Nick Carter Surprise Drops An Emotional Letter To His Childhood Self With “Hey Kid”

I know Nick said something big was coming in April but I didn’t realize he meant literally the moment the clock struck midnight on the east coast, April 1st. And no, this isn’t an April Fools joke.

I know I’ve said repeatedly that I love that Nick is getting personal on his singles but I think besides “Hurts To Love You”, this is probably the most vulnerable song he’s released so far. Actually no, not probably. It is. We know Nick’s had a tumultuous upbringing with a broken family and the pressures of Hollywood fame. This is something that is going to be touched upon in two weeks for the documentary his sister Angel has been helping with, and he took part in – The Carters: Hurts To Love You. It’s been no secret between the drama and the tabloids over the years.

So what I love about this song, is Nick is writing it to his younger self. He’s telling childhood Nick that he needs to hold on, that his dreams are coming, that he’ll get everything he’s ever dreamed of if he doesn’t give up. That he’ll one day be able to travel the world, that he’ll find love for himself, that it will get better.

I don’t cry at Nick songs easily. It’s happened twice – once for Nick’s “I Will Wait”, which only happened more because of the music video than anything. The second time was “Hurts To Love You” and I think it’s pretty obvious why many of us cried about his tribute song to Aaron. But, this one hit me pretty personal. The more I listen, the more I absorb, the more I connect to it on a deeper level. Like I’ve been struggling for words on this song which usually isn’t a problem for me. In fact, I’m sorry for the rambling this post has probably turned into by the end. I analyze his songs to death for fun because I love talking about the music. Why would I suddenly have a hard time with words?

I think it’s because this hits incredibly close to home for me.

I was heavily bullied as a child so as a result I grew up pretty lonely. That eventually changed for me and I found my way. I found my confidence, I found beautiful friends and a “found family”. I thrive in a way I didn’t, couldn’t, then. It was the journey there that was rough. That’s the part that really hits at me. This thought of going back to that sad child and going hey, it’s going to get better, I promise. Just hold on. Please.

The chorus feels like an anthem, albeit a sad one.

Hey kid,
I know you didn’t ask for this
On that 10th birthday candle wish
Innocent eyes on that sugar high
From a slice of that American pie…

Hey kid,
I know you didn’t ask for this,
But if you hang on tight you might get your wish
Travel the world, meet a girl, make a home,
And have a love that you can call your own…

It’s that part, that uplifting message that really tugs at you. The way it’s sung, you can feel the emotions. He lets his voice carry the story he wants to tell. God I’d love to hear this live, to hear Nick just belting out those lyrics and letting go in the way we all know only Nick Carter can. Nick’s released a lot of music over the years and I’ve had a longstanding favorite when it comes to his songs…but this is probably going to knock it out. It’s truthful, it’s soulful, it’s simple, it’s honest and it’s painful. Painful to reflect on the past and acknowledge all the suffering your younger self has to go through to get to where you are now. That if you could go back and do it over, you’d try to do it differently to save yourself that pain. But at the end of the day that’s impossible. You just wish you could tell yourself that all that pain would be worth it. That hope isn’t going to waste.

Honestly, this is the first song of Nick’s that really acknowledges the struggles of his childhood that he’d lived through too. Now that I think of it. I’m beyond proud of him for releasing it. Thank you Nick, for sharing this piece of your soul with us. That takes a level of bravery to put it out there like that.

I don’t know if you’ll read this Nick, but on that off chance you do? Please keep allowing yourself to go to those places with your solo music. This is what fans want. We want that real emotion, we want that truth and depth that you can bring not only lyrically but vocally. This is what people can really relate to.

Let me know what you guys think in the comments.

Listen to “Hey Kid” below or find it on streaming platforms here.