Wait in the Truck

"Wait in the Truck" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American country music singer Hardy featuring American country music singer Lainey Wilson. It was released on August 29, 2022, as the lead single from Hardy's second studio album The Mockingbird & the Crow. The song is a murder ballad about a male protagonist killing an abuser.^[1] It is his highest charting single in the US.

"Wait in the Truck"
Single by Hardy featuring Lainey Wilson
from the album The Mockingbird & the Crow
Released	August 29, 2022
Genre	Country murder ballad^[1]
Length	4:38
Label	Big Loud
Songwriter(s)	Michael Hardy Hunter Phelps Jordan Schmidt Renee Blair
Producer(s)	Hardy Joey Moi Derek Wells Jordan Schmidt
Hardy singles chronology
"Sold Out" (2022) "Wait in the Truck" (2022) "Jack" (2022)
Lainey Wilson singles chronology
"Heart Like a Truck" (2022) "Wait in the Truck" (2022) "Save Me" (2023)

Background and content

The idea for the song came from a conversation between two of its songwriters, Hardy and Hunter Phelps. When discussing what they would do if their fiancées were attacked, Hardy mentioned he would direct the attacker towards himself and then tell his fiancée to "wait in the truck". The pair then realized that "wait in the truck" was a good song title. In March 2021, they worked up the song at Jordan Schmidt's home studio, taking inspiration from the song "Ol' Red". They recorded a demo that night, with Schmidt adding an artificial siren to the end of the third verse, and his fiancée, singer-songwriter Renee Blair, providing the female vocals and adding a vamp of the phrase "have mercy". Producer Joey Moi would later rerecord the primary instrumentation and add a gospel choir for the closing vamp.^[1]

Wilson cited Garth Brooks' "The Thunder Rolls" and The Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" as inspiration for her performance, and said she hoped the song "brings light to a situation that is more common than we’d like to admit" and "haunts" domestic abusers.^[2]

The song depicts a man who, upon finding a battered woman on the side of the road, confronts her abuser in his trailer, shooting him when he reaches for his shotgun,^[1] killing the abuser.^[3] The song ends with the man in prison, 60 months into a sentence.^[1]

Music video

A music video was released with the song, directed by Justin Clough and produced by Taylor Vermillion and Ben Skipworth. The video follows the song, depicting a character played by Hardy killing the abuser of a character played by Wilson, as well as scenes of Wilson's character testifying in court and visiting Hardy in prison.^[4] The video was described as "Video of the Year-worthy" by Madeleine O'Connell, writing for Country Now.^[5] The music video won Collaborative Music Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, and was nominated for Video of the Year.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Wait in the Truck" Chart (2022–2023) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[6] 42 Canada Country (Billboard)^[7] 2 Global 200 (Billboard)^[8] 118 US Billboard Hot 100^[9] 23 US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[10] 2 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[11] 5

Year-end charts 2022 year-end chart performance for "Wait in the Truck" Chart (2022) Position US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[12] 74 US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[13] 59 2023 year-end chart performance for "Wait in the Truck" Chart (2023) Position US Billboard Hot 100^[14] 54 US Country Airplay (Billboard)^[15] 14 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[16] 15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[17]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Roland (September 14, 2022). "Makin' Tracks: HARDY, Lainey Wilson Team on a Killer Story Song, 'Wait in the Truck'". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
2. Dowling, Marcus K. (August 26, 2022). "HARDY, Lainey Wilson discuss their powerful 'murder ballad' duet 'Wait In The Truck'". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
3. "Hardy says he's "excited to see the impact" of "Wait in the Truck" as the song sees impressive early success". weisradio.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
4. Vaughn, Grace Lenehan (August 29, 2022). "WATCH: Hardy Plays the Hero to Lainey Wilson in Heart-Pounding 'Wait in the Truck' Video". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
5. O'Connell, Madeleine (August 26, 2022). "HARDY and Lainey Wilson Join Forces For Powerful New Song 'wait in the truck' – See The Cinematic Music Video". Country Now. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
6. "Hardy Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
7. "Hardy Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
8. "Hardy Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
9. "Hardy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
10. "Hardy Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
11. "Hardy Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
12. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
13. "Digital Song Sales – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
14. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
15. "Country Airplay – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
16. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
17. "American single certifications – Hardy – Wait in the Truck". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 29, 2023.