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. It is one of Jackson's most popular and well-known songs, being included on his 2015 box set Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story.

"Chattahoochee"
Single by Alan Jackson
from the album A Lot About Livin' (And a Little 'bout Love)
B-side	"I Don't Need the Booze (To Get a Buzz On)"
Released	May 17, 1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Country
Length	2:27 (album version) 3:56 (extended mix) 4:06 (extended remix) 3:06 (Remix)
Label	Arista Nashville 20962
Songwriter(s)	Alan Jackson Jim McBride
Producer(s)	Keith Stegall
Alan Jackson singles chronology
"Tonight I Climbed the Wall" (1993) "Chattahoochee" (1993) "Mercury Blues" (1993)
Music video
"Chattahoochee" on YouTube

"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. It also peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Jackson's first Hot 100 entry. It was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

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

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.