Shotgun Rider

Album: Sundown Heaven Town (2014)
Charted: 38
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Songfacts®:

  • This romantic song finds McGraw lovingly singing of never wanting another shotgun rider beside him. He just wants it to be with that special someone.

    "I don't ever want to wake up, looking into someone else's eyes.
    I don't want no other shotgun rider beside me, singing to the radio."

    McGraw is singing of his wife, Faith Hill, whom he's been married to since 1996.
  • Does the title ring a bell? Back in 2007 McGraw recorded a duet with Faith Hill titled "Shotgun Rider" for his 2007 album Let It Go. This is an entirely different song.
  • McGraw premiered the song on February 19, 2014 during Jimmy Fallon's first week hosting of The Tonight Show. "I thought since it's Jimmy's first week we should give his audience something they can't get anywhere else," McGraw explained of his choice of a new tune. "It's been a great week for the show already, and I'm honored Jimmy invited me to the party!"
  • The song was written by Hillary Lindsey (Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take The Wheel"), Marv Green (Lonestar's "Amazed") and Troy Verges (Hunter Hayes' "Wanted").

    McGraw said: "This is one of those songs that really paints a picture and sets a mood. In my mind, you look over and see the person that you love next to you sitting in the front seat, and you think, 'How good do I have it? Life is perfect.'"
  • The live video, which vacillates between black-and-white and color, was directed by Bennett Miller. The filmmaker is best known for directing acclaimed movies such as Capote (2005), Moneyball (2011), and Foxcatcher (2014). Previous music clips on Miller's resume include Bob Dylan's 2006 song "When the Deal Goes Down" and Scarlett Johansson's cut "Falling Down."

    The clip was shot during McGraw's concert in New York City, which was part of the American Express Unstaged live stream music series.
  • The song was Tim McGraw's 25th country #1 and his first since "Felt Good On My Lips" topped the charts for three weeks in January 2011.

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