Alan Jackson – Where The Cottonwood Grows

Introduction:

“Where The Cottonwood Grows” is a country ballad by Alan Jackson, released in 2021 as part of his album Where Have You Gone. This song draws listeners into a nostalgic narrative of young love, vividly recalling memories shared by a riverbank beneath a cottonwood tree. The lyrics express both the blissful moments of youthful romance and the inevitable passage of time, reflecting on lost love and the emotional weight of past decisions. Jackson’s smooth, melancholic vocals are paired with traditional country instrumentation, including acoustic guitar and subtle string arrangements, creating a deeply emotional and reflective tone.

The song fits squarely within the classic country genre, drawing upon themes that have long resonated in Jackson’s music—sentimentality, lost love, and connection to nature. The cottonwood tree becomes a symbol of enduring memories and unfulfilled potential, representing both the joy and pain of looking back on what once was.

Where Have You Gone, the album in which this song is featured, marked Jackson’s return to recording after several years. Released in May 2021, the album was celebrated for its return to the roots of traditional country music, a genre Jackson has long championed throughout his career. While the song itself may not have been one of Jackson’s major chart-toppers, it has earned recognition for its emotional depth and connection to country traditions. The track evokes Jackson’s characteristic blend of storytelling, nostalgia, and melody, capturing the spirit of American life in a small, intimate moment.

“Where The Cottonwood Grows” is a powerful example of Jackson’s ability to take simple themes and imbue them with deep emotional resonance, making it a standout on an album that celebrates traditional country sounds and themes.

Video:

Lyrics:

“Where The Cottonwood Grows”

I can close my eyes and it takes me back
To two young lovers on that riverbank
To the sounds of the wind and the whip-poor-will
And the way that your bare skin would feel
As we laid in the sun I could see your eyes
Blue as the blue in that Southern sky
Kisses warm as a wild red rose
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood growsAnd we’d dance
And we’d sing
And we’d love each other as the pale moon glows
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood grows
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood grows

I can still recall the words you said
And the plans we dreamed as we looked ahead
But the fork in the river took us separate ways
As the years went by, I can’t forget those days
And I often wonder but I’ll never know
If we ended up following a different road
Would we still be laying by the wild red rose?
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood grows

And we’d dance
And we’d sing
And we’d love each other as the pale moon glows
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood grows
At the bend in the river where the cottonwood grows

I can close my eyes and it takes me back
To two young lovers on that riverbank