Bon Jovi and Jason Isbell Ride the ‘Waves’ on New Song

Bon Jovi’s new album, Forever, has officially arrived, and with it the group’s collaboration with Jason Isbell, “Waves.” 

The track is vintage Bon Jovi, with guitar riffs and hooks that soar to the rock & roll heavens. Isbell helped write the song, along with the band’s John Shanks, and provides backing vocals, joining Jon Bon Jovi to sing, “Waves/They take me down no one here gonna save me now/Waves/They knock me off my feet/Waves/Now I understand I see her face I see her hand/And she waves then fades away from me.”

In a track-by-track commentary video about the song, Bon Jovi said “Waves” was about “holding onto something maybe too long.” He added: “A wave will come and push you in and pull you back out. You have to learn to let go. Hold onto the memories for as long as you can, but then move on. The past is there to remind you of what you don’t want to do again — let it go.”

Isbell is an avowed Bon Jovi fan, and along with contributing to Forever, showed his support for the Jersey great at the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year gala. Donning a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, a long duster coat, and a double-neck guitar, he paid tribute with a scorching performance of the Bon Jovi classic “Wanted Dead or Alive.” 

Forever marks Bon Jovi’s 16th studio album and first since 2020’s 2020. The album’s arrival coincides with the band’s 40th anniversary, which was also marked with a new four-part docuseries, Thank You, Goodnight, which premiered on Hulu back in April. 

From Rolling Stone US.