“Oh Hank” opens its arms wide- and with “Locked In Your Lovin’ Arms,” Bill Nash walks right into tradition with a grin and a shuffle. Bill’s latest EP “Oh Hank” is both a loving tribute and a spirited reinterpretation of the Hank Williams tradition- and nowhere is that more delightfully clear than on “Locked In Your Lovin’ Arms,” a new track penned by his son, Jimmy Nash. From the very top, the track sets the tone: a count-in from Bill himself and a skittering shuffle of rim taps on the snare drum promise something light on its feet. And it delivers! The fiddle dances throughout the song, trading licks with the vocals and weaving an unmistakable thread of vintage charm. It’s pure country, straight from the honky-tonk jukebox. Lyrically, “Locked In Your Lovin’ Arms” flirts with the idea of emotional captivity- but it’s a willing, joyful surrender. Bill delivers the lines with that warm, slightly weathered voice of his, full of charm and seasoned affection. His Hank-style yodels make plenty of welcome appearances, reminding listeners exactly whose shadow this tribute walks in, without ever being overly reverent. It’s a homage, not an imitation. The song’s brilliance lies in how it smirks at its own sincerity. “If this is a prison, I never wanna leave,” Bill sings, and it’s hard not to grin along. Jimmy Nash’s songwriting walks the line between clever and classic, never straying far from the emotional terrain Hank Williams made famous- heartache, longing, and love that lingers. “Locked In Your Lovin’ Arms” is a standout on “Oh Hank”- a breezy, tightly written love song that honors tradition without feeling dusty. It’s country music that knows where it came from, and still has fun getting there. By the end, “Locked In Your Lovin’ Arms” doesn’t just tip its hat to tradition- it wraps it in a warm embrace and two-steps off smiling.
