| Raymond | |
| Cover: | Raymond_single_art.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Brett Eldredge |
| Album: | Bring You Back |
| Genre: | Country |
| Label: | Atlantic Nashville |
| Producer: | Byron Gallimore |
| Next Title: | It Ain't Gotta Be Love |
| Next Year: | 2011 |
"Raymond" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Brett Eldredge. It was released on September 27, 2010, as his debut single from his debut studio album Bring You Back.[1] Eldredge wrote the song with Brad Crisler.[2]
"Raymond" tells the story of a maintenance worker at a nursing home and his relationship with a patient with Alzheimer's disease, who believes that the maintenance worker is her son Raymond, who was a private killed in action in Vietnam in 1971.[3]
Eldredge was inspired to write the song because his grandmother had Alzheimer's disease for several years.[2]
Bobby Peacock of Roughstock gave the song four and a half stars out of five, calling it "one of those rare debut singles that gets your attention right away, while at the same time showing off a great deal of vocal and songwriting talent."[4] The song also received a "thumbs up" from Engine 145 reviewer Janet Goodman, who wrote that it "is an impressive debut single with a vocal performance that blends earthiness with emotional highs, and a message that manages to remain sugar-free while leaving us with its hopeful refrain of kindness."[5]
Shaun Silva directed the music video which premiered in October 2010.[6]
"Raymond" debuted at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 16, 2010.[7]