Flowers (Billy Yates song)

"Flowers"
Single by Billy Yates
from the album Billy Yates
Released	May 24, 1997 (1997-05-24)
Genre	Country
Length	2:59
Label	Almo Sounds
Songwriter(s)	Billy Yates, Monty Criswell
Producer(s)	Billy Yates, Garth Fundis
Billy Yates singles chronology
"I Smell Smoke" (1997) "Flowers" (1997) "When the Walls Come Tumblin' Down" (1997)

"Flowers" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Billy Yates. It was released in May 1997 as the second single from his self-titled debut album.

Content

"Flowers" was the second single from Yates' self-titled debut album. The label had originally released "I Smell Smoke", but switched singles in mid-1997 due to demand from radio stations which had begun to play that song instead.^[1] Co-writer Monty Criswell came up with the song's central story line, about a man who expresses remorse towards his dead wife, whom he killed in an automobile accident caused by him driving under the influence. This sentiment is not expressed until the song's final verse, where Yates sings the lyric "Look what it took for me to finally bring you flowers."^[2]

Critical reception

An uncredited review in Billboard was positive toward the song, calling it "unquestionably one of the most powerful ballads to emerge from the format since George Jones crooned 'He Stopped Loving Her Today'."^[3]

Cover versions

Chris Young covered "Flowers" on his 2006 self-titled debut album.^[4]

Chart performance

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5]	36

References

1. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records: 55. May 16, 1997.
2. "Billy Yates would like his songs to hit a nerve". The Indianapolis News. August 6, 1997. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. "Reviews". Billboard. May 24, 1997. p. 54.
4. Jurek, Thom. "Chris Young review".
5. "Billy Yates Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2020.