I’m very tired this evening…you may spot a trend in my reviewing habits – nearly always late in the day! This is both a plus and a minus, because I always sense some songs are more for the morning, where others slip neatly into the hours of darkness. And I never wish to disadvantage a song.
Now this one is slightly different, and it has a story connected to it that I will share before I comment on the song:
(Press release)
About David L. Porter and David & Daughter:
David & Daughter, LLC Music Publishing and PR was founded by Krisita Porter Burket to honor the legacy of her late father, David L. Porter, a gifted country music songwriter whose life was cut short at the age of 43. Shortly before he was tragically killed in a car accident in 1993, David signed publishing agreements with BMI for 13 original songs. One even earned a (modest) royalty check after being performed on “You Can Be A Star,” a national singing competition show, but the check arrived heartbreakingly after his passing. Named by her dad after songwriting greats Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, Krisita was just nine when she lost her dad. Decades later, she is carrying forward his dream with hundreds of his handwritten lyrics and vintage recordings.
Drawing on 20 years of experience in public relations, Krisita now uses David & Daughter to give her father the spotlight he never lived to see, while also helping independent musicians share and promote their work. Krisita is driven by a personal mission to have a well-known artist record one of David’s songs by the time she turns 43 next year, the same age he was when he passed. ‘Shot Out’ a the Saddle Again’ is the first release from a set of newly recorded demos of David’s songs, continuing the journey of a songwriter whose stories still deserve to be told.
As an initial step, Krisita had four demos made of David’s songs during a session at Welcome to 1979 Studio in Nashville. Artist and producer Brandon Lane Moore oversaw the project, singing vocals, playing guitar, and mixing the tracks. Grammy winner Zach Top’s touring pedal steel player, Ryan “Stiggy” Stigmon, brought his steel expertise to the session, helping ensure the track stayed true to the neo-traditional sound David loved. Also especially meaningful was the participation of professional bass player Jared May, Krisita’s cousin and David’s nephew.
My Review:
The single is released on Father’s Day, June 21, 2026, and will be available across all major streaming platforms. A streaming link is provided below.
“I been shot out of the saddle again;
Shot down by another old ex-best friend;
I thought I had it made, ’til he made his play;
Now I been shot out of the saddle again…”
This is a song put together with a great deal of love. Musically, it sits firmly in the world of traditional country music, complete with a warm Southern flavour and plenty of charm. It is easy to imagine this being played late on a Saturday night in a small-town dance hall, where the band is in full flow and the dance floor is crowded with couples singing along, drink in hand.
The track has an instantly accessible quality. The chorus is catchy, the melody straightforward, and there is an authenticity to the performance that suits the material well. This is not country music attempting to reinvent itself; rather, it is a respectful celebration of the style that David Porter clearly loved.
Perhaps the most striking thing about ‘Shot Out of the Saddle Again’ is not the song itself but the journey behind it. More than three decades after David Porter’s death, his daughter Krisita has ensured that his songwriting has another chance to be heard. That gives the release an emotional weight that cannot be measured in streams or chart positions.
As a reviewer, I found myself smiling while listening, which is always a good sign. I am currently home alone while my son enjoys his school prom, and even the cats appear to have abandoned me in search of him upstairs. Yet for a few minutes this song provided welcome company. It is an enjoyable country tune, but more importantly it is a labour of love and a reminder that good songs can sometimes outlive the people who first wrote them.
Released on Father’s Day, ‘Shot Out of the Saddle Again’ feels like a fitting tribute—not only to a songwriter whose career ended far too soon, but also to a daughter determined to keep his music alive. For that reason alone, it deserves to be heard.
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Lyrics and Music: David L. Porter (December 20, 1949 – March 10, 1993)
• Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by: Brandon Lane Moore
• Vocals and Acoustic Guitar: Brandon Lane Moore
• Pedal Steel: Ryan “Stiggy” Stigmon
• Bass: Jared May (David’s nephew and Krisita’s cousin)
• Drums: Arthur Stover
• Keys: Dan Monaco
• Electric Guitar: Matt Drummey
You can stream music from David and Daughter here
Review by Lorraine Foley
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