Back in 2014, the Arkansas Department of Tourism created a contest asking songwriters from all over to write songs about the Natural State, in an effort to create a new iconic song about Arkansas.
Turns out, they could’ve just waited a few years for songwriter/country artist Chris Stapleton to do it for them.
The artist last week released his new track, called simply Arkansas, and it’s already taken the state by storm.
Stapleton debuted the song at concerts roughly a year ago this month, and told the story behind it to the first crowds he performed it for back then.
Chris Stapleton performing at the Walmart AMP in 2018
Photo: Clayton Taylor
“It wasn’t that long ago that I had a birthday, and I happen to like fast cars,” he said. “So my wife bought me a fast car, but the fast car was in Oklahoma City, so me and JT back there on the bass got dropped off in Oklahoma City and we drove like a bat out of hell through the Ozark Mountains all the way to Nashville, Tennessee, and that’s what this song is all about.”
After picking up the new car, apparently a Porsche 911 if the lyrics are accurate, Stapleton blazed in through the backroads of the state at “about a hundred and seven” miles per hour on his way back to Nashville.
The lyrics call out several landmarks, including the Ozark Mountains, the White River, Fayetteville, and Little Rock, and even contains a reference to “calling the Hogs.”
He also makes a reference to a pit stop in Little Rock for some barbecue, though he doesn’t name names on the stop.
The song has already drawn the attention of high-profile figures in the state.
Governor Asa Hutchinson Tweeted about it on Wednesday. “Great new song by @ChrisStapleton! Next time you’re in Little Rock, let me know, and we can grab some barbecue,” he said.
Head Razorback basketball coach Eric Musselman posted a video of himself rocking out to the new song on Twitter the afternoon it came out last week.
The song was co-written by legendary guitarist Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and his presence is felt in the few first notes of the song that begins with a rollicking blues riff. We’re not sure if it’s his guitar that starts the track off, but we’re pretty sure he’s the one that rips the solo at around the song’s 2 minute mark.
Campbell, along with fellow Heartbreaker Benmont Tench, both lend their talents to tracks on Stapleton’s upcoming full-length album, Starting Over, due out Nov. 13. Arkansas is one of 14 tracks on the new record.
The new song is already out on streaming services, however. Check out a performance above, and you can hear the new studio track below.
Lyrics to Arkansas by Chris Stapleton
Took a Nine Eleven ’bout a hundred and seven down a back road
Where the white river runs and the southern sun makes the kudzu grow
And what I found in the Ozark mountains I ain’t ever seen
It sure does feel like you’re sittin’ on top of the world to me
Gotta get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Havin’ so much fun that it’s probably a little bit against the law
All the boys and the girls down there sure do know how to have a ball
If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Well, we burned through the one light towns like a scalded dog
When we lit out of Fayetteville, they were callin’ the hogs
We made a pit stop in Little Rock for some barbecue
And when we hit West Memphis there were blue lights in our rear view
Gotta get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Havin’ so much fun that it’s probably a little bit against the law
All the boys and the girls down there sure do know how to have a ball
If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Gotta get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Havin’ so much fun that it’s probably a little bit against the law
All the boys and the girls down there sure do know how to have a ball
If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Gotta get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
Havin’ so much fun that it’s probably a little bit against the law
All the boys and the girls down there sure do know how to have a ball
If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas
