Country music star Riley Green has shared the surprising origin story behind his emotional hit single “Don’t Mind If I Do,” revealing that the tear-jerking duet was almost an entirely different song. In a recent interview, the singer-songwriter explained that the track, which features Ella Langley, was initially conceived as an upbeat “beer drinking song” before a moment of inspiration backstage took it in a heavier direction.
The revelation came during a conversation with Katie Neal on the Katie & Company radio show, where Green detailed the specific environment that birthed the song. He recalled writing the track while backstage at the Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas. While his friends and crew left the venue to visit a Topgolf location next door, Green decided to stay behind in the green room to find some quiet time for creativity.
“I had the idea for a while,” Green explained to Neal. “I think it was gonna be like a fun, beer drinking song. Don’t Mind If I Do, like, I went out last night. And that was the way I pictured it.” The phrase “Don’t mind if I do” is a common colloquialism often associated with accepting a drink, and Green had intended to lean into that literal interpretation for a party anthem.
However, the mood shifted when he picked up his guitar. Green had been working on a slower, more melancholic guitar lick that clashed with the upbeat concept he had in mind. As he played the melody, he began to reimagine the title phrase in a different context—specifically, the internal conflict of responding to a call from an ex-lover.
“I thought about, man, how cool would it be if it was like, don’t mind if I do to that call from that ex or whatever it is,” Green stated. Once he unlocked this new perspective, the writing process became incredibly fluid. He noted that despite the constant interruptions from a security guard checking on him, the lyrics came together quickly. “It was a really easy song to write,” he admitted.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the song’s creation is that Green wrote it entirely solo, including the female perspective that would eventually be sung by Ella Langley. “That’s a little weird, you know, to write a female’s perspective on a chorus at the end, but I thought that was cool,” he remarked. The song eventually became the title track of his third studio album, released in 2024, and has since been praised as a standout example of his songwriting ability.
The track’s success has set the stage for Green’s upcoming “Cowboy As It Gets 2026 Tour,” which kicks off in April. As fans continue to connect with the heartbreak and vulnerability of “Don’t Mind If I Do,” its history serves as a reminder that some of the best country songs are the result of happy accidents—and skipping a trip to Topgolf.
