Introduction
“This Time” – A Heartfelt Moment from Alan Jackson’s Good Time (2008)
“This Time” is the 14th track on Alan Jackson’s fifteenth studio album, Good Time, released March 4, 2008, on Arista Nashville . Uniquely, Good Time marked a significant milestone in Jackson’s career— it was the first album for which he wrote every song by himself . Working once again with longtime producer Keith Stegall, Jackson created a collection that returned to his neotraditional country roots, blending storytelling intimacy with simple, evocative performances .
Although it was not released as a standalone single, “This Time” stands out as a window into Jackson’s reflective songwriting phase. Positioned within an album that swiftly returned him to the top of the charts—Good Time debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums, selling around 119,000 copies in its first week and later earning Platinum certification —the track showcases the culmination of Jackson’s authentic and personal musical expression.
Embedded in an album of hits like “Small Town Southern Man,” “Good Time,” and “Country Boy,” all of which achieved Number One on the country charts , “This Time” contributes a quieter, more introspective chapter. While the album pulses with upbeat anthems and nostalgic tales, this album-only song deepens the emotional texture of Good Time, reflecting a mature artist who has mastered storytelling through simplicity.
In sum, “This Time” exemplifies Alan Jackson’s commitment to crafting honest, traditional country music. As part of an entirely self-written album, it highlights his skill at blending melody and narrative. Though not a high-profile single, listeners attuned to Jackson’s artistry will appreciate its place within one of his most unified and reflective records—an album that underscored his legacy as a songwriter and storyteller in the modern country canon.
Video
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
There’s an old hardwood tree
Staring through the glass at me
It’s been there since ’85
Sometimes I think it reads my mind, I guess it’s true
You can’t keep it from shining through
[Chorus]
There’s no denying, I’ve been hiding
From this thing that’s chasing me
Yeah, I’ve been running, no good it’s showing
All these scars from yesterday
There comes a time you got to give it up
Spin that wheel and try your luck
You never know what you will find
It might be love this time
[Verse 2]
I knew it from that very first smile
I could taste it like a hungry child
Not at all like all the risk
You know they say that last is best
[Bridge]
Like a rainbow on a cloudy day
Just to shelter, takes my breathe away
[Chorus]
And there’s no denying, I’ve been hiding
From this thing that’s chasing me
Yeah, I’ve been running, no good it’s showing
All these scars from yesterday
There comes a time you got to give it up
Spin that wheel and try your luck
You never know what you will find
It might be love this time
There’s no denying, I’ve been hiding
From this thing that’s chasing me
Yeah, I’ve been running, no good it’s showing
All these scars from yesterday
There comes a time you got to give it up
Spin that wheel and try your luck
You never know what you will find
It might be love this time
[Outro]
This time, this time
Oh, this time, this time, this time