Kane Brown Releases His Most Heartfelt Song Yet, “When You Forget,” as a Tearful Tribute to the Man Who Raised Him

Kane Brown’s new album The High Road is packed with 18 incredible tracks — but there’s one song that hits a little deeper than the rest. It’s the final track, When You Forget, and it’s the only one on the album that brought tears to Kane’s eyes while writing it.

Why? Because it comes straight from the heart.

In a touching Instagram post, Kane shared the inspiration behind the song: his grandfather’s battle with Alzheimer’s. Alongside a heartfelt photo of his grandparents, he opened up about what this song means to him and his family.

“The hardest working man I know and will ever know! I hope I can be half the man he is today,” Kane wrote.

“This is the only song on the album that brought some tears writing. He’s been forgetting some things lately. It’s a terrible disease (Alzheimer’s), and I hope everyone going through the same thing my family and I are can relate to this song.”

He ended his tribute simply but powerfully: “I love you, pepaw.”

Fans know this isn’t the first time Kane has poured his heart into a song about his family. The High Road also features two beautiful duets with his wife, Katelyn, showing once again how important family is to his music.

Kane recently told Holler that the song moved his grandmother deeply, too. “Getting to call my Nana and tell her that we were going to write a song about him… you could hear her tearing up over the phone,” he shared.

It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s resonating with fans everywhere.

The High Road dropped just last week, and When You Forget is already standing out as one of the most emotionally powerful tracks on the record.

🎵 Hit that like button and tell us in the comments — what’s your favorite line in “Backseat Driver”? Because why not? 😌
And if you’ve heard When You Forget, grab a tissue and let us know how it hit home for you.

Kane Brown, “When You Forget” Lyrics:

I walked in the room, looked in your eyes / And I could tell right then you didn’t recognize / The man I’ve become, and it tore me up / But that’s just what time sometimes does

Your memory’s fading, it’s breaking my heart / If you look in that mirror and wonder who you are

Chorus:

You’re still our hero / You’re still the man / Hell of a father and a damn good friend / You can fix any problem with a wrench or some words / The backbone of our family in the front of that church / You kept every promise / For worse or for better / I’m writing you this / So when you forget, you can remember

We were turning them roads when you taught me to drive / You’ve been wearing that ring since July of ’55 / You kept food on that table, lights on in that house / So don’t ever question, no don’t ever doubt

Repeat Chorus

Your memory’s fading, it’s breaking my heart / If you look in that mirror and wonder who you are…