Koe Wetzel Drops Solo Version of “High Road”

Ask, and you shall receive. Koe Wetzel is giving the fans what they want: a solo version of “High Road.” Since he announced his forthcoming album, *9 Lives*, he has been releasing teasers for all the tracks that will be included. Fans instantly connected with “High Road,” which led to some confusion when Wetzel teased it as a solo single but then released it as a duet with Jessie Murph.

Koe stood by his decision to release it as a duet, despite the criticism. He insisted that fans will always find something to complain about. In his statement, he mentioned that a solo version would eventually come out, but that wasn’t how he wanted to introduce the song.

“Yeah, the first time I saw that there was anything being brought up about it, I didn’t really understand it at all. Jessie’s just such a badass. And so I think we had a plan… the ‘High Road’ version, the single version, will eventually come out. But I was asked if we wanted to put it out sooner rather than later, and I was like, screw that. I believed in this version since Jessie cut her part on it. I think she kind of made the song what it is, and so yeah, that song, it fits with both of us very well.”

Koe made the right choice by releasing the song with Jessie Murph. It was the first official single he sent to country radio, and the single debuted in the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100. Say what you will about Murph’s inclusion in the song, but the proof is in the pudding that it’s a hit.

However, the “eventually” for a solo version came much sooner than people expected. Today, Koe Wetzel released a solo version of “High Road.” Now fans get the best of both worlds: they can choose which version they prefer and stop complaining about not having the version Koe initially teased.

I have to admit, the addition of Jessie Murph has grown on me. I love the depth the second chorus achieves with a female voice. However, I do slightly prefer Koe’s original verse in this version over Jessie’s.

“Call me a son of a bitch
For being honest,
Yeah, that’s what I get
Fuck it, I quit
You keep losing your head
About some girl, I ain’t with
The rumors always turn into
Yelling and fighting
And once it’s in your mind
Only one way you’re driving…”

Koe’s verse drives home the toxic verbal cycle this relationship endures and highlights his realization that he needs to take the “High Road.” By walking away from another fight filled with low blows and words they’ll later regret, he is finally making the wise choice.

What a stellar surprise drop for this Friday. Fire it up.