“Mmmm” as a Song Intro in Southern/Outlaw Rock

     One of the social media platforms appears confident in its ability to specifically pinpoint our most-favored song type — recently released Southern Rock/Outlaw Rock tracks that open with a low-pitched hum. And given that we’ve bookmarked a number of its recommendations, the algorithm may deserve more credit than we prefer to grant. Over the past weekend, our TikTok feed featured four different artists with songs that fit that narrow profile, and some artists offer more than one such track.

    The succession of Mmmm-featured recommendations began with songs from 5 Days Left, which characterizes itself as “a Gothic Indie Folk Rock band born between Appalachia’s ridges and New Orleans’ midnight streets.”  And their “songs blend ghost stories and gospel fire, swamp anthems and mountain laments — music that feels both ancient and eerily new.”

 

     “A Voodoo Hymn” by 5 Days Left

     “When the world stops turning” by 5 Days Left

Lyrics of “When the world stops turning” by 5 Days Left
Mmmm
A sky when quiet birds took flight
Radio died in the middle of the night
Some say rapture, some say war
 
I just lit a candle by the cabin door
Wind whispered, child don't run
Earth stood still, stars came undone
When the world stops turning, I'll still sing
 
Yeah, ashes on my boots, fire on my strings
If heaven don't want me, hell can't wait
Cause I'll dance in the dark with the hands of fate
Mmmm
 
Crossroads flooded, church lights gone
Devil hums that same old song
But I ain't scared, I've been there twice
Paid my dues and rolled them dice
 
Thunders laugh and angels grin
We all get washed but none stay clean
When the world stops turning, I'll still sing
Yeah, ashes on my boots, fire on my strings
 
If heaven don't want me, hell can't wait
Cause I'll dance in the dark with the hands of fate
Mmmm
You can take my name but not my sound
 
I was born from the flood and I won't drown
When the world stops turning, I'll still sing
Yeah
When the world stops turning, I'll still sing
Mmmm

     Doc Raven has four songs that begin with “Mmmm.” The four songs are “Jesus Drinks Moonshine,” “Modern Day Outlaws,” “Kick Rocks,” and “Mad Dog Mean.” Only the first one is included in this post, but all four are recommended. Also included below is “Outlaw Heaven,” which doesn’t include the hum - it’s their song that most appeals to us.
 
     According to their Bandcamp site:
  “Doc Raven is a dynamic Outlaw Country, Southern Rock, and Soul artist who crafts deeply heartfelt lyrics and vivid storytelling, blending distinctive sounds that captivate listeners. Alongside his outlaw band—Doc, Duck, & The Dirty Deeds—he delivers a powerful, authentic musical experience that resonates with raw emotion and Southern spirit.”  
 
     “Jesus Drinks Moonshine” by Doc Raven

     “Outlaw Heaven” by Doc Raven (the only hum-free song)

     The Soulful Gentlemen are “gritty Southern Blues meets Cinematic Soul, Hip Hop drums, Gospel undertones, and whiskey-soaked storytelling. We create original music inspired by dark Blues, Country Rap, Outlaw Gospel, and faith-driven themes of redemption, pain, and resurrection. Blending raw emotion with vintage style and modern edge with every lyric rooted in truth, grit, and grace.”
 
     “His Temptation” by The Soulful Gentlemen

     Breaking Rust is the performance moniker of Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor. He speaks his truth in “Livin on Borrowed Time.”
 
     “Livin' on Borrowed Time” by Breaking Rust

Lyrics of “Livin' on Borrowed Time” by Breaking Rust
Mmmm
I've been broken, bruised, been used
Had folks talking like they know my shoes
Ain't no saint, I raised some hell
But I learned my peace where my demons dwell
 
I quit chasing ghosts that don't pay rent (mm)
Quit worrying about the ones who went
Now I walk my road, dust on my boots
Singin' my truth whatever it roots
 
'Cause I don't give a damn who don't like me
This world spins fast and time ain’t free
We're all just sparks in the midnight sky
Fading out slowly, sayin' goodbye
 
So pour that whiskey, let it burn fine
Laugh at the scars that prove I'm alive
We're all just livin', hm
On borrowed time
 
Had some lovers, lost some friends
Some stories start, some just end
Every tear I shed don't wash me clean
Of all those fake people and broken dreams
 
And I don't beg, I don't chase
Don't need no crown, I got my grace
Life's too short to wear a mask
So I will say my piece and sip my flask
 
'Cause I don't give a damn who don't like me
This world spins fast and time ain’t free
We're all just sparks in the midnight sky
Fading out slow, sayin' goodbye
 
So pour that whiskey, let it burn fire
Laugh at the scars that prove I'm alive
We're all just livin', mmmm
On borrowed time
 
Yeah, the clock don't stop, it don't rewind
You blink and you're 40, damn near blind
So love who you love and cuss when you need
Be your own man, that's all you can be
 
I don't give a damn who don't like me
Made my peace, my soul set free
We're all just sparks in a stormy sky
Burning out bright before we die
 
So raise that glass, let it hit just right
Here’s to the truth and the dirt and the fight
Yeah, we're all just livin'
On borrowed time
 
I don't give a -
I don't give a -
I don't give a damn
I don't give a -