There’s a certain magic that emerges when a songwriter lifts life’s simplest moments and transforms them into something timeless. On “The Morning Drive,” Cory M. Coons does exactly that. Through delicate acoustic melodies and reflective lyricism, this self-produced track is not only a tender homage to fatherhood but also a meditation on fleeting moments that shape a lifetime.
From the opening lines—*”It’s 4 A.M. at the crack of dawn / Before another Monday’s calm”—*Coons draws us into a scene so vivid you can almost feel the cool morning air cutting through the stillness. The lyrics act like brushstrokes on an ever-expanding canvas: the quiet ritual of grabbing shoes, the hum of an old truck, and the gentle transition of night into light. It’s storytelling at its most visual, and yet, it’s the feeling—a mix of nostalgia, pride, and quiet awe—that lingers long after the song’s close.
Musically, “The Morning Drive” is an exercise in restraint and clarity. Coons’ melodic roots-rock and Americana sensibilities are beautifully distilled here. His voice carries a calm, weathered warmth, perfectly matched to the intimacy of the song. It’s as if he’s sitting right there beside you, sharing this memory in a small kitchen over a cup of coffee. The guitar work—soft fingerpicking, steady yet fluid—anchors the song’s pace, while understated symphonic flourishes add a touch of grandeur without overwhelming its simplicity.
What makes this track resonate so deeply is its universal truth. Whether it’s the innocence of a child’s closed eyes or the stillness of a road barely touched by daylight, Coons elevates these seemingly quiet moments into something sacred. Lines like “And I’ll treasure every moment / And cherish every mile” are so earnest, they hit like poetry—but poetry rooted in real life. The St. Lawrence Seaway, the cattails, the freighters—Coons embeds his geography into the song, grounding us in a place that feels lived-in, familiar, and eternal.
But perhaps the heart of “The Morning Drive” lies in its ability to capture time’s bittersweet passage. There’s joy here, of course, in treasuring these drives and the precious moments they bring. But as the song builds to its final verses—“Thinking ’bout the days / In the front seat on that ride”—there’s a recognition of life’s impermanence. It’s the kind of song that makes you reflect on your own rituals, your own drives, and the small, extraordinary memories you might one day long to relive.
Knowing that Coons produced, performed, mixed, and mastered this track himself only deepens the emotional weight. There’s nothing polished or overproduced here—just pure craftsmanship, authenticity, and heart. In fact, that’s what makes Cory M. Coons stand apart as a songwriter: his music doesn’t perform feelings; it simply shares them.
If the mark of a great song is its ability to transform the personal into the universal, “The Morning Drive” succeeds effortlessly. It’s a love letter—not just to his daughter or to the morning drives themselves, but to the beauty of being present. A reminder that sometimes life’s most significant journeys take place on the quietest roads.
Standout Lyrics:
“The time with you, my little girl / And the morning drive…”
For Fans Of: Jackson Browne, Tom Petty’s softer moments, James Taylor, and artists who make nostalgia sound eternal.
Final Thoughts:
“The Morning Drive” is an ode to fatherhood, memory, and gratitude. With unassuming grace, Cory M. Coons has created a song that feels like home—comforting, familiar, and full of heart. It’s the kind of track you’ll want to revisit on your own quiet mornings, driving down backroads with the ones you love most.
