Here is some background information on Thomas Rhett from the Something To Do With My Hands Songfacts. Thomas Rhett grew up in the music industry by means of his singer-songwriter father Rhett Akins. Whilst studying business and communications at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Rhett formed a cover band and began playing frat parties and other gigs they could get. His dad persuaded him to take the stage one night at a Nashville showcase, and EMI Music's Ben Vaughn, the same publisher who had signed his father many years earlier, offered Rhett a publishing deal.
Rhett co-wrote the song "I Ain't Ready to Quit" on Jason Aldean's 2010 album My Kinda Party and signed a recording contract with Big Machine Records' Valory Music Group division in 2011.[2] In early 2012, he released his debut single, "Something to Do with My Hands". The song received a positive review from Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes, who called it "clever, but not so cheeky that the joke tires after a listen or three."[3]
What's Your Country Song
Thomas Rhett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did your daddy let you drive?
Are you whiskey bent and hell bound
Even though your mama tried?
Did you cruise down a backroad
With your Dixieland Delight?
Are you on the Chattahoochee
On a barefoot blue jean night?
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a Hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you're rollin' down a two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you, baby
Yeah, what's your country song?
Yeah, what's your country song?
Do your exes live in Texas?
Are you so lonesome you could cry?
Are you heart broke 'cause you know
That ain't your truck in her drive?
Are your friends all in low places
Underneath the neon moon?
Were you already country
Back when country wasn't cool?
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a Hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you're rollin' down a two lane highway
And you turn your radio onTell me which one hits you, baby
Yeah, what's your country song?
Yeah, what's your country song?
Who's your strawberry wine?
Yeah, what's your family tradition?
What makes you turn it up, make you raise your cup every time you listen?
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a Hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you're rollin' down a two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you, baby
Yeah, what's your country song?
Yeah, what's your country song?
The lyrics to Thomas Rhett's "What's Your Country Song" speak to the universal experience of growing up with a connection to country music. He lists off various experiences that are common in Southern American culture, such as driving tractors, drinking whiskey, and cruising down backroads with friends. The emotional depth in the second verse reveals a struggle with heartbreak and loss, as well as the comforting familiarity of country music. Through it all, the chorus repeats the question, "What's your country song?" as a reminder that everyone has a unique story and connection to this genre of music.
The song's lyrics are both nostalgic and aspirational, evoking images of simpler times while celebrating the rich culture and traditions of country life. The chorus is a call to action, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences and find the song that resonates with them. Interestingly, the song also name-drops several other classic country songs and artists, referencing Alabama's "Dixieland Delight" and Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee," among others. This creates a sense of shared culture and history within the country music community.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you grow up on a tractor?
Did you spend your childhood on a farm, surrounded by the fields, and with a tractor as your toy?
Did your daddy let you drive?
Did your father teach you how to drive the tractor, and let you take control of it?
Are you whiskey bent and hell bound
Even though your mama tried?
Do you have a rebellious attitude and like to party hard, even though your mother tried to raise you differently?
Did you cruise down a backroad
With your Dixieland Delight?
Have you ever driven on a deserted country road with your favorite country song blasting through your speakers?
Are you on the Chattahoochee
On a barefoot blue jean night?
Have you ever been to a party on the Chattahoochee river, with your toes in the water and the stars above, dressed in your favorite pair of blue jeans?
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a Hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
Everyone has a song that represents their small hometown, a story worth telling, a moment of joy and gratitude, and some difficult experiences that shaped them.
When you're rollin' down a two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you, baby
Yeah, what's your country song?
When you're driving along a scenic road and the country music starts playing on your radio, which song resonates with you the most and why?
Do your exes live in Texas?
Are you so lonesome you could cry?
Are you heart broke 'cause you know
That ain't your truck in her drive?
Are you still hung up on your ex who moved to Texas, feeling lonely and sad, and realizing that the truck parked at their new lover's house is not yours?
Are your friends all in low places
Underneath the neon moon?
Were you already country
Back when country wasn't cool?
