ToC Critic’s Pick: Alan Jackson, ‘Jim and Jack and Hank’ [Listen]

With “Jim and Jack and Hank,” Alan Jackson remains true to the straight road through town. With trendy shops and sexier streets being built and destroyed all around him, he has not deviated. The new song isn’t a throwback, it’s the song he’s always sung.

Of course the chords, melody, lyrics and message are unique. Fans will recognize the traditional country instrumentation, seemingly overlooked on many of the day’s top records. It’s clean and simple, honest and sincere. Those four words describe the song and the man.

The chorus goes: “Take your string bikinis, your apple martinis / Take what's left there in the bank / Take your flat iron and your curlers / Your sparkling water and that damn perfume I never liked / Take your black Mercedes all that stuff for ladies / To me you're just a total blank / Go on and leave me baby / I don't need you, I got / Jim and Jack and Hank.”

Jackson’s attitude is similar to that on “Who’s Cheatin’ Who,” and before that “I Don’t Even Know Your Name.” This casual nonchalance as life swirls around him is an adopted style, revisited for “Jim and Jack and Hank.” The best part of the self-penned tune is when he takes his love woes to his dad.

“I told him you had left me / He said now son don't you hate me / You know exactly what I think / You know you're better off / You can fish and you can golf / You still got Jim and Jack and Hank.”

Slow and steady, Jackson continues to do what he does, never rushing, never waiting for the format to catch up. From time to time his style sounds perfect against faster trends. “Jim and Jack and Hank” is one of those special moments.

Key Lyrics: "Take your black Mercedes all that stuff for ladies / To me you're just a total blank / Go on and leave me baby / I don't need you, I got / Jim and Jack and Hank."

Did You Know?: Jackson name-checks both Hanks, Sr. and Jr., by the end of the song. He also calls out about a dozen others.

Listen to Alan Jackson, “Jim and Jack and Hank”

Do You Know How Alan Met His Wife? Unbelievable Story: