Alan Jackson’s Best Song Is “Drive” & You Can’t Change My Mind

Alan Jackson country music

These days it seems like every country song is about a shiny new pickup truck. Whether it’s an F150, a Silverado, a Tacoma… pickups are definitely the vehicle of choice for country music.

But the best memories don’t come from brand new trucks, they come from old plywood boats, old hand-me-down Fords, and old worn-out Jeeps. That’s exactly what makes Alan Jackson’s “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” such a powerful song.

Written completely on his own as a tribute to his own father, the song paints a picture of the memories that Alan has of learning to drive – first in a boat, then in an old pickup truck, and then in a Jeep as he teaches his own daughters to drive.

It was released 21 years ago today, on January 28th, 2002, as the title track and second single from Alan’s 10th studio album.

I’m not saying that this is Alan’s best song… but this is Alan’s best song.

We all have memories of learning to drive, whether it was with our dad, our mom, our grandparents, or somebody else. But we probably didn’t realize at the time how much those memories would mean to us someday. I know I didn’t.

All those times when we pretended to be Mario Andretti while our parents were sitting in the passenger seat telling us to slow down – man, those were special times, even if we didn’t realize it. (I also didn’t realize that my mom would still be telling me to slow down when she gets in the car with me even now that I’m over 30).

Alan Jackson has so many great songs that it’s hard to pick just one as his best, but the way he manages to pay tribute to his father through the memories that they made together doing something as simple as learning to drive – this one just hits you hard and makes you smile at the same time.

So thanks Alan, for helping bring back some of those memories for me too.

Because the best memories aren’t made in shiny new pickup trucks.

Alan Jackson Honors His Late Father With Live Performance Of “Drive”

Is it even the 4th of July if Alan Jackson isn’t playing?

The answer is a resounding “HELL no.”

Last year on the 4th of July, Big Al took the stage for PBS’ Capitol Concert  performing his hit single “Drive” from his 2002 album of the same name.

He introed the performance with a heartfelt tribute to his dad:

“I’d like to do a song for you now, it’s been quite a few years ago when I wrote this… I lost my daddy and I wanted to write a song for him. a

And I didn’t want to write some old sad cryin’, dyin’ thing, so I started thinkin’ about growing up and all I ever wanted to do is drive something. He taught me all about that and that’s what this song’s about.”

The concert special also featured performances from Jimmy Buffett, Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen, Jennifer Nettles and more.

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