Rail-tie worker, I’ve been layin’ ties on coal in the ground
But I’m leavin’ this evenin’ on the same tracks I laid down
There’s some boys out in Jersey that are calling me out by name
I got a reason to believe I ain’t glory bound anyway
And if you’re reading this letter, tell my mother and my brother that I love ’em
He’s got the better blood of my old man and our cousins
But he made a bad deal with some boys out on Oak Island
And if he don’t pay, they say they’re bound to find him
But if I find ’em on that island first
The worst is yet to come
‘Cause no blood in the mud I raised in spends
Life on the run
And I went to Jay’s Tavern and it happens that them boys were there
Recognized his backside from the color of our mother’s hair
And my brother found another way to make himself a decent little livin’
He turned around and found himself a lickin’ only blood could give him
And I told him I was there to keep him clear of that island
He said, “I love you, Mickey, but I found out that I’m them”
And I got bad blood with some blood out on Oak Island
And if he stays, I say I am bound to find him
But if I find ’em on that island first
The worst is yet to come
‘Cause no blood in the mud we’s raised in spends
Life on the run
Unraveling the Story of “Oak Island”
In “Oak Island,” Zach Bryan crafts a gripping narrative centered around family loyalty, betrayal, and the inescapable pull of the past. The song follows the perspective of a rail worker who is ready to leave his old life behind but is drawn back in by his brother’s dangerous entanglements. The imagery of tracks laid down and the looming threat from “boys out in Jersey” and Oak Island evoke a sense of tension and inevitability. The protagonist’s willingness to confront violence for the sake of his brother underscores the deep-rooted connections and complexities within families, especially when old wounds and bad blood resurface. Bryan’s raw storytelling and vivid imagery make the song resonate with listeners who understand the weight of family bonds and unfinished business.
Song Credits
- Artist: Zach Bryan
- Songwriter: Zach Bryan