Meaning of “Try That In A Small Town” by Jason Aldean

The lyrics of “Try That in a Small Town” depict Jason Aldean’s views on societal behavior, consequences, and the sense of community in a small town.

The first verse describes reckless and disrespectful behaviors such as unnecessary assault, theft, blatant disrespect of officers enforcing the law and desecration of national symbols. These actions are presented as if they were committed without fear of repercussion. This of course is possibly hinting at larger cities where such actions might go unnoticed due to the crowd and the lack of close-knit community.

The chorus and verses contrast this with life in a small town, implying that disrespectful or illegal behavior won’t be tolerated. The lyrics suggest that small towns have a close sense of community where residents look out for each other (’round here, we take care of our own). Therefore, if someone steps out of line, consequences are swift and immediate.

“Try that in a small town
See how far ya make it down the road
‘Round here, we take care of our own
You cross that line, it won’t take long
For you to find out, I recommend you don’t
Try that in a small town”

The second verse talks about the values of self-defense and personal freedom, represented by Aldean’s grandfather’s gun, which he’s ready to use if necessary. It’s suggested that these attitudes are less prevalent in the city.

The bridge continues the theme. Here it implies that small towns are full of ‘good ol’ boys’. These are people raised with traditional values who won’t shy away from a fight if it’s to protect their community.

All in All

Overall, these lyrics present a dichotomy between urban and rural communities. And in doing so, they emphasize on the unity, shared values, and immediate justice in small towns, as opposed to the perceived indifference and anonymity in larger cities.

The phrase “try that in a small town” in the context of these lyrics is essentially a challenge. A challenge to what? A challenge to a person committing disrespectful or harmful actions to attempt the same behaviors in a small town setting.

Small towns are often characterized by close-knit communities where residents know each other well, and actions have immediate and noticeable consequences. The phrase implies that the antisocial behaviors described would not be tolerated in a small town, and the individuals involved would face immediate backlash or consequences from the community. It underscores the contrast between perceived anonymity in larger cities versus the immediate accountability in smaller, tight-knit communities.

When was “Try That in A Small Town” released?

Jason released this song on the 19th of May, 2023.

Songwriting Credits

Aldean actually didn’t play any role in the writing of this song. It was written by the following songwriters:

• Tully Kennedy
• Neil Thrasher
• Kelley Lovelace
• Kurt Allison

The Controversy of “Try That In A Small Town”

The song has been heavily criticized due to its lyrics as well as its music video. Many have condemned the song as being purely racist and to a certain degree threatening. Some even went as far as to refer to it as a song that propagates lynching.