John Smyths Looks Back With Those Bones of Mine

Where have we been, and what have we become? More importantly, what have we learned after all that walking, falling, getting back up and occasionally choosing the bar instead? I ask myself these things from time to time. Usually, the answers change depending on the day and the strength of the coffee.

John Smyths looks at those same questions with Those Bones of Mine. I see this as personal country song about looking back at the road behind, while keeping one boot firmly pointed towards whatever will come next. As John puts it himself: “It ain’t over yet.” Fair enough. The bones still have places to go.

The Man Behind The Cowboy Hat

Born Johan Smits in Nijmegen in March 1961, John grew up surrounded by music through his parents and older brother. His own taste soon found louder company through Kiss, Van Halen, Iron Maiden and AC/DC. Then, once the wild years calmed down, country music opened another door. Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Alan Jackson and George Strait became part of the surroundings.

Although John only recently began releasing music digitally under the John Smyths name, he has written songs for years. In 2025, Loving You Makes Me a Better Man earned an international honour at the Red Carpet Show Awards Europe, while Now I’m Wiser received a nomination at the Elite Music Awards.

2026 calendar already looks busy for John Smyths : three new songs, a duet, the Country Festival in Viechtach, another Red Carpet Show Awards invitation and interviews in Vienna. Just to place you and me in the story, it looks like the cowboy still remembers where he parked the horse.

Every Scar Tells Something

Those Bones of Mine places John’s life experience into plain-spoken country storytelling. “They’ve carried me far / Through joy and through pain” John sings, before every up and down finally “made a cowboy out of me.”

The chorus also catches his restless side: “Sometimes I feel alive, sometimes I don’t / Sometimes I like to stray, sometimes I won’t.” And, with refreshing honesty, he admits: “I’m older, still haven’t got a clue.” Well, John, that makes two of us. Anyone claiming to have solved the whole business probably wants to sell you a course.

John Taylor produced the song at Mirage Studio in the UK, Jürgen Schulz mastered it at TonSchulz, and American fiddle player Niles Krieger recorded the fiddle. Together, they gave John’s story the warm country frame I love, and now I’m looking for my old boots, ready to chase a few untold stories of my own.

Follow John Smyths on Facebook, Spotify, YouTube and TikTok. You might find out where those bones have travelled, so keep an eye on where they take him next.