer's last words: "let's roll"
  • The "millenial whoop" (actual term) Using a single syllable or sound and singing a melody that engages the crowd.  Tribal, chant.  Audience participation.  Engagement.
  • Use of Positional words: up / down, do, out / on
  • Actional bro-country slang.  "shooting bullets at the moon", "burning down the night", "this is how we do", et al.  Do the research
  • This is a closed chorus.  It's appropriate to go to a second verse or a bridge.  You finished a statement...make another, but structure it the same.

Chorus only:

 

Result:

  1. Very energetic and fast moving verse.  Complex verse (2 blocks) where the first block is symetrical and closed, but the second block is asymetrical and open
  2. Block 2 of the verse acts simliare to a climb.  Stong acceleration and push to focus on the hook.
  3. Establishes the "bro-country" style.  The assumption is you KNOW what these slangs are (even if you don't) which creates an inclusiveness.  You're now part of our culture
  4. Verse, block 2, line 1 is a completely different pacing, giving the ear a rest and making the next line stand out as oppoesed to coming after the longer, faster lines (1,2,3,4)
  5. Crowd participation mechanisum by using the "millenial whoop" strengthens the hook.
  6. It's very sing-song and is country geographically specific

Commentary:

It's perfect country!  You want to sing along, live the life-style.  You may not know what some of the slang is, but you WANT TO KNOW, making the song attractive. The positioning words paint a moving around scenario.  It's a party!  Trucks, good times, girls, booze, sing-along.  The lyrics create a vision of what you would expect to see in the video.  The storyboard is easy to produce.

Toolbox Take-a-ways: 

  1. A complex verse is a great way to keep allow a verse to contain a tradition ABAB rhymes plate, yet not end up being "boxy"
  2. Positional words show action.  Antonyms (words that are opposite) are a great tool to create forward motion
  3. Combine longer phrase with short phrases to break up the pulse and give the ear a rest.
  4. The Millenial Whoop!  Creates audience participation.  Fortifies the hook.  Trending

Video:

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