‘Just To Say We Did’ by Kenny Chesney - Lyrics & Meaning

Around two weeks after Kenny Chesney announced his 2024 album, the island-inspired crooner treated fans to another taste of the keenly awaited project by releasing ‘Just To Say We Did’.

The uplifting, motivational anthem reinforces the mantra and sound of fan-favourites such as ’Here and Now’, ‘We Do’ and ‘Get Along’, while also staying true to Kenny's mission of connecting with those who see themselves in his 2003 hit, ‘Young’. Ahead of announcing BORN, the Knoxville songsmith shared, “We’ve been having an ongoing conversation about life, love, friendships, what we lose and the people we remember since ‘Young’, and that’s something I’m mindful of”.

‘Just To Say We Did’ arrived on February 2nd 2024, marking Kenny Chesney's second release from BORN, after his comparatively drawn-in Country Radio single, ‘Take Her Home’.

‘Just To Say We Did’ ensured the sense of anticipation remained sky-high ahead of Kenny Chesney's forthcoming studio album, which is set to drop on March 29th 2024.

‘Just To Say We Did’ opens with a refreshingly jaunty guitar riff, which sets up the buoyant ambience of the song as Kenny Chesney's charismatic vocals coast in for the opening verse.

In the pre-chorus, the instrumental takes on a voice of its own, with Kenny's lyrics rebounding playfully against the simple yet infectious rhythm, before launching into the emphatic hook.

This sees the introduction of an invigorating wave of electric guitars and a seismic sea of drums, which, alongside Kenny Chesney's euphoric delivery, combines for an earworm that seems to gain another injection of energy with each new line.

“Drove from Knoxville to Myrtle Beach
Seven buddies and an old RV
Beer cooler and no AC
Just to say we did
That night we climbed up Chimney Rock
Knowin' it was a real long drop
Three, two, one, we jumped off
Just to say we did”

Kenny kicks off ‘Just To Say We Did’ by fondly reminiscing about a couple of the wild adventures he's enjoyed with his friends, such as going on a seven-hour road trip from his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee all the way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

He then segues into another rose-tinted memory, when he and his buddies went thrill-seeking and leapt off ‘Chimney Rock’. Here, Kenny is presumably not talking about one of the similarly named landmarks in Nebraska or North Carolina, but rather a protrusion called both Chimney Rock and Acapulco Rock in Dadeville, Alabama, which overlooks Lake Martin and is a much-loved spot for adrenaline junkies.

“Never had no rhyme or reason why
It just seemed like the thing to do at the time”

Kenny Chesney foreshadows the chorus by explaining that these unforgettable experiences arose not out of meticulous planning, rather he'd simply follow his heart and see where it took him.

“Just to say we did
Just to feel alive
To take a leap of faith
To feel that kind of high
Tonight, let's turn it up, fall in love wild
And catch enough buzz to just ride them
Crazy horses runnin' through our heads
Just to say we did”

The hook links back to the opening verse about climbing Chimney Rock, with Kenny Chesney and his co-writers cleverly transitioning from that physical ‘height’ to the emotional ‘high’ that the chorus revolves around. As Kenny has done so powerfully over the years, through his lyrics he celebrates - and in turn, encourages the listener to join him in doing so - the unexpected twists and turns that life takes us on, while stressing that all we can do is sit back and enjoy the trip.

“She said, "I've never seen the Vegas lights
Spun the wheel or rolled the dice"
We doubled down on a crazy night
Just to say we did”

In the second verse, Kenny brings in the perspective of a previous lover who tells him she's never been to Sin City. In the spirit of doing things ‘Just To Say We Did’ and for the purpose of a fun story down the line, they grab each other's hands and disappear off into a raucous, alcohol-fuelled escapade in Las Vegas.

“So let's raise our hands up to the sky
Stay on this roller coaster ride”

As the song approaches its conclusion, Kenny Chesney provides a final message directed at his fans, asking them to stay true to the No Shoes Nation cri-de-coeur of holding steadfastly onto their joi-de-vivre, taking every opportunity for an adventure and toasting each new ‘Trip Around The Sun’ as a gift.

Ahead of the song's release, the No Shoes Nation figurehead delved into the inspiration behind ‘Just To Say We Did’, “What can I say? ‘Just To Say We Did’ sounds like me and my friends growing up, and so many people I’ve met along the way. It’s a song where whatever it is, why not? Get out there and live, shoot your shot, do that bucket list thing – just to say you did. When you can boil down how to create real joy into three minutes that feels this good, I want to sing that song”.

Kenny Chesney went on to underline how ‘Just To Say We Did’ will align perfectly with the mood of his upcoming run of dates, “I think this summer when we’re out on the Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour, ‘Just To Say We Did’ is a lot of the energy we live on. Not just my road family, but all those crazy, awesome folks pulling up and tailgating out in the parking lots where No Shoes Nation comes to life every weekend. We picked this song as the next grat track for them, too”.

“Drove from Knoxville to Myrtle Beach
Seven buddies and an old RV
Beer cooler and no AC
Just to say we did
That night we climbed up Chimney Rock
Knowin' it was a real long drop
Three, two, one, we jumped off
Just to say we did

Never had no rhyme or reason why
It just seemed like the thing to do at the time

Just to say we did
Just to feel alive
To take a leap of faith
To feel that kind of high
Tonight, let's turn it up, fall in love wild
And catch enough buzz to just ride them
Crazy horses runnin' through our heads
Just to say we did

She said, "I've never seen the Vegas lights
Spun the wheel or rolled the dice"
We doubled down on a crazy night
Just to say we did

We didn't have no rhyme or reason why
It just seemed like the thing to do at the time

Just to say we did
Just to feel alive
To take a leap of faith
To feel that kind of high
Tonight, let's turn it up, fall in love wild
And catch enough buzz to just ride them
Crazy horses runnin' through our heads
Just to say we did

So let's raise our hands up to the sky
Stay on this roller coaster ride

Just to say we did
Just to feel alive
To take a leap of faith
To feel that kind of high
Tonight, let's turn it up, fall in love wild
And catch enough buzz to just ride them
Crazy horses runnin' through our heads
Just to say we did
Just to say we did
Just to say we did”

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