Alan Jackson performs “Drive” at the Universal Amphitheatre on May 22, 2002

About the song

Alan Jackson’s soulful ballad, “Drive,” is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of memories. Released in 2006, this heartfelt track quickly became a fan favorite, showcasing Jackson’s ability to craft emotionally resonant narratives.

The song’s introspective tone sets the stage for a reflective journey through the past. With gentle acoustic guitar strumming and Jackson’s warm, baritone voice, the listener is immediately drawn into a world of nostalgia and longing. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a couple’s shared experiences, from late-night drives to simple pleasures like watching the sunset.

As the song progresses, the narrative takes a bittersweet turn. Jackson sings about the pain of losing a loved one and the enduring impact their absence has on his life. The lyrics are both raw and poetic, capturing the universal emotions of grief and loss. The bridge of the song is particularly poignant, as Jackson contemplates the possibility of seeing his loved one again in the afterlife.

“Drive” is more than just a sad song; it is a testament to the enduring power of love and the importance of cherishing the memories we make with those we care about. Jackson’s heartfelt performance and the song’s evocative lyrics make it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.

Video

Lyrics

It’s painted red, the stripe was white
It was eighteen feet, from the bow to stern light
Secondhand, from a dealer in Atlanta
I rode up with daddy, when he went there to get her

Put on a shine, put on a motor
Built out of love, made for the water
Ran her for years, ’til the transom got rotten
A piece of my childhood, will never be forgoten

It was, just an old plywood boat
A ’75 Johnson with electric choke
A young boy two hands on the wheel
I can’t replace the way it made me feel
And I would turn her sharp
And I would make it whine
He’d say, You can’t beat the way an old wood boat rides

Just a little lake across the Alabama line
But I was king of the ocean
When daddy let me
Drive

Just an old half-ton shortbed Ford
My uncle bought new, in ’64
Daddy got it right, ’cause the engine was smoking
A couple of burnt valves, and he had it going

He’d let me drive her when we haul off a load
Down a dirt strip where we’d dump trash off of Thigpen Road
I’d sit up in the seat and stretch my feet out to the pedels
Smiling like a hero that just received his medal

It was just an old hand-me-down Ford
With three-speed on the column and a dent in the door
A young boy, two hands on the wheel
I can’t replace the way it made me feel and
And I would press that clutch
And I would, keep it right
He’d say, “a little slower son; you’re doing just fine”

Just a dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti
When daddy let me
Drive

I’m grown up now
Three daughters of my own
I let them drive my old jeep
Across the pasture at our home

Maybe one day they’ll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory
And think of me and smile
And say

It was just an old worn out jeep
Rusty old floor boards
Hot on my feet
A young girl, two hands on the wheel
I can’t replace the way it, made me feel
And he’d say turn it left
And steer it right
Straighten up girl now, you’re doing just fine

Just a little valley by the river where we’d ride
But I was high on a mountain
When daddy let me
Drive

Daddy let me drive

Oh he let me, drive

It’s just an old plywood boat
With a ’75 Johnson
With electric choke