Nineteen (song)
Nineteen is a track composed by Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, and Gary Nicholson. Initially performed by the country duo Waycross, it was subsequently interpreted by Billy Ray Cyrus on his 2011 release I'm American. Cyrus issued it as the album's second single on September 26, 2011.
History
Penned by Hambridge, Steele, and Nicholson, "Nineteen" tells the story of a high school football standout who, motivated by the events of the September 11 attacks, chooses to enlist in the United States Marine Corps rather than accept a sports scholarship. The song's storyline culminates in his ultimate sacrifice during military service, with "nineteen" symbolizing his jersey number on the football team.
The first rendition came from Nashville-based duo Waycross, made up of Ted Moxley and Ben Stennis. Other notable covers include Taylor Hicks' 2009 album The Distance and Clayton Bellamy's 2012 release Everyone's a Dreamer.
Critical reception
Billy Dukes from Taste of Country commended Cyrus's version, emphasizing that the song's multiple previous recordings demonstrate its enduring resonance within country music circles. He particularly noted the heartfelt emotion conveyed through Cyrus's vocal performance.
Chart performance
In 2007, Waycross's recording of "Nineteen" peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, representing their sole charting single.
Billy Ray Cyrus's interpretation entered the same chart at number 58 during the week ending October 8, 2011. This marked his first appearance on the chart since "A Good Day," which reached number 59 in September 2009.
Waycross
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Country Songs (Billboard) | 54 |
Billy Ray Cyrus
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Template:Singlechart |