Try That In A Small Town

Album

Highway Desperado

Label

Broken Bow Records

Genre

Country

Duration

1:00

Composer(s)

Kelley Lovelace;Kurt Allison;Neil Thrasher;Tully Kennedy

Entered Chart

Jul 29, 2023

Peak Date

Aug 5, 2023

Released

May 22, 2023

When it comes to the importance of family and community, Jason Aldean doesn't mince words. In this country-rock song, he takes you straight to the heart of a close-knit town where everybody knows everybody and watchful eyes are always on the lookout. Cuss out a cop, spit in his face Stomp on the flag and light it up Yeah, ya think you're tough Well, try that in a small town "'Try That In A Small Town,' for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief," Aldean Tweeted. "Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences. My political views have never been something I've hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this country don't agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to - that's what this song is about." Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher joined forces to pen "Try That In A Small Town." From the moment Aldean heard the song, he felt an instant connection with its lyrics. It captured the anxiety and unease he and many others around the world experience on a daily basis. "It's like everyday you turn on the news and see something crazy happened or some heartbreaking story," he said during an interview on the Bobby Bones Show. "This is just a song that talks about like you wouldn't get away with that stuff in a small town. It's just a different mindset and different kind of values in small town America that I wish everybody else would kind of adopt. It'd probably help some of things that are going on in the world." The music video shows Aldean and his band performing the song in front of the the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, interspersed with news footage showing various crimes and protests. It caused a good amount of controversy, and on July 17, 2023, CMT pulled it. The next day, Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones Tweeted: "As Tennessee lawmakers, we have an obligation to condemn Jason Aldean's heinous song calling for racist violence. What a shameful vision of gun extremism and vigilantism." Aldean vigorously defended the song and video, tweeting, "There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it - and there isn't a single video clip that isn't real news footage - and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music - this one goes too far."

Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk
Car jack an old lady at a red light
Pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store
You think it's cool, well, act a fool if you like
Cuss out a cop, spit in his face
Stomp on the flag and light it up
Yeah, you think you're tough

Well, try that in a small town
See how far you make it down the road
'Round here we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won't take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don't
Try that in a small town

Got a gun that my granddad gave me
They say one day they're gonna round up
Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck

Try that in a small town
See how far you make it down the road
'Round here we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won't take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don't

Try that in a small town
Full of good ol' boys, raised up right
If you're looking for a fight
Try that in a small town
(Try that in a small town)

Try that in a small town
(See how far you make it down the road)
'Round here we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won't take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don't
Try that in a small town
(Try that in a small town)

Ooh, try that in a small town