Do you hang out with simple, down-to-earth people at the local bar, listening to classic country songs and remembering the good old days when country music was not mainstream?
Who's your strawberry wine?
Yeah, what's your family tradition?
What makes you turn it up, make you raise your cup every time you listen?
Who's the person that brings sweetness and nostalgia to your life, what's your favorite family ritual that connects you with your roots, and what's the song that always puts you in a good mood and makes you want to raise a toast?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ashley Glenn Gorley, Jesse Frasure, Parker Welling Nohe, Rhett Akins, Thomas Rhett Jr. Akins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thesnake52000
Did you grow up on a tractor? (Craig Morgan - International Harvester?)
Did your daddy let you drive? (Alan Jackson)
Are you whiskey bent and hell bound (Hank Williams Jr.)
Even though your mama tried? (Merle Haggard)
Did you cruise down a backroad (Florida Georgia Line)
With your Dixieland delight? (Alabama)
Are you on the Chattahoochee (Alan Jackson)
On a barefoot blue jean night? (Jake Owen)
Chorus
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell (Darius Rucker?)
Everybody got a hallelujah (Marren Morris - My Church? Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Turn of the Century?)
Everybody been through a little hell (Rodney Atkins)
When you're rolling down a two-lane highway (Pure Prairie League?)
And you turn your radio on (Ray Stevens)
Tell me which one hits you, baby
Yeah, what's your country song?
Yeah, what's your country song?
Do your exes live in Texas? (George Strait)
Are you so lonesome you could cry? (Hank Williams)
Are you heartbroke 'cause you know (Ricky Skaggs - Heartbroke)
That ain't your truck in her drive? (Rhett Akins)
Are your friends all in low places (Garth Brooks)
Underneath the neon moon? (Brooks and Dunn)
Were you already country
Back when country wasn't cool? (Barbara Mandrell)
Chorus
Who's your strawberry wine? (Deana Carter)
What's your family tradition? (Hank Williams Jr.)
What makes you turn it up (Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama.)
Make you raise your cup every time you listen? (Keith Urban)
Chorus
I might be wrong about the ones with question marks. Did I miss any others?
I might have to send a letter to Rhett asking him.
@AlexanderYarov
Did you grow up on a tractor
Did your daddy let you drive
Are you whiskey bent and hell bound
Even though your mama tried
Did you cruise down a backroad
With your dixieland delight
Are you on the chattahoochee
On a barefoot blue jean night
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you’re rolling down a little two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you baby
Yeah what’s your country song
Yeah what’s your country song
Do your exes live in Texas
Are you so lonesome you could cry
Are you heartbroke cause you know
That ain’t your truck in her drive
Are your friends all in low places
Underneath the neon moon
Are you already country
Back when country wasn’t cool
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you’re rolling down a little two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you baby
Yeah what’s your country song
Yeah what’s your country song
Who’s your strawberry wine
What’s your family tradition
What makes you turn it up, makes you raise your cup every time you listen
Everybody got a small town anthem
Everybody got a story to tell
Everybody got a hallelujah
Everybody been through a little hell
When you’re rolling down a little two lane highway
And you turn your radio on
Tell me which one hits you baby
Yeah what’s your country song
Yeah what’s your country song
@storiehunter4380
"Were you already country, back when country wasn't cool?" LOVE THAT!!! I am SO excited about Thomas's new album! I've listened to this song about 5 times now since it first came out...Thomas and his Wife are such an inspiration! I love how REAL he is, such a humble family! God bless y'all!
@tylermanning6024
Country before country was cool was one my first songs I ever learned the words to
@stephanieroberts3742
I was country when country wasn’t cool is a song by the great Barbara Mandrell ❤️❤️❤️
@bigkid6130
I do not like country
@catharineatkinson4209
“Everybody got a hallelujah, everybody been through a little hell.” Can I get an AMEN! 🙌🏼
@jonezstudioz684
Amen! That's hella true😂
@justinlamb3822
Amen
@aidenjuarez7281
Ahmen
@lordmcustudios9430
Amen
@malijahgriffin8443
Amen!