“Off Road” by Brad Paisley
On its surface, the narrative at the center of Brad Paisley’s “Off Road” is actually a well-worn topic in American music. That being a person’s quest to make it big out west, which within the context of the United States entertainment industry would be California. However, in this case, unlike most other songs which deal with this storyline, it isn’t the singer himself whose making this trek of faith. Rather it is an unnamed female who serves as the subject of the lyrics.
And the reason she is unnamed is because she is actually symbolic of, as Brad Paisley put it, “every girl that won’t stay in her lane”. He further explained that it symbolizes “every girl that busts through roadblocks” in order to reach her destination.
In other words, “Off Road” is meant to be a female empowerment song. We can also refer to it as one that was written as a celebration of women who, once again according to Paisley, “won’t stay in (their) lane”. Simply put, it pays homage to an independent woman who knows what she wants and stops at nothing to grab it.
Song’s Title
Indeed the metaphor which the title of this track is based on is derived from that same concept, which is said female character deviating from the beaten path. Or stated differently, the term “off road” is synonymous with the road less traveled.
But even beyond that, as used in the chorus, it additionally represents the notion that following one’s heart off the beaten path also brings with it its fair share of setbacks. That is to say that the “off road” is a more arduous route than the main one, i.e. doing what everyone else is doing. But in the singer’s eyes, that is even more of a reason to celebrate the heroine at hand. She deserves to be celebrated as she is willing to suffer through such hardships in the name of fulfilling what she perceives as her destiny.
And said destiny, once again, entails traveling from Tennessee, i.e. the backcountry out east, to Malibu, the big, beautiful city full of opportunity out west. And this is not to imply, once again citing songs of a similar nature, that the subject’s goal is to make it in Hollywood. Rather as the singer points out, this is a lady who “can go anywhere”. And what he is admiring her for even beyond her independent mentality is that she also isn’t afraid to live an independent lifestyle.
She goes where the spirit takes her, so to speak, regardless of how unconventional or seemingly inaccessible that destination may be.
Advice
So accordingly he is advising he who would apparently be a romantic interest of the lady to “buckle up”. Or the way the vocalist sees it, her movements are even wilder than most dudes can handle. Thus if you’re someone who decides to move with this lady, then you too must be prepared to follow her “off road”.
Release Date of “Off Road”
Being released on 10 February 2021, “Off Road” is the first track Brad Paisley has dropped during the year 2021. However, a duet he came out with alongside Jimmie Allen, entitled “Freedom Was a Highway”, though originally released on 10 July 2020 later came out as a single during late-January 2021.
The singer announced the release of this song via an Instagram post the day before it was officially issued. And the tune attracted the praise of his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
Around the time “Off Road” came out it has also been announced that Brad Paisley was given the honor of hosting an event entitled Grand Old Opry: 95 Years of Country Music which took place on 14 February 2021. And he will be doing so alongside another country music star, Blake Shelton.
Music Video
A music video for this track also came out on 10 February 2021. And that same date also marked the first time that Brad Paisley performed “Off Road” live. And he did so via The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Did Brad Paisley write “Off Road”?
Yes. Brad is one of this song’s writers, doing so alongside Lee Thomas Miller and the track’s producer, Ross Copperman.
