Riley Green Standout Songs Show His Songwriting Talent

Nashville, TN — Country artist Riley Green has emerged as one of the top songwriters of his generation. Since his debut album, “Different ‘Round Here,” released in 2019, he has written a vast majority of his tracks, showcasing his lyrical abilities.

One of his most notable songs, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” co-written with Buford Green and Lendon Bonds, explores nostalgic themes of youth and longing. The song’s lyrics include poignant lines like, “I wish high school home teams never lost / And back road drinking kids never got caught.” This track garnered the attention of established artist Brad Paisley, who encouraged Green to release it as a single after covering it on Instagram. “Brad’s got however many hits, that even remotely likes a song that I wrote is a pretty cool thing,” Green said.

Another strong entry from Green is “Jesus Saves” from his 2024 album, “Don’t Mind If I Do.” The song tells the story of a homeless man reflecting on his difficult life experiences, echoing themes of hardship and resilience. “It was me passing the same guy on the same corner in Nashville,” Green shared about the inspiration behind the song. “He’s got one little piece of cardboard to try to tell people his story.”

In addition to these heartfelt tracks, Green also captures playful themes in “Damn Good Day To Leave,” co-written with Erik Dylan, Jonathan Singleton, and Nick Walsh. The track blends humor with the pain of a breakup, as Green croons, “You picked a damn good day to leave me.”

Finally, the title track “Don’t Mind If I Do” sees Green teaming up with Ella Langley. The chemistry between the two artists is palpable, and Green remarked, “It’s a weird thing to write a duet by yourself and write from a female perspective — I love the job Ella did on it.” The lyrics express longing and vulnerability as the narrator struggles with feelings of love and loss.

Through these songs, Riley Green proves that he is not just a performer, but also a gifted storyteller who connects deeply with his audience.