Don Williams and Keith Urban – Imagine That: The Poignant Passing of the Torch and the Timeless Longing for Lost Love
There are songs that simply exist on the radio, and then there are moments in music that feel like a cherished conversation between generations, a quiet, knowing nod across decades of shared emotion. The 2012 collaboration “Imagine That” by the great Don Williams and the formidable Keith Urban is firmly in the latter category. It is a profoundly moving, yet understated, meditation on the wistful longing for a lost love, delivered with the kind of heartfelt sincerity that only true masters of Country music can achieve.
This song wasn’t a standalone single in the traditional sense, but a highlight track on Don Williams‘ acclaimed 2012 album, And So It Goes. Released on Sugar Hill Records, the album marked Williams’ return to recording after an eight-year hiatus. Given Williams‘ legendary status—a 2010 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame and affectionately known as the “Gentle Giant”—the album’s success was measured less by chart peaks and more by its cultural significance. The inclusion of contemporary superstar Keith Urban on this track created a powerful, generational bridge, drawing renewed attention to Williams‘ timeless artistry. The album itself peaked at number 20 on the US Top Country Albums chart and number 3 on the UK Country Albums chart, underscoring the enduring, global appeal of Williams‘ “easy-going” style.
The story behind this duet is just as heartwarming as the music. Keith Urban has repeatedly cited Don Williams as a foundational influence on his music, a hero from his youth whose smooth, straight-ahead delivery taught him so much about the emotional weight a simple song can carry. When Williams and his longtime producer, Garth Fundis, were compiling tracks for And So It Goes, reaching out to Urban for a collaboration on the Kieran Kane and Jamie O’Hara penned tune “Imagine That” was a natural choice. For Urban, the opportunity to sing and play guitar alongside his idol was clearly a moment of genuine awe and respect, perfectly captured in the simple, intimate music video where the two men are seen sharing guitars, trading licks, and laughing like old friends. This palpable mutual admiration adds a deep layer of authenticity to their performance, transforming the recording from a mere duet into a beautiful moment of artistic communion.
The meaning of “Imagine That” is universal, yet deeply personal. The lyrics are a tender exploration of devastating absence, a lament for the simple, profound joys that vanish when a life partner is gone. The song paints a picture of a man alone in his home, gazing at the empty spaces—“No more nights sleeping alone / In an empty bed, in an empty home.” The core of the song rests on the heartbreaking simplicity of the phrase: “Imagine that, how sweet it’d be / To have you here again with me.” It’s not a narrative about a dramatic breakup or grand tragedy; it’s the quiet, daily ache of missing the ordinary, comforting presence of a loved one—someone “to talk to,” someone “to share in my dreams.”
For the mature listener, this track carries an especially resonant weight. Williams’ deep, soothing baritone provides the bedrock of weary wisdom, while Urban’s signature harmonies and vibrant guitar playing bring a touch of warm, vibrant energy. The contrast in their voices mirrors the mix of sorrow and faint hope one carries after loss. It’s a song that requires a life lived to truly appreciate, reflecting on all the shared moments that pile up over the years and become the very definition of “home.” “Imagine That” isn’t a plea for pity; it’s a soulful acknowledgment of enduring love, reminding us that even in the stillness of solitude, the sweetness of a cherished memory—or the imagination of what could be—can still bring a catch to the throat and a wistful smile to the lips. It’s pure, gentle poetry set to music, and a masterful final flourish from the great Don Williams.