Among the 30 songs on Morgan Wallen’s new sophomore album, Dangerous, is the one with a full 10-digit phone number. Of course, we call it.
In “865”, Wallen is drunk calling an ex, encouraged by many Jack Daniel’s. “This bottle tastes like 865-409-1021,” he sings, reciting these digits the way you do when you’ve memorized them for a long time, long before you have a list of cell phone contacts always at your fingertips.
“Yes, one last time, don’t think twice / Girl, just take it and come / Close the bedroom door a little,” Walling continues on the chorus. “I know I said I wouldn’t call and tried it / But this bottle tastes like 865-409-1021 / This bottle tastes like 865-409-1021.”
“865” is the area code for Knoxville, Tenn., And neighboring counties of Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier and Union, for a quick Google search. Wallen is from the city of Sneedville, in eastern Tennessee, in Hancock County, which is located northeast of the group of 865 counties.
A reverse phone number lookup on WhitePages.com reports that 865-409-1021 is linked to a cell phone, but the rest of the information is part of the directory’s premium package and, hey, we’re not made of money! In addition, it became even easier to dial the number and …
“Welcome to US TelePunch. Let’s start by entering your four-digit company code.”
The automated service answered after just one ring, but Wallen’s letters don’t include a four-digit code, so our journey ended there. On its website, US TelePunch offers companies a way to connect their remote employees to time clocks, details of company benefits and more over the phone.
If you’re thinking that this mystery is more complex – maybe the phone number I used to belongs to someone important to Wallen? – said the singer himself a little to perhaps refute this theory. John Byron and Blake Pendergrass co-wrote “865”, which Wallen says originally came to him as a song titled “919”, the area code for Raleigh, NC
Clearly, Wallen changed the area code when cutting it, although it is not clear whether he changed the rest of the phone number as well. For what it’s worth, dialing 919-409-1021 leads to a busy signal.
“865 is the area code I use, and if I hear those three digits, it takes me back to the place or the time,” explains Wallen (quote via Whiskey Riff). “It just makes me think of home. I thought it was unique in the way they used it.”
“And also,” he adds, “whoever it is, I’m really sorry.”
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