If He Wanted To Lyrics – Hudson Westbrook | from “Exclusive”

Hudson Westbrook’s dropping truth bombs like cold beers on a tailgate with “If He Wanted To,” the lead single off his upcoming EP Exclusive, and damn if it doesn’t make you wanna grab a friend’s shoulder and spell out why she’s wasting nights on a ghost.

Out since mid-November via River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville, this one’s pure Texas-bred country heart—twangy guitars strumming over a mid-tempo groove that’s equal parts barstool wisdom and front-porch ache. Co-written by Westbrook, Lukas Scott (who helmed the music), and Beau Bailey, it’s got that no-BS edge: calling out the easy excuses of a guy who won’t show up, from unopened doors to unanswered texts.

Thematically, it’s empowerment wrapped in empathy—reminding her (and us) that real want looks like action, not alibis, with a killer chorus hook that sticks like regret after last call. It’s classic country storytelling, but Westbrook’s fresh spin keeps it from feeling dusty: his warm, lived-in drawl delivers the lines with a wink, like he’s seen this rodeo a few too many times himself. Fans flooded his TikToks post-drop, sharing breakup montages synced to that “He’d be by your side” refrain, turning it into an instant anthem for the overlooked.

Exclusive itself? It’s Westbrook’s big swing into deeper waters—a five-track EP bowing January 23 that dives headfirst into the messy thrill of modern love, from possessive sparks to pretty-girl perks. Kicking off with the title track “Exclusive” (a sultry vow of one-and-only vibes), it rolls through “LMWYL” (his cheeky take on “let me worship your legs”), the flirty “Lovin’ On Me,” this gem “If He Wanted To,” and caps with “Pretty Privilege,” a nod to charm’s unfair advantages. All co-penned by the 21-year-old phenom alongside Nashville hitmakers like Neil Medley and Jesse Frasure, it’s got that polished-yet-raw polish: steel guitars weaving with subtle keys, clocking in under 15 minutes of hooks that beg for road-trip replays. Recorded in the heart of Music City after his whirlwind ’25, it’s less a debut flex and more a snapshot of a kid from the ranch owning his voice—no filler, just fire.

Westbrook’s story reads like a Nashville fairy tale with dirt under the nails: Stephenville-raised on cattle drives, he traded ag classes at Texas Tech for guitar strings in 2020, self-taught and stacking 35 songs by freshman year. A viral “House Again” clip in early ’24 blew him up—millions of views, a label deal, debut single “Take It Slow” charting heat. Now, post-sold-out tours from Austin to Atlanta and that CMA Fest buzz last summer, Exclusive marks his evolution: from TikTok troubadour to full-fledged storyteller, blending blue-collar grit with radio-ready shine. He’s the guy you’d split wings with, spilling secrets over Shiner, and this EP’s him stepping up, mic steady.

Dive into the If He Wanted To lyrics below and unpack its raw narrative. Don’t miss other Exclusive tracks for more of Hudson Westbrook’s twangy, tell-it-straight country.