Thomas Rhett, That Old Truck | Track Review

Grammy-nominated country singer Thomas Rhett semi-cornily, yet effectively reminisces about “That Old Truck” on the 3rd single from Center Point Road.

“She heard me laugh, heard me cry / Heard me pray sometimes.” If you are wondering who heard Grammy-nominated country music singer/songwriter Thomas Rhett cry, it was “That Old Truck.” Country musicians are no strangers to singing and reminiscing about their vehicles. Heck, Kenny Chesney once asserted “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” – really Kenny, really? In this case, Rhett goes back to an old truck that essentially represents a rite of passage, or various rites of passages for him.

Compared to some of his more ‘left or center’ songs, “That Old Truck” embraces more of a traditional country sound.  It’s fitting given the topic, but also shows that Thomas Rhett hasn’t forgotten about his roots.  Many of the lyrics are familiar, mostly given the fact that singing about cars, trucks, and apparently, tractors has been done time and time again.  On the first verse, he describes the experience with ‘her’ – “Up and down the streets of a no-name town / Me and her with the windows down / 35s rolling on the ground / Loving every minute.” By the end of the second verse, he sings about “Cussing out all that grass I mowed / Just saving up to fix her.”  In between both verses are two different pre-choruses, with a portion of the second aforementioned at the top of this review.  The centerpiece, however, is the sentimental chorus:

“I grew up on it

Yeah, I got stuck in it

Playin’ our song on the stereo

Drivin’ ‘til we ran outta road

Yeah, I broke up in it

I fell in love in it

Made a lifetime full of memories

On a half tank of gasoline

I learned just who I wasn’t and who I was

In that old truck.”

Final Thoughts

Okay, so is the third advance single from Center Point Road a wee bit corny? Of course, but no cornier or more over-sentimental than any other country record written and performed about a vehicle.  Thomas Rhett sounds respectable as always, and for those who question his progressive spirit as a country musician, well, he tones it down and takes it back to his roots here.  Perhaps I don’t prefer my tunes to be about old trucks, but this one works out well for Rhett.

Thomas Rhett • Center Point Road • Big Machine • Release: 5.31.19

Photo Credit: Big Machine