Eric Abel’s latest single, “If She Knew,” is a heart-rending country ballad with all the hallmarks of a late-night confession, personal as it gets but ultimately as much an homage to some timelessness of the genre. Set around an acoustic guitar’s warm, intimate tones, Abel strips everything down to the essentials and shows that simplicity can be the most potent storytelling conveyance.
He creates an intimate atmosphere, pulling listeners into a space of desire and unsaid words. The lyrics are pure poetry, each deliberately strung end to end to make the grand tapestry of a type of love with a side of anxiety and a grieving feeling of what could have been. Abel’s voice is raw and sincere, each word infused with emotion, so every note goes straight to the listener.
There’s no overproduction here, no unnecessary extras, only a delicate balance of evocative guitar riffs and heart-on-sleeve storytelling. It’s the kind of song that stays with you long after the last chord has been struck, echoing in the minds of anyone who has ever struggled with the burden of unsaid things.
