Drive (For Daddy Gene) - Wikipedia

2002 single by Alan Jackson

"Drive (For Daddy Gene)"
Single by Alan Jackson
from the album Drive
B-side	"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"
Released	January 28, 2002
Recorded	2001–2002
Genre	Country
Length	4:02
Label	Arista Nashville
Songwriter	Alan Jackson
Producer	Keith Stegall
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" (2001) "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" (2002) "Work in Progress" (2002)

"Drive (For Daddy Gene)" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Alan Jackson. It was released in January 2002 as the second single from his album, Drive. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks in May 2002 and also peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]

Content

[edit]

The song is dedicated to Alan's father, Eugene Jackson, who died on January 31, 2000. In the song, Alan recalls as a child he and his father driving around the countryside in an old beat up truck that they fixed up together, as well as a boat they would drive around the lake. In the final verse, Alan talks about sharing his childhood experiences with his daughters and letting them drive his Jeep around their pasture.

Critical reception

[edit]

Chuck Taylor, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably saying that it's "a heartfelt lyric that allows listeners to share a stroll down memory lane with Jackson and appreciate a kinder, simpler time". Taylor also says that Jackson delivers the song with "the same honesty, integrity, and emotional warmth that has always made listeners powerfully connect to his work".[2]

In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #52 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[3]

Music video

[edit]

The music video, directed by Steven Goldmann and animated by The Illusion Factory, follows the plot of the story by showing scenes of a boy and his father driving around in a speedboat and later in his truck. The scene for the final verse shows Jackson driving around in a Ford Bronco, not a Jeep as the lyrics state, with his three daughters. The whole video is presented as animated pictures in a story coming to life out of a book. The music video was nominated for Music Video of the Year in the top award shows and won the award for Best Music Video in the Country Music Awards.

Cover versions

[edit]

When Jackson was honored by "CMT Giants," country singer Taylor Swift sang "Drive" as a tribute.

Chart positions

[edit]

"Drive (For Daddy Gene)" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of February 2, 2002.

Chart (2002)	Peakposition
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4]	1
US Billboard Hot 100[5]	28

Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (2002)	Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[6]	2
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	86

Certifications

[edit]

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]

1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
2. ^ Billboard, March 2, 2002
3. ^ "The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 24, 2014.
4. ^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
5. ^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
6. ^ "Best of 2002: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
7. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2002". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
8. ^ "American single certifications – Alan Jackson – Drive (For Daddy Gene)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 22, 2023.

v t e Alan Jackson singles
Here in the Real World	"Here in the Real World" "Wanted" "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow" "I'd Love You All Over Again"
Don't Rock the Jukebox	"Don't Rock the Jukebox" "Someday" "Dallas" "Midnight in Montgomery" "Love's Got a Hold on You"
A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)	"She's Got the Rhythm (And I Got the Blues)" "Tonight I Climbed the Wall" "Chattahoochee" "Mercury Blues" "(Who Says) You Can't Have It All"
Who I Am	"Summertime Blues" "Livin' on Love" "Gone Country" "Song for the Life" "I Don't Even Know Your Name"
The Greatest Hits Collection	"Tall, Tall Trees" "I'll Try" "Home"
Everything I Love	"Little Bitty" "Everything I Love" "Who's Cheatin' Who" "There Goes" "Between the Devil and Me" "A House with No Curtains"
High Mileage	"I'll Go On Loving You" "Right on the Money" "Gone Crazy" "Little Man"
Under the Influence	"Pop a Top" "It Must Be Love"
When Somebody Loves You	"www.memory" "When Somebody Loves You" "Where I Come From" "It's Alright to Be a Redneck"
Drive	"Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" "Work in Progress" "That'd Be Alright"
Greatest Hits Volume II	"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" (w/ Jimmy Buffett) "Remember When"
What I Do	"Too Much of a Good Thing" "Monday Morning Church" "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues" "USA Today"
Like Red on a Rose	"Like Red on a Rose" "A Woman's Love"
Good Time	"Small Town Southern Man" "Good Time" "Country Boy" "Sissy's Song" "I Still Like Bologna"
Freight Train	"It's Just That Way" "Hard Hat and a Hammer"
34 Number Ones	"Ring of Fire"
Thirty Miles West	"Long Way to Go" "So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore" "You Go Your Way"
Other songs	"Tequila Sunrise" "A Good Year for the Roses" (w/ George Jones) "Redneck Games" (w/ Jeff Foxworthy) "Margaritaville" (w/ Jimmy Buffett) "Murder on Music Row" (w/ George Strait) "Hey, Good Lookin'" (w/ Jimmy Buffett, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and George Strait) "You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie" (w/ The Bellamy Brothers) "As She's Walking Away" (w/ Zac Brown Band)
See also	Singles discography

Authority control databases	MusicBrainz work