Tyler Booth’s debut release with Average Joes Entertainment and Jamey Johnson’s Big Gassed Records arrives in the form of “Clean Dirt,” a song about redemption, grace, and the unwavering nature of forgiveness, and it features Johnson himself on the track after hearing it and immediately wanting in.
The song was written by Booth alongside Phil O’Donnell, whose songs have been recorded by George Strait, Blake Shelton, and Montgomery Gentry, and Brian Davis, whose cuts include songs recorded by Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Jason Aldean. O’Donnell also produced the track. The writing session came together quickly around a hook the two writers had been sitting on for a while. “They had the hook: ‘three boards, two nails and one man to clean dirt,'” Booth says. “We wrote it that day.”
Johnson’s perspective on the song is equally direct. “It’s about redemption and God’s grace,” he says. “It points out that it isn’t what we do. It’s something Jesus Christ has already done and all we have to do is accept it. It’s a wonderful message that Tyler has woven into this song.” That Johnson chose to join the track rather than simply praise it from a distance says everything about how the song landed with him.
“Everybody has their trials and tribulations,” Booth adds. “There is always room for redemption.” It’s a straightforward sentiment delivered without apology, and the song is stronger for it.