Gary Allan – Nothing On But The Radio

About The Song

“Nothing On but the Radio” is a country song recorded by Gary Allan, released in June 2004 as the third single from his sixth studio album See If I Care on MCA Nashville. Written by Brice Long, Odie Blackmon, and Byron Hill, the track became Allan’s third No. 1 hit, topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on December 4, 2004, for one week. It also peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Radio & Records Country Top 50 chart, marking a high point in Allan’s career during the mid-2000s.

The song was produced by Mark Wright and Gary Allan at The Sound Kitchen in Nashville, featuring a mid-tempo arrangement with electric guitar riffs, a steady drumbeat by Chad Cromwell, and steel guitar by Dan Dugmore. The studio band included Brent Rowan on electric guitar, Michael Rhodes on bass, and Steve Nathan on keyboards, creating a polished yet gritty sound that complemented Allan’s raspy vocals. The album See If I Care, released on September 23, 2003, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 17 on the Billboard 200, earning platinum certification from the RIAA with over 1 million copies sold.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a romantic, carefree night, with lines like “We’re parked out by the riverside / With nothing on but the radio.” The song’s sultry tone and imagery of a couple escaping into the moment resonated with listeners. Thom Jurek of AllMusic noted in a 2003 review, “Allan’s voice brings a rugged sincerity to the song, making it more than just a feel-good track—it’s a lived-in story.” The single’s success followed Allan’s previous hits from the album, “Tough Little Boys” (No. 1) and “Songs About Rain” (No. 12), showcasing his ability to blend emotional depth with lighter fare.

The music video, directed by Paul Boyd, premiered on CMT in July 2004, featuring Allan performing in a dimly lit setting interspersed with scenes of a couple’s intimate night by a river, mirroring the song’s narrative. It received a nomination for Video of the Year at the 2005 ACM Awards. The track appeared on compilations like Greatest Hits (2007) and Icon (2012), and its popularity endures on streaming platforms like Spotify, where it has been a staple since its 2004 digital release.

Covers include a 2010 version by The Country Dance Kings and a karaoke rendition by The Karaoke Channel in 2015, per SecondHandSongs. Fans on platforms like Taste of Country have praised its nostalgic charm, with a 2023 post calling it “a timeless summer anthem.” Allan performed it live at the 2004 CMA Awards, cementing its place in his catalog. “Nothing On but the Radio” remains a fan favorite, embodying Allan’s signature mix of ruggedness and romance.

Video

Lyric

I sure do hope this is a long night
Cause I’ve never felt one so right
Each look into your eyes I fall in
A little more and more
Looks like we started us a fire
Wrapped up in flames of desire
With every touch they’re burning higher
Two shadows dancing on the floor

With nothing on but the radio
Feel the music playing soft and slow
You and me and the lights down low
With nothing on but the radio

We’re parked out by the riverside
The moon is shining through the midnight sky
I can see the heaven in your eyes girl
I’m longing for some more
I feel your heartbeat next to mine
I’m feeling so alive tonight
We’re lost in love in a world divine
A place we’ve never been before

With nothing on but the radio
Feel the music playing soft and slow
You and me and the lights down low
With nothing on but the radio

We’ll fall asleep here in the moonlight
In tangled sheets we’ll be here all night
And when we wake up in the morning
We might stay like this all day

With nothing on but the radio
Feel the music playing soft and slow
You and me and the lights down low
With nothing on but the radio

You and me and the lights down low
With nothing on but the radio