Turning No Idea Into A Hit Idea – The Story Behind Darius Rucker’s Single “I Got Nothing”

“I’ve got nothing to write a song about today.”

I remember standing outside Darius Rucker’s tour bus saying these words over the phone to a friend. She had just asked me what I was going to write with Darius that day. Here I was outside Chicago, having flown there to meet up with the tour, and I needed to write a follow-up to my first two Darius Rucker hits, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and History in the Making.” I said, “I got nothin’, no words, no music… nada.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I had an idea to write! I hung up the phone, climbed back on the bus, and got out my guitar.

Channeling the frustration and fear of traveling all that way and having ideas, I wrote my next Darius single…

“I Got Nothin,” a song about the breakup of a relationship, of wanting to stop the breakup from happening, and not having the words…

I got nothin’

No magic words to stop your leaving

To end this hurt

I’m just blank, I’m starin’ into space

Prayin’ please, please let me think of something’

But I got nothin’

Darius was the perfect person to write that song with, his voice just dripped with experience and heart.  

So, today if you feel you have nothing to write about, I hope this story will inspire you. Even when you don’t think you have something to write about, sit down and invite the muse to join you. In reality, there is always something to write about. Ideas are an ever flowing creative river. If you write your heart out and write about real life, you might just turn no idea into a hit idea.

You can check out the official video below.

Write on! ~Clay