Introduction:
Walker Hayes and Kane Brown Share Emotional Fatherhood Journey in “Song For My Son”
Two country powerhouses — and devoted dads — Walker Hayes and Kane Brown are joining forces for a heartfelt new collaboration, “Song For My Son.” The track appears on Hayes’ just-released album, 17 Problems (RCA Records), and delivers one of the most raw and spiritual moments of his career.
Written by Walker Hayes, Ben Williams, and Billy Dawson, the song was born out of a deeply personal conversation about fatherhood, faith, and breaking generational cycles. Hayes admits that he’s not someone who finds praying out loud easy, yet through this song, he found a sense of peace and vulnerability.
“It’s one of those songs where we weren’t performing — we were just talking to God,” Hayes explained. “It’s the most meaningful track on my album. It feels like a gift from the Lord.”
The narrative follows a father’s plea to God for guidance as he wrestles with the fear of passing down his own flaws and mistakes to his child. Hayes opens the song reflecting on his 10 years of sobriety, while Brown takes over in the second verse, admitting that while he holds no resentment toward his own father, he’s determined to chart a different course for his son.
Together, the two pour their hearts out in the chorus:
“Jesus, please just come on back, I need ya / I’m desperate, messed up, tryin’ to do my best but / I’m scared all I’m passin’ my son down is my bad stuff / Father, help me how am I supposed to do this dad stuff / I hate church but I love You / And I’m prayin’ he does too / Looks up to me but I hope he sees me lookin’ up to / Jesus, Jesus.”
Both singers have been open about their personal challenges and their desire to be better fathers. Hayes and his wife Laney share six children — Lela, Loxley, Everly, Chapel, Baylor, and Beckett — and honor the memory of their late daughter, Oakleigh, who passed away shortly after birth in 2018. Brown and his wife Katelyn are parents to daughters Kingsley and Kodi, and their baby boy Krewe.
Brown praised the collaboration, saying:
“When Walker sent me the song, I knew I had to jump on it. I love the lyrics and the sentiment. I connected to it immediately and have so much respect for Walker as both an artist and a father.”
Described as his “most honest and emotionally raw album to date,” Hayes’ 17 Problems is a collection of songs rooted in reflection, grief, growth, and gratitude. “I’m at that point in life where I’m losing my dad and raising kids,” Hayes said. “The songs have this feeling of looking back and asking, ‘How do I do this?’”
In addition to “Song For My Son,” the album features standout tracks like “17 Year Old Problems,” “Pocket Knife,” “Neon Lights,” and “Mother.” Hayes wrote more than 100 songs before narrowing the record down to 17, collaborating with Grammy-winning talents including Warren “Oak” Felder, Shane McAnally, and Bart Millard.
To celebrate the release, Hayes has announced his “Walker Hayes: Unplugged Tour,” an 18-date acoustic run offering fans an intimate look at his storytelling and songwriting. The tour kicks off October 17, following his Grand Ole Opry debut on August 29.
With “Song For My Son,” Hayes and Brown deliver a moving testament to the struggles, faith, and redemption that come with fatherhood — a message both deeply personal and universally relatable.