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Introduction:

“Where the Cottonwood Grows,” a reflective ballad by Alan Jackson, appears on his 2021 album Where Have You Gone. Known for his ability to evoke nostalgia, Jackson crafted this song to transport listeners to simpler times, focusing on the memories of a young couple’s romance by a riverbank under a cottonwood tree. The lyrics describe a romantic and innocent love shared between the two, with the cottonwood serving as a symbolic landmark of their time together. Imagery of warm summer days and youthful dreams enhances the song’s emotional depth, making it a relatable reflection on lost love and “what could have been” moments in life.

The cottonwood tree, central to the song’s narrative, represents the permanence of memories, even as people grow and drift apart. Through Jackson’s poignant lyrics and soulful voice, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of reminiscing about one’s past while acknowledging the changes life inevitably brings. The track resonates with fans of classic country for its sincere storytelling and traditional arrangement, blending melancholy with beauty.

This song, like others on Where Have You Gone, emphasizes Jackson’s roots in traditional country, marking a return to the genre’s classic sound and reminding listeners of its emotional resonance. For more details on Jackson’s music and his recent work, visit sources like Old Country Songs and Great Song.

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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