Chattahoochee (song)

"Chattahoochee" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in May 1993 as the third single from his album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love). The album is named for a line in the song itself. Jackson wrote the song with Jim McBride.

"Chattahoochee" also received CMA awards for Single of the Year and Song of the Year.^[1]

Background and writing[]

Alan Jackson talks about the song in the liner notes for his 1995 compilation album, The Greatest Hits Collection: "Jim McBride and I were trying to write an up-tempo song and Jim came in with the line 'way down yonder on the Chattahoochee'. It kind of went from there. It's a song about having fun, growing up, and coming of age in a small town - which really applies to anyone across the country, not just by the Chattahoochee. We never thought it would be as big as it's become."^[2]

Content[]

The song is uptempo and talks about growing up and falling in love along the Chattahoochee River that flows from northern Georgia and forms part of the borders that Georgia shares with Alabama and Florida.

Critical reception[]

Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song an A grade, saying that the song could have performed well because it "looked back on the innocence of adolescence with bemusement and fondness for that transitional period of life."^[3]

Music video[]

The music video was directed by Martin Kahan, premiered in May 1993, and uses the Extended Remix of the song. The video is remembered for Jackson water-skiing in his red cowboy boots and red life vest.

Chart performance[]

"Chattahoochee" debuted at #72 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 15, 1993.

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[4]	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[5]	46
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[6]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1993)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[7]	8
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[8]	1

References[]

^ "Alan Jackson Biography". About.com. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
^ The Greatest Hits Collection (CD). Alan Jackson. Arista Records. 1995. 07822 18801.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ CountryUniverse.net Song review
^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2198." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 7, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Alan Jackson Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1993". RPM. December 18, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "Best of 1993: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

External links[]

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

show v t 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" "The Blues Man" "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) "Designated Drinker" (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

show

American Music Award for Favorite Country Song

show v t Billboard Year-End Hot Country Songs number one single of the year
1980–1989	1980: "My Heart" – Ronnie Milsap 1981: "Fire and Smoke" – Earl Thomas Conley 1982: "Always on My Mind" – Willie Nelson 1983: "José Cuervo" – Shelly West 1984: "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" – Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson 1985: "Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)" – Ronnie Milsap 1986: "Never Be You" – Rosanne Cash 1987: "Give Me Wings" – Michael Johnson 1988: "Don't Close Your Eyes" – Keith Whitley 1989: "A Better Man" – Clint Black
1990–1999	1990: "Nobody's Home" – Clint Black 1991: "Don't Rock the Jukebox" – Alan Jackson 1992: "I Saw the Light" – Wynonna Judd 1993: "Chattahoochee" – Alan Jackson 1994: "I Swear" – John Michael Montgomery 1995: "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" – John Michael Montgomery 1996: "My Maria" – Brooks & Dunn 1997: "It's Your Love" – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill 1998: "Just to See You Smile" – Tim McGraw 1999: "Amazed" – Lonestar
2000–2009	2000: "How Do You Like Me Now?!" – Toby Keith 2001: "Ain't Nothing 'bout You" – Brooks & Dunn 2002: "The Good Stuff" – Kenny Chesney 2003: "My Front Porch Looking In" – Lonestar 2004: "Live Like You Were Dying" – Tim McGraw 2005: "That's What I Love About Sunday" – Craig Morgan 2006: "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" – Rodney Atkins 2007: "Watching You" – Rodney Atkins 2008: "Just Got Started Lovin' You" – James Otto 2009: "I Run to You" – Lady Antebellum
2010–2019	2010: "Love Like Crazy" – Lee Brice 2011: "Crazy Girl" – Eli Young Band 2012: "Time Is Love" – Josh Turner 2013: "Cruise" – Florida Georgia Line 2014: "This Is How We Roll" – Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan 2015: "Take Your Time" – Sam Hunt 2016: "H.O.L.Y." – Florida Georgia Line 2017: "Body Like a Back Road" – Sam Hunt 2018: "Meant to Be" – Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line 2019: "Whiskey Glasses" – Morgan Wallen
2020–2029	2020: "I Hope" - Gabby Barrett

show v t CMA Single of the Year
1967−1970	"There Goes My Everything" (1967) "Harper Valley PTA" (1968) "A Boy Named Sue" (1969) "Okie from Muskogee" (1970)
1971-1980	"Help Me Make It Through the Night" (1971) "The Happiest Girl in the Whole U.S.A." (1972) "Behind Closed Doors" (1973) "Country Bumpkin" (1974) "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" (1975) "Good Hearted Woman" (1976) "Lucille" (1977) "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" (1978) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (1979) "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980)
1981-1990	"Elvira" (1981) "Always on My Mind" (1982) "Swingin'" (1983) "A Little Good News" (1984) "Why Not Me" (1985) "Bop" (1986) "Forever and Ever, Amen" (1987) "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (1988) "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" (1989) "When I Call Your Name" (1990)
1991-2000	"Friends in Low Places" (1991) "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992) "Chattahoochee" (1993) "I Swear" (1994) "When You Say Nothing at All" (1995) "Check Yes or No" (1996) "Strawberry Wine" (1997) "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" (1998) "Wide Open Spaces" (1999) "I Hope You Dance" (2000)
2001-2010	"I am a Man Of Constant Sorrow" (2001) "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" (2002) "Hurt" (2003) "Live Like You Were Dying" (2004) "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" (2005) "Believe" (2006) "Before He Cheats" (2007) "I Saw God Today" (2008) "I Run to You" (2009) "Need You Now" (2010)
2011-2020	"If I Die Young" (2011) "Pontoon" (2012) "Cruise" (2013) "Automatic" (2014) "Girl Crush" (2015) "Die a Happy Man" (2016) "Blue Ain't Your Color" (2017) "Broken Halos" (2018) "God's Country" (2019) "The Bones" (2020)

show v t CMA Video of the Year
1985-1990	"All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" (1985) "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" (1986) "My Name is Bocephus" (1987) "There's a Tear in My Beer" (1989) "The Dance" (1990)
1991-2000	"The Thunder Rolls" (1991) "Midnight in Montgomery" (1992) "Chattahoochee" (1993) "Independence Day" (1994) "Baby Likes to Rock It" (1995) "My Wife Thinks You're Dead" (1996) "455 Rocket" (1997) "This Kiss" (1998) "Wide Open Spaces" (1999) "Goodbye Earl" (2000)
2001-2010	"Born to Fly" (2001) "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" (2002) "Hurt" (2003) "Whiskey Lullaby" (2004) "As Good as I Once Was" (2005) "Believe" (2006) "Online" (2007) "Waitin' on a Woman" (2008) "Love Story" (2009) "The House That Built Me" (2010)
2011-2020	"You and Tequila" (2011) "Red Solo Cup" (2012) "Highway Don't Care" (2013) "Drunk on a Plane" (2014) "Girl in a Country Song" (2015) "Fire Away" (2016) "It Ain't My Fault" (2017) "Marry Me" (2018) "Rainbow" (2019) "Bluebird" (2020)