"In the Blood" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. The song was released on May 1, 2017 as the third single from Mayer's seventh studio album The Search for Everything, following "Love on the Weekend" and "Still Feel Like Your Man". It is Mayer's first song officially released to country radio.
Lyrics
The song mentions Mayer's family influence. In his interview with NPR, Mayer said, "It's turning around and pointing at yourself and going 'What's in there?' It's a certain time in your life where you just want to turn yourself upside down and shake everything out and go."
Personnel
John Mayer – vocals, guitar
Steve Jordan – drums, percussion
Pino Palladino – bass
Larry Goldings - keys
Greg Leisz - lap steel
Sheryl Crow - vocals
Production
John Mayer – producer
Chad Franscoviak – producer, recording engineer
Steve Jordan - executive producer
Martin Pradler – digital editor
Manny Marroquin – mixing engineer
Chris Galland – mixing engineer
Jeff Jackson – assistant engineer
Robin Florent – assistant engineer
Greg Calbi – mastering engineer
Themes
The song explores the relationship dynamics in his family and how that may have impacted the way he loves. Scott Conklin with Medium says of the song "that Mayer is wondering if the reason he is the way he is is because its something innate in his family. It’s heavy stuff." Gabrielle Ginsberg of Hollywood Life found the record "relatable for anyone who feels like there’s too much of their parents’ personalities in them (and not in a good way)." Mayer has said it's the song that makes him feel the most on the album, and while hesitant to explain it, saying, "If I was gonna go that honest on a song, I wasn't gonna necessarily be a liability to it and color it in," he also said, "When I listened to that back, it was like an anthem for me, about me...[during] a certain time in your life where you just want to turn yourself upside down and shake everything out and go, 'Where's the loose change? What is in here?'"
Critical response
Entertainment Weekly said the song was "perhaps the first ballad to explore nature versus nurture."
Commercial performance
The song became Mayer's first entry on the Billboard country chart. It debuted at number 59 on Country Airplay and reached its peak number 57 the following week. It peaked at number 39 on Hot Country Songs.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Cover version
The song was covered by American a cappella group Home Free. The music video of the cover version was released on August 30, 2017.