Allow Gregory Ackerman to take you on a mystical journey with his folksy ballad “When It’s Through.” The gentle sway of the vocals evokes a warm summer breeze, while heartfelt lyrics showcase his ability to create vivid imagery. The sun-drenched arrangement provides a palpable warmth, while the addition of the country-fried keys toward the end of the song adds a vibrant touch to this acoustic outing. Lyrically, “When It’s Through” is as uplifting and joyful as the tones of the arrangement. Ackerman writes with an ethereal view of the world, taking in the many sights and sounds of a road trip while anchoring himself to reality via an appreciation for the small things
“‘When It’s Through’ plays like a road trip, cross-country song, and I wanted that idea to come across in the lyrics, especially the bridge lyrics: ‘Driving off the rails, met some good people there, walking down empty roads, just to find my way back, heart still intact,’ explains Ackerman. “I wanted to play with the idea here of making an analogy of going through a hardship with going through a road trip. I’ve spent some time out on the road as a touring bassist and have experienced a lot of ups and downs emotionally with people I’ve toured with or with just spending long trips out on the road away from the people you love. It’s not an easy thing to do, but you do it because you love it, and you always hope that you’re pushing towards something greater. And you do all of that just to pour your heart out to strangers day in and day out. Some people you meet treat you well, and some people you meet treat you like hell. But at the end of it all (life, a road trip, a hardship), there’s still hope as long as your heart stays intact. And even if it doesn’t, you can always pick up the pieces and go on,” explains Ackerman.
