Some songs sound like they were written on the back of a napkin… after a long talk… at a bar that doesn’t close early.
Emily Nenni’s “Long Game” feels like that.
It’s not rushed.
It’s not desperate.
It’s patient in a way only someone who’s been burned a few times can sing about.
The whole track leans back in its chair, sips whatever’s in the glass, and tells you:
“I’ve got time… but I’m not gonna waste it.”
First Time I Heard It…
Late night. Headphones on.
Scrolling through suggested tracks like I usually do when I can’t sleep.
And suddenly there she was…
A voice that felt familiar, but also new—like an old jukebox that got dusted off and plugged back in.
Her phrasing on the first verse pulled me in before I even realized I was holding my breath:
“I’ve been playing the long game / And honey I ain’t done yet…”
What Makes This One Stick
It’s the space she leaves between lines.
Emily doesn’t fill every second with sound.
She lets the band breathe.
Lets the steel guitar drift lazy and loose across the back half of each measure.
And her voice?
Warm.
Low-register.
Just the right mix of country twang and bedroom confessional.
It’s country, yeah—but not the arena-sized, overproduced kind.
This is backroom country.
Coffee shop country.
Lonely drive home country.
The Story Beneath the Story
“Long Game” isn’t just about romance, though that’s what it wears on the surface.
It’s about sticking to your own timeline.
About refusing to fold just because someone else walked away first.
About knowing that what’s worth having is worth waiting for… but also knowing when to stop waiting.
There’s a grown-up kind of ache underneath this song.
Not teenage heartbreak…
More like:
“I’ve seen some things. I’ll see more. I’ll be fine.”
Why I Keep Coming Back
Some tracks demand volume.
Some demand attention.
But “Long Game”?
It demands a little self-reflection.
It’s background music for a long drive…
Until suddenly it’s not background anymore…
And you’re turning it up,
singing along with a voice that sounds like your own inner monologue finally got brave enough to speak.
🎶 Track Info:
Title: Long Game
Artist: Emily Nenni
Album: Long Game (EP)
Year: 2020
Songwriter: Emily Nenni
Length: 3:18
Notes:
This track helped put Emily Nenni on the radar for a lot of people outside Nashville. It’s understated, smart, and endlessly replayable.
🎧 Play “Long Game” here:
🏷️ Tags:
emily nenni, long game, country, americana, nashville, slow burn, heartbreak, patience, signal strength: SLOW BURN