Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train” Era: The Steadfast Simplicity of ‘It’s Just That Way’ and the Quiet Reflection of ‘Every Now & Then’
In early 2010, Alan Jackson was already a well-established voice in country music — a storyteller whose career had been built on authenticity, understated charm, and the ability to find beauty in life’s simplest moments. That year, he released Freight Train, his seventeenth studio album, a project that reflected a quieter, more reflective chapter in his career. Among its tracks, two songs stand out for the way they complement one another: the lead single “It’s Just That Way” and the more introspective album cut “Every Now & Then.”
Released on January 4, 2010, “It’s Just That Way” served as the gentle, steady introduction to the Freight Train album, which would follow on March 30. A country ballad anchored by warm steel guitar and tender piano, the song leaned into everyday natural imagery — the sun rising, the moon setting, tides flowing — as a metaphor for a love that is constant and unwavering. In Jackson’s hands, these images weren’t just poetic; they were reassuring, the kind of plainspoken truths that resonate deeply with his audience. The message was simple: some things in life don’t change — “it’s just that way.”
Critics responded warmly to its sincerity. Engine 145 praised the track for its emotional depth hidden beneath a calm, matter-of-fact delivery. Roughstock called it “Alan Jackson at his best,” noting how its laid-back, easygoing nature harkened back to some of his earliest and most beloved hits. In a musical climate where many artists leaned on production-heavy arrangements, Jackson’s restrained approach felt refreshing — a quiet confidence in the power of simplicity.
While “It’s Just That Way” offered comfort and stability, Freight Train also included moments of deeper introspection, and “Every Now & Then” appears to be one of those understated gems. Though official reviews and in-depth analyses are sparse, the song fits squarely within the thematic core of Jackson’s work during this period. Known for weaving narrative threads through his albums, Jackson often explored the ways memory, time, and personal reflection shape our understanding of love and life.
Listeners familiar with his storytelling style could easily imagine “Every Now & Then” as a lyrical meditation on fleeting moments — a sudden memory triggered by a familiar place, a passing thought about someone who once played a central role in his life. The song’s placement within the album suggests it serves as a reflective counterpoint to the affirming message of “It’s Just That Way,” allowing the record to balance certainty with contemplation.
Thematically, both tracks capture the essence of Freight Train: an album steeped in maturity, perspective, and emotional honesty. Jackson was not chasing trends here — he was leaning into the strengths that had defined his career for decades. The sound was organic, the production subtle, and the storytelling rooted in lived experience.
In many ways, “It’s Just That Way” and “Every Now & Then” represent two sides of the same coin. One affirms that love and certain truths are constant; the other acknowledges that life is punctuated by moments of reflection — the kind that can arrive unexpectedly and linger long after. Together, they create an emotional arc that mirrors the way real life unfolds, blending the comfort of stability with the inevitable pull of memory.
Looking back, these songs — and the Freight Train album as a whole — serve as a snapshot of Alan Jackson’s artistry in 2010. It was a period when he seemed content to let the music speak softly but meaningfully, relying on craft and authenticity rather than spectacle. For longtime fans, that quiet confidence was exactly why his work continued to resonate. And for anyone listening closely, the pairing of “It’s Just That Way” and “Every Now & Then” was a reminder that country music’s truest power often lies in its gentlest moments.