Last Dollar (Fly Away)
"Last Dollar (Fly Away)" | ||||
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Single by Tim McGraw | ||||
from the album Let It Go | ||||
Released | January 8, 2007 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 4:30 (album version) 3:57 (radio edit) | |||
Label | Curb | |||
Songwriter(s) | Big Kenny | |||
Producer(s) |
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Tim McGraw singles chronology | ||||
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"Last Dollar (Fly Away)" is a song written by Big Kenny, one half of the duo Big & Rich, and recorded by American country music artist Tim McGraw. It was released in January 2007 as the first single from his album Let It Go. "Last Dollar (Fly Away)" reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, becoming McGraw's first Number One country hit since "Back When" in late 2004. Big Kenny later recorded the song for his 2010 album, Big Kenny's Love Everybody Traveling Musical Medicine Show Mix Tape, Vol. 1.
Background
William Kenneth Alphin, otherwise known as
He and his manager were in the city as part of the
From that point, Alphin's career took off, both as a songwriter and as part of the duo Big & Rich. Several years after the incident, he played some of his songs for McGraw. "I'll never forget the day I played him the song," Alphin said. "We were at Blackbird Studio and Tim was making a new album. As we sat together in my truck, I played him a couple of the songs that I was recording. The second song I played was "Last Dollar." He looked over at me and said, "Are you gonna let me record that?"[1]
Content
The song is an up-tempo in the key of
McGraw's daughters, Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey, sing on the song's final chorus. When Alphin heard McGraw's final version, with the children joining in at the end, "I nearly lost it," he said. "That moment of reflection in Las Vegas all that time ago gave me the hope to keep going and now five years later, that hope is a hit song for my friend Tim McGraw."[1]
Critical reception
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a B rating. He said the song is "a wry twist on the 'I’m poor, but rich because I have you' nonsense that often passes for a love song in country music." He then added that the only problem with the single is the high number of production tricks.[2]
Music video
The music video is partially a live video, and was directed by Sherman Halsey, and it premiered on
Track listing
US promotional CD single Curb CURBD-2015
- "Last Dollar (Fly Away)" Album Version 4:29
- "Last Dollar (Fly Away)" Radio Edit 3:57
- Suggested Callout Research Hook :10
Chart performance
"Last Dollar (Fly Away)" debuted at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs for the week of January 13, 2007.
The song reached Number One on the
Chart (2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada | 1 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 13 |
US Billboard Pop 100 | 18 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2007) | Position |
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US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] | 17 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c "'Big Kenny' of Smash Country Duo Big & Rich, Reveals the Surprising Personal Story of His 'Last Dollar' that Inspired the Writing of Country Radio's Hit Single, 'Last Dollar (Fly Away)'". PR Newswire. April 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
- ^ Coyne, Kevin John (2007-01-03). "Tim McGraw - "Last Dollar (Fly Away)"". Country Universe. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ "Country Standard Time: Tim McGraw checks in at number one on Billboard overall, country music charts"
- ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
- ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Tim McGraw Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Best of 2007: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
- ^ "American single certifications – Tim McGraw – Last Dollar (Fly Away)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
External links
- "Last Dollar (Fly Away)" video at CMT.com