A father-son relationship is arguably as strong as can be, and Alan Jackson‘s bond with his father — the late Eugene Jackson — was no exception. Serving as the second single from his tenth studio album, Drive, Jackson released “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” on January 28, 2002, as a tribute to his father, who passed away on January 31, 2000. Since its debut, the tune has become one of the Country Music Hall of Famer’s most successful singles to date, with a meaning that is especially important to Alan Jackson himself.
See below for the story behind the country classic “Drive (For Daddy Gene).”
Success of Alan Jackson’s “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
Written and recorded by Alan Jackson himself — and produced by the one and only Keith Stegall — “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” reached number one on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart in May of 2002, as well as peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
At the time, Billboard reporter Chuck Taylor gave a favorable review of “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” as well, deeming it as “a heartfelt lyric that allows listeners to share a stroll down memory lane with Jackson and appreciate a kinder, simpler time,” delivered by the country crooner with “the same honesty, integrity, and emotional warmth that has always made listeners powerfully connect to his work.”
“Drive (For Daddy Gene)” Lyrics
As for what this “heartfelt lyric” entails, Alan Jackson reminisces on he and his father driving “an old plywood boat,” as well as “an old Ford truck” throughout “Drive (For Daddy Gene),” reminiscing on his fondest childhood memories as a father-son duo.
“It was just an old plywood boat / With a ’75 Johnson and 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 ‘cross the Alabama line / But I was king of the ocean / When Daddy let me drive,” the GRAMMY Award winner sings about the boat in the first chorus.
“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 / I would press that clutch / And I’d 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,” he sings about the truck in the second chorus.
In the final verse, the lyrics drastically shift from Jackson sharing these childhood experiences with his father to now sharing them with his children of his own.
Inspiration and Meaning behind “Drive (For Daddy Gene)”
As a whole, “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” is a heartfelt tribute to Alan Jackson’s father — the late Eugene Jackson — with the three-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year reflecting on the “very special song” in an exclusive interview with Billboard.
“My daddy died a few years ago, and I wanted to write something for him. I tried a couple of times, and I always ended up writing some sad dying song. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to write something nice. Daddy didn’t say much, but one of the things he really gave me is my love for cars, and this whole song is a bunch of facts, really,” he gushed about his smash hit.
Despite being released over two decades ago, country music lovers can listen to “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” via their favorite music streaming service in the year 2024.
