Released: 2003
Dierks Bentley’s ‘What Was I Thinkin” is a classic tale of youthful rebellion, a wild chase, and a love interest that’s worth all the trouble. It’s a song that captures the reckless abandon of youth, the thrill of the chase, and the intoxicating allure of a forbidden romance.
The song starts with the introduction of Becky, a beauty from South Alabama. Her father is described as having a heart like a ‘nine pound hammer’, suggesting he’s a tough, no-nonsense kind of guy. The phrase ‘did a little time in the slammer’ is a colloquial way of saying he’s been in jail. The line ‘What was I thinkin’?’ is a recurring question throughout the song, reflecting the singer’s regret and bewilderment at his own actions.
The next verse describes a daring escape from Becky’s father, who comes out ‘wavin’ that 12-gauge’, a reference to a shotgun. The phrase ‘peppered my tailgate’ suggests he fired at them as they drove away. The singer admits he knew there’d be ‘hell to pay’, meaning serious consequences, but that thought came ‘a little too late’.
The chorus reveals the singer’s motivation for his reckless behavior – he was entranced by Becky, symbolized by the ‘little white tank top’ and the possibility of a ‘long kiss’. The phrase ‘gotta get goin’ where the night might lead’ expresses his desire to see where the night’s adventure might take them.
The second verse continues the wild chase, with the singer and Becky evading the police, tearing through a cornfield, and hitting a honky-tonk, a type of bar with country music, for some close dancing. The singer again questions his judgment with ‘What was I thinkin’?’
The song’s climax comes when the singer knocks out a ‘mountain of a man’ who tries to cut in while they’re dancing. The phrase ‘hood slidin’ like Bo Duke’ is a reference to the TV show ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’, where characters often slid across the hoods of cars during car chases.
The final verse describes the singer finally getting Becky home, only to be confronted by her father waiting in the driveway. But just when it seems like he’s in for it, Becky gives him a ‘Come and get me’ grin, and they’re off again. The song ends with the singer still questioning his judgment, but admitting he was simply thinking about Becky and her tank top.
