Introduction
Alan Jackson’s “Where I Come From” is a spirited country anthem penned and performed by Jackson himself. Released in July 2001, it was the third single from his ninth studio album When Somebody Loves You (2000), produced by longtime collaborator Keith Stegall. The song became Jackson’s 18th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in November 2001—his sole chart-topper from that album .
In this energetic, mid‑tempo track, Jackson assumes the persona of a long-haul trucker who travels from coast to coast in his rig. Each verse recounts comical encounters with locals—in New Jersey (flagging his Southern drawl), Detroit (unimpressed by diner barbecue), Ventura (helped by a woman whom he cheekily critiques), and Kentucky (questioned about his origin over the CB radio) . In the chorus, he fondly contrasts these experiences with his Southern roots: “cornbread and chicken,” “front‑porch pickin’,” and the blue-collar ethic that shaped him.
Critically, the song has been praised as a “redneck anthem” with a grittier edge, featuring a ZZ Top–style guitar solo that injects an urban swagger into its traditionally honky‑tonk palette . Retrospective reviews, like Country Universe’s 2025 feature, commend its lively vibe and unapologetic homespun charm, though some also point out lyrics that may be perceived as dismissive or insensitive toward the strangers he describes .
“Where I Come From” captures a recurring theme in Jackson’s work: the complex interplay between pride in modest beginnings and the chuckles—and occasional discomfort—that come with leaving the familiar behind. It stands as both a comedic travelogue and a heartfelt homage to the place—and values—he calls home.
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Lyrics
Well, I was rollin’ wheels and shiftin’ gears ’round that Jersey Turnpike
Barney stopped me with his gun ten minutes after midnight
Said, “Sir you broke the limit in that rusty ol’ truck
I don’t know about that accent son, just where did you come from?”
I said, “Where I come from, it’s cornbread and chicken
Where I come from, a lotta front porch sittin’
Where I come from, tryin’ to make a livin’
And workin’ hard to get to heaven
Where I come from”
Well, I was south of Detroit City, I pulled in this country kitchen
To try their brand of barbecue, the sign said, “Finger-lickin’”
Well, I paid the tab and the lady asked me, “How’d you like my biscuit?”
“I’ll be honest with you ma’am, it ain’t like mama fixed it”
‘Cause where I come from, it’s cornbread and chicken
Where I come from, a lotta front porch pickin’
Where I come from, tryin’ to make a livin’
And workin’ hard to get to heaven
Where I come from
I was chasin’ sun on 101 somewhere around Ventura
I lost a universal joint, and I had to use my finger
This tall lady stopped and asked if I had plans for dinner
Said, “No, thanks ma’am, back home we like the girls that sing soprano”
‘Cause where I come from, it’s cornbread and chicken
Where I come from, a lotta front porch sittin’
Where I come from, tryin’ to make a livin’
And workin’ hard to get to heaven
Where I come from
Well, I was headed home on 65 somewhere around Kentucky
The CB rang for the bobtail rig that’s rollin’ on like thunder
Well, I answered him, and he asked me, “Aren’t you from out in Tulsa?”
“No, but you might’a seen me there, I just dropped a load of salsa”
Where I come from, it’s cornbread and chicken
Where I come from, a lotta front porch pickin’
Where I come from, tryin’ to make a livin’
And workin’ hard to get to heaven
Where I come
Where I come from, yeah, it’s cornbread and chicken
Where I come from, a lotta back porch pickin’
Where I come from, tryin’ to make a livin’
Workin’ hard to get to heaven
Where I come from
Where I come from
Yeah, where I come from
A lotta front porch sittin’
Starin’ up at heaven
Where I come from
Where I come from
Tryin’ to make a livin’
Oh, where I come from
Where I come from