Parker McCollum Offers Up 'Hardcore Country' Breakup Ballad: 'Tails I Lose'

Parker McCollum delved into emotional storytelling and classic country sound on the latest offering from his soon-to-release album, “Tails I Lose.” McCollum wrote the track with Wade Bowen, Brad Warren and Brett Warren, resulting in a ballad reminiscent of “country’s classic hits,” per a press release that announced the song’s debut on Friday (April 14).

"We hadn’t heard the phrase ‘heads you win, tails I lose’ in a country song before, so we started writing that idea over a melody and dropping all kinds of imagery about breakups,” McCollum said. “When we got in the studio, Rob McNelley played that guitar sound and I was like, ‘That’s it.’ The guitar lick is so good, it sets the song up and does it justice. This song is just hardcore country. I love it and hope the fans do too.”

“Tails I Lose” is the latest track to release as McCollum readies his next era of music, Never Enough, an album that’s slated to drop on May 12. So far, he’s also shared “Stoned,” “Handle ON You,” “Speed” and “I Ain’t Going Nowhere.” See the full track list here:

1. “Hurricane” (Parker McCollum, David Lee Murphy, Jon Randall, Randy Rogers)

2. “Best I Never Had” (Parker McCollum, Will Bundy, Brett James)

3. “Things I Never Told You” (Monty Criswell, Lynn Hutton, Taylor Phillips)

4. “Burn It Down” (Parker McCollum, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose)

5. “Stoned” (Parker McCollum, Mark Holman, Brett James)

6. “Handle On You” (Parker McCollum, Monty Criswell)

7. “Lessons From An Old Man” (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Lee Miller, Jon Randall, Liz Rose)

8. “Tough People Do” (Parker McCollum, Brett James, Jon Randall)

9. “Speed” (Parker McCollum, Ryan Beaver)

10. “Tails I Lose” (Parker McCollum, Wade Bowen, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)

11. “I Ain’t Going Nowhere” (Parker McCollum, Lori McKenna, Lee Miller, Jon Randall, Liz Rose)

12. “Too Tight This Time” (Parker McCollum, Brett James, Jon Randall)

13. “Don’t Blame Me” (Parker McCollum, Brett James, Jon Randall)

14. “Have Your Heart Again” (Parker McCollum, Ashley Gorley, Lee Miller)

15. “Wheel” (Parker McCollum, Jon Randall, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)

McCollum is part of the all-star iHeartCountry Festival lineup on May 13, at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Fans across the country will able to tune in to all of the incredible live performances at this year's iHeartCountry Festival as the event will be broadcast on iHeartRadio country stations nationwide, and on iHeartRadio.com as well as the iHeartRadio app on Saturday, May 13th at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Listen to “Tails I Lose” here: