Burn Out (Midland song)

The song is about a male narrator watching a relationship "burn out", comparing it to a cigarette burning itself out. Lead singer Mark Wystrach told the blog Taste of Country that he sees the song as a prequel to their 2017 debut single "Drinkin' Problem", saying that "Burn Out" is "very much in the same landscape. It could tell the story of how the character in 'Drinkin' Problem' could get to that place, as usually is the case through heartache". He also feels that the song draws inspiration from Dean Dillon and Gary Stewart, while also noting the group's prominent vocal harmonies.^[1]

Directed by TK McKamy,^[2] the video was filmed in one single take at the nightclub Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. Wystrach said that the video, which features him rescuing a female bar patron from a rude customer, takes inspiration from the 1980 movie Urban Cowboy, which itself was filmed partially at Billy Bob's.^[3] Live version was directed by Roger Pistole and premiered on CMT, GAC & Vevo in 2018.

From On the Rocks liner notes.^[4]

Musicians

• Jess Carson – acoustic guitar, background vocals
• Cameron Duddy – bass guitar, background vocals
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar
• Dann Huff – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Charlie Judge – keyboards
• Greg Morrow – drums
• Derek Wells – electric guitar
• Mark Wystrach – lead vocals

Technical

• Dann Huff – producer
• David Huff – digital editing
• Steve Marcantonio – recording
• Shane McAnally – producer
• Andrew Mendelson – mastering
• Justin Niebank – mixing
• Josh Osborne – producer
• Chris Small – digital editing