Like a lot of artists, Tim McGraw kicked off his career by playing cover sets in bars. Today, the country superstar might not be playing for tips anymore, but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy a good throwback cover song now and again.

Now, McGraw has shared his own take on the Cars' 1984 classic, "Drive." The song became a signature hit for the Cars upon its original release, becoming their biggest international hit. Press play above to listen to McGraw's faithful rendition of the mid-tempo ballad, which he says will bring a fresh perspective to his next album.

"For the next album, I really wanted to find something cool and unique. 'Drive' was one we covered in bars back in the day, and it still reminds me of high school," McGraw reflects in a text message group he uses to send new songs to his fans. "The Cars made such killer sounding records!"

On Twitter, the singer also pointed out that he has a history of including cover tracks on his albums, such as Ryan Adams' "When the Stars Go Blue" and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," making "Drive" just the next step in a natural evolution.

McGraw released his most recent single, "Thought About You," in October of 2018; that song was his first new solo music in two years. Meanwhile, the singer has been keeping busy with other pursuits, including working on two books -- a collaboration with presidential historian Jon Meacham that looks at music through a political and cultural lens, and another new project that details his health, fitness and exercise journey -- as well as launching a chain of gyms in Nashville.

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