"The Wind" is a song recorded by American country music group Zac Brown Band. It was released in June 2012 as the first single from the group's third major-label album, Uncaged, which was released on July 10.[1] The song was written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowrey.[2]
The song was acclaimed by country music critics. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song four and a half stars out of five, writing that "if you slow down and listen to what the man in the beanie is saying, you’re rewarded with a detailed, heartbreaking story."[3] Matt Bjorke of Roughstock also gave the song four and a half stars out of five, saying that "there are great harmonies wrapped up in a melody that is both contemporary country and traditional country-leaning at the same time."[4]
The music video was directed by Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill creator Mike Judge, animated by Titmouse, Inc., and premiered in July 2012.[5] It features animated versions of the band, with Zac Brown transformed into "a beer chugging cyborg".[6]
"The Wind" debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of June 23, 2012, the second-highest debut by a group of the SoundScan era.[7] It ultimately peaked at number 11 in August 2012, making it the group's first single to miss the top 10 on the Hot Country Songs chart.