OldiesButGoodies

Country

Travis Tritt – “Put Some Drive In Your Country”

Travis Tritt - Put Some Drive in Your Country (from Live & Kickin')

Introduction:

In the landscape of early ’90s country music, when smooth, radio-friendly sounds were dominating Nashville’s airwaves, one voice stood out—not just for its grit, but for its defiant energy and allegiance to a rougher, rowdier kind of country. That voice belonged to Travis Tritt, and his song “Put Some Drive In Your Country” wasn’t just a title—it was a mission statement.

Released in 1990 as a track on his debut album Country Club, “Put Some Drive In Your Country” was both a celebration and a challenge. It called back to the days when country music proudly wore its Southern rock influences on its sleeve. Tritt, an unapologetic disciple of Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Lynyrd Skynyrd, blended honky-tonk heart with rock-and-roll horsepower—and this song was his manifesto.

Musically, the track is electric—literally and figuratively. From the opening guitar riffs, there’s an unmistakable Southern rock flavor, a twangy defiance that immediately distinguishes it from the more polished Nashville productions of the time. The lyrics are direct, with Tritt urging his contemporaries—and perhaps Nashville itself—to remember the fire and edge that once made country music not just heartfelt, but hard-hitting. “I grew up in the country,” he sings, “But I’m a rockin’ little rebel at heart,” a line that captures the essence of not only the song but Tritt’s entire artistic identity.

What makes “Put Some Drive In Your Country” resonate beyond its infectious beat and rebellious tone is its timing. The late ’80s and early ’90s saw the emergence of the so-called “Class of ’89″—a cohort that included Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and Alan Jackson—who were pushing country into new commercial and stylistic directions. Tritt stood out in that class as the outlaw among the cowboys, unafraid to embrace distortion pedals and southern swagger. He didn’t reject tradition; rather, he infused it with adrenaline.

The song also marked a crucial moment in the genre’s evolution, paving the way for artists like Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, and Eric Church—modern-day performers who blend country with rock elements and trace a direct line back to the precedent Tritt helped set. In this sense, “Put Some Drive In Your Country” is more than a track; it’s a cornerstone of a subgenre.

Tritt’s performance is filled with conviction, charisma, and a gravelly vocal tone that reinforces every word. You don’t just hear his love for the genre—you feel his insistence that country can be both authentic and amped up. For fans of rootsy, hard-driving music that still carries emotional weight, this song is a perfect gateway into the crossover spirit of Southern rock and traditional country.

Over 30 years later, “Put Some Drive In Your Country” remains a fan favorite and a concert staple. It’s a track that never asks permission to turn up the volume—and never needs to. With this one song, Travis Tritt proved that country music didn’t have to choose between heartfelt balladry and rock-infused bravado. It could be both—loud, proud, and roaring down the open road.

Video:

https://youtu.be/KvjHaBSeEpI?si=-GVKot7hEsHUGW7c

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