Am I the Only One (Aaron Lewis song)

Lewis released the song digitally on July 2, 2021, and Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group will release it to country radio on July 26.[3] Prior to releasing it as a single, Lewis performed it for the first time on March 12, 2021 at Billy Bob's Texas, a nightclub in Fort Worth, Texas.[4]

In it, he expresses his conservative viewpoints. Among his criticisms are the destruction or removal of monuments, presumably those glorifying the Confederate States of America, as well as opposition to Bruce Springsteen's liberal views.[5] Lewis co-wrote the song with Ira Dean (of Trick Pony) and Jeffrey Steele; Lewis and Dean also produced the track.[6] The song has been described as an acoustic ballad.[7]

BJ Mac of The Nash News reviewed the song positively, calling it "a mellow, somber song about the relatable feeling of nostalgia and unease when the world seems to be changing too much and too abruptly."[8] Conversely, music publication MetalSucks panned the song, calling the lyrics "stupid" and the patriotic posturing hypocritical, considering Lewis himself had previously publicly sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" incorrectly, and has never "taken a bullet" for his country despite the song suggesting otherwise.[9]

Political commentator David Corn wrote negatively of the song, which he described as "a lugubrious lament for the end of the Trump presidency" and has suggested that it might influence a repeat of the 2021 United States Capitol attack, stating that it offers "the same toxic fusion of misguided patriotism and nostalgic support for traitors that fueled many of the Trumpers who ransacked the Capitol and savagely beat, pummeled, tased, and maced law enforcement officers", adding that "Lewis just can’t figure out why the nation gave the boot to a racist, misogynistic, and autocratic demagogue who mismanaged a pandemic, perpetuated the Big Lie, and incited a violent raid on the citadel of America democracy". He also has suggested that the closing lyrics indicate that "Lewis appears to be telling his fans that now’s the time to do combat—when bullets will be flying—for Trumpism. In the post-1/6 stretch—after thousands stormed Capitol Hill for Dear Leader—it’s hard not to view this as bordering on incitement."[10]

After music industry writer Bob Lefsetz criticized Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta for releasing the song, which he felt "should have been played at CPAC, in between speeches by nitwits like Lauren Boebert saying to refuse the 'Fauci ouchie'",[11] Borchetta responded by saying: "Aaron Lewis and I have political disagreements. But there are also things we agree on. I think that’s the foundation for the idea of our country...You don’t have to agree or acknowledge, but Aaron’s message is speaking to millions of people."[12][10]

The music video was released on October 1, 2021. According to the report of Breitbart News, the video is "set the anthem to a montage of patriotic Americana as well as images from Black Lives Matter riots and COVID-19 shutdowns." And merges scenes of "closed businesses and empty store shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic."[13]

"Am I the Only One" debuted at the number one position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated for July 17, 2021, making it only the ninth song ever to debut at the top of that chart. The same week, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number fourteen. Both of these positions are Lewis's highest solo rankings on either chart.[3]

Adapted from AllMusic.[6]

• Jake Burns – recording
• Adam Chagnon – engineer
• Matt Combs – cello, viola, violin
• Ira Dean – producer
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Brian Judd – mixing assistant
• Ben Kitterman – production coordination
• Aaron Lewis – vocals, producer
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
• Patrick Prophet – assistant engineer
• Matt Rausch – recording
• Doug Rich – production coordination
• Bennet Salvay – arranger
• Janice Soled – production coordination
• Seth Taylor – acoustic guitar
• Biff Watson – acoustic guitar

• Lyrics of this song
• Aaron Lewis - Am I the Only One on YouTube