About the song
For fans of heartfelt country storytelling, Trace Adkins’ song Just Fishin’ is more than just a tune about rods, reels, and casting lines—it’s a moving snapshot of parenthood, time, and the quiet beauty of moments that might seem ordinary on the surface but are anything but.
Released in 2011 as part of Adkins’ album Proud to Be Here, Just Fishin’ stands out not only for its warm, laid-back melody but for its deeply emotional core. From the very first verse, the listener is invited into a tender scene: a father taking his daughter out for a simple day of fishing. But what’s truly being caught here isn’t trout or bass—it’s fleeting time, precious memories, and the unspoken bond between a parent and child.
Trace Adkins, with his signature baritone that blends strength and sincerity, delivers the lyrics with a quiet reverence. His voice doesn’t rush; instead, it lingers, as if savoring each line the way the father in the song cherishes each moment with his daughter. The magic of Just Fishin’ lies in its ability to turn the mundane into something monumental. The girl in the story thinks it’s “just fishin’”, but the father knows better. It’s about building a legacy of love—hook by hook, memory by memory.
The instrumentation is classic country—gentle guitar strums, subtle steel, and a rhythm that mirrors the slow peace of a day by the lake. It doesn’t try to dazzle; instead, it invites you to sit still and reflect. For anyone who’s ever watched a child grow up too fast, or felt the ache of time slipping by, Just Fishin’ will hit home.
More than a song, it’s a reminder: sometimes the smallest moments become the most unforgettable.
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Lyrics
I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reelShe’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ stillTalkin’ ’bout her ballet shoes and training wheelsAnd her kittensAnd she thinks we’re just fishin’I say, “Daddy loves you, baby” one more timeShe says, “I know, I think I’ve got a bite”And all this laughin’, cryin, smilin’, dyin’ here inside’sWhat I call, livin’And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riversideThrowin’ back what we could fryDrownin’ worms and killin’ timeNothin’ too ambitiousShe ain’t even thinkin’ ’boutWhat’s really goin’ on right nowBut I guarantee this memory’s a big’inAnd she thinks we’re just fishin’She’s already pretty, like her mama isGonna drive the boys all crazyGive her daddy fitsAnd I better do this every chance I get‘Cause time is tickin’(Yeah it is)And she thinks we’re just fishin’ on the riversideThrowin’ back what we could fryDrownin’ worms and killin’ timeNothin’ too ambitiousShe ain’t even thinkin’ ’boutWhat’s really goin’ on right nowBut I guarantee this memory’s a big’inAnd she thinks we’re just fishin’She ain’t even thinkin’ ’boutWhat’s really goin’ on right nowBut I guarantee this memory’s a big’inAnd she thinks we’re just fishin’Yeah, aw, she thinks we’re just fishin’We ain’t only fishin’(This ain’t about fishin’)