Songwriters look for inspiration everywhere, so it’s not surprising that Zach Neil’s new single came to life after a Facebook post caught his attention.
But there is an unexpected twist to the story – something Neil didn’t realize when he penned, “Till The Numbers Run Out,” his new song now on Texas country radio and available for download.
Neil is the 2022 Texas Country Music Association’s Male Artist of the Year and has earned five consecutive Top 40 Texas country singles – a drastic change for a guy who planned to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a farmer.
Farming was the family business and still is, but Neil decided to use the work ethic he acquired from his family and focus on a career in music. He is a singer, songwriter and live performer who uniquely puts his own twist on traditional country music.
His Texas country hits include: “When She Drinks Whiskey” (2019); “Something In The Stars” (2020); “Half Bad” (2021); “Long Live The Cowboy” (2022); “All The Pretty Horses” (2022); and his current single, “Till The Numbers Run Out.”
“I was scrolling through social media one day and saw a post on my feed of a guy and girl, who I don’t know personally, and it said, ‘I love you till the numbers run out.’ I thought that was an interesting way of telling someone you will love them forever,” said Neil. “I took a screenshot of the post and brought the idea to Shane Minor in Nashville, and we sat down and wrote it.”
Neil and Minor quickly knew they had achieved their goal of writing an upbeat, danceable love song that is sure to get people out on a sawdust floor. What they didn’t know is the words they used for the song title have a special meaning – not just to the guy who made the Facebook post – but to an entire family they’ve never met.
Facebook correspondence with Wyatt Wentz of Prosser, Washington, soon revealed why he wrote, “I love you till the numbers run out” to his fiancé, Tessa McDonald on Valentine’s Day.
“This saying means the world to us,” said Wentz. “Tessa’s dad passed away a couple of years ago and that was his saying. He started saying it when he was a kid to his dad, and it continued in the family. Tess even has a tattoo of the saying. It means everything to her and everything to us.”
His explanation stopped Neil in his tracks. “Wow. How awesome is that? I got chills reading his response,” said Neil. A casual scroll through social media led to a serendipitous find and the birth of a song Neil hopes will serve as a tribute to Tessa’s dad, Lane McDonald.
Wentz and Tessa got to listen to the song before its official release date and loved it. Neil hopes fans will love it just as much.
“Till The Numbers Run Out” follows Neil’s Top 20 single, “All The Pretty Horses,” which remained on the Texas country charts for 33 weeks. The song is available on all streaming platforms.
Visit www.zachneilmusic.com to learn more about Zach Neil and stay up to date on his touring schedule.
