Country artist Wyatt Flores performs his song 'Milwaukee' in Milwaukee at Summerfest. Here's the story behind it.

Wyatt Flores performing his song "Milwaukee" in Milwaukee on Summerfest's opening day is a redemption story of sorts.

You see, in June of last year, Flores opened for Charley Crockett at The Rave about seven months before the single was officially released.

Flores wasn't ready to perform it live, he said, but his manager back then encouraged him to give it a go. Only Flores and his keyboardist made the attempt.

"I didn't even know the words," Flores said. "I completely butchered it ... I remember trying to play it and I was just like, 'This is going so downhill right now. This is not working out the way it should've.'"

How the song went down Thursday night along the city's lakefront couldn't have been more opposite of that.

"Milwaukee" has been out now for about five months. Flores had his full band accompanying him. And, the words? Nailed 'em — and so did the crowd.

"I hope it's Milwaukee's anthem," he told the Journal Sentinel after the show. With the way the crowd was singing it? It's well on its way.

Plus, Flores got to have a whole lot of fun with it this time around.

Ahead of the show, he tweeted: "Part of me thinks it would be the funniest thing ever to not play Milwaukee in Milwaukee tomorrow ????".

Before playing it, he acted like his set was over.

"I knew it was going to be a lot of fun, but it was more fun telling the folks that we were done playing. And then, watching them all start yelling," he said, laughing. "And then, going straight into the song. It was definitely the highlight of the entire setlist was just getting to do that. And man, watching their faces just light up, it meant the world."

After the show, he shared a clip of the performance on X and said: "I did not choose violence @Summerfest that was so much fun thanks for coming out Milwaukee ??".

Here's a look at how the song "Milwaukee" came about and what it's all about:

How Wyatt Flores' song 'Milwaukee' came to be

"I wasn't even supposed to be a part of that write," Flores said. "But, my buddy invited me in and I ended up writing it with two other guys as well."

One of those fellas was singer/songwriter Graham Barham.

"When we sat down, Graham Barham just, right off the bat goes: "Somewhere in Milwaukee, there's snow covering concrete. And, that's how the entire song started. So really, shout-out to Graham for just spitting that off the top of his head."

Fun fact: Barham will be playing the Hodag Country Festival in Rhinelander July 14.

What Wyatt Flores' song 'Milwaukee' is about

"Really, the entire song is just about, you know, being in love with someone, but not being able to fully commit — and being scared to," Flores said. "And just regretting that decision of not fully taking the next move. And, watching it all just fall apart right in front of your eyes."

What Wyatt Flores likes about Milwaukee

The people.

"They're super-nice to us every single time we come up — and they're rowdy as hell," Flores said.

The "beer around here" that's "something 'bout a cow."

We got you! Spotted Cow.

"The Spotted Cow is really good stuff," he said.

And third, a diner a couple blocks from The Rave he walked to with the entire band a previous time he was in town. He said he "absolutely" loves it and wants to go back. Miss Katie's Diner, perhaps?

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Country artist Wyatt Flores performs song Milwaukee at Summerfest