Jake Owen's New Single "On The Boat Again" Revives A Classic Vibe

Just two days after announcing his next studio album, Loose Cannon, Jake Owen dropped four of the tracks off the new project on Friday (May 26) -- including among them a familiar jam just in time for Memorial Day lake outings. The song "On the Boat Again" serves as a fresh take on Willie Nelson's iconic 1980s classic "On the Road Again." This homage is unmistakable as Owen credits Nelson as a writer on this version, skillfully reworking both the lyrics and melody to create a modern yet nostalgic feel.

Owen injects his own musical personality into this refreshed rendition, diverging from the original's themes in significant ways. While "On the Road Again" finds Nelson yearning for the excitement of touring and new crowds, Owen's "On the Boat Again" is all about escaping the daily grind. He sings of clocking out from work and heading to the lake with friends, fishing gear, and some fun in the sun. This thematic shift makes sense, as summertime escapism has always been at the heart of Owen's music, evident in previous hits like "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and "Drunk on a Boat."

This isn't the first time Owen has creatively borrowed from classic songs; his 2018 album, Greetings From...Jake, included the hit "I Was Jack (You Were Diane)," which sampled John Mellencamp's "Jack & Diane." As country music currently embraces updated versions of beloved classics, Owen's new single joins a growing trend along with other recent hits like Cole Swindell's "She Had Me at Heads Carolina" and Chapel Hart's "You Can Have Him, Jolene."

With "On the Boat Again," fans can expect a feel-good anthem that's perfect for summer days. The song is one of four new tracks released ahead of Owen's upcoming album, Loose Cannon, which is set to be fully released on June 23. This new addition to his discography further solidifies Owen's place in the country music scene as an artist who honors the past while pushing musical boundaries.