music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Cain's Blood" is a song written by Michael Johnson and Jack Sundrud, and recorded by American country music group 4 Runner. It was released in February 1995 as the first single from the album 4 Runner. The song reached number 26 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[1] Johnson himself also recorded the song on his 1995 album Departure.[2]

"Cain's Blood"
Single by 4 Runner
from the album 4 Runner
B-side	"Ten Pound Hammer"[1]
Released	February 1995
Recorded	September 1994
Genre	Country
Length	3:52
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Michael Johnson, Jack Sundrud
Producer(s)	Buddy Cannon, Larry Shell
4 Runner singles chronology
"Cain's Blood" (1995) "A Heart with 4 Wheel Drive" (1995)

Content

The song is about "the tug and pull [between good and evil] that goes on inside each and every one of us", according to Polydor Records then-president Steve Miller.[3] It uses the Biblical story of Cain and Abel to represent the narrator's struggle between good and evil.[4] Co-writer Michael Johnson said that the idea for the chorus came to him while he was in jail for driving under the influence.[5]

Music video

The music video premiered in February 1995. It was filmed at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.[3]

Critical reception

"Cain's Blood" generally received positive reception for its Southern gospel sound.[3] The single was also compared to the sound of The Oak Ridge Boys due to the use of four-part vocal harmony.[6] Brian Wahlert of Country Standard Time wrote that the song is a "dark and moody testament to life's daily battle between good and evil in which the four voices become completely integrated into an eerie, foreboding whole."[7]

Chart performance

"Cain's Blood" debuted at number 74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of March 18, 1995.

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8]	14
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9]	18
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[10]	26

References

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