There’s something about New Hampshire that gets under your skin — the mountains, the stubborn independence, the way folks carry themselves like they’ve got granite in their veins. That “Live Free or Die” spirit runs deep, and when I heard the NH Legislature was offering a new car sticker that says Live Free and Drive, well… I couldn’t resist turning that into a song.
The Idea:
It started as a bit of a joke — what if I wrote a song just for that sticker? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s not just about the sticker. It’s about the feeling of rolling down a back road with the windows down, the mountains in the distance, and that sense of freedom that’s hard to put into words.
The Song:
Live Free and Drive is my musical postcard to the Granite State. It’s built on steady acoustic guitar, a little rootsy twang, and vocals that carry a bit of that New England grit. The tempo keeps it moving — like the hum of tires on asphalt — and the lyrics celebrate everything from the stubborn hills to the unbending pride of New Hampshire folks.
A few lines really sum it up for me:
“No tolls can stop us, no chains can bind,
We’re the keepers of a rugged mind.”
That’s New Hampshire in a nutshell. We don’t like being told what to do, and we sure don’t like obstacles getting in the way of a good drive.
The Process:
This one came together fast. I had the melody in my head by the time I finished reading about the sticker, and the lyrics followed naturally. I recorded the track, added some acoustic layers, and kept the production simple — the kind of stripped-down sound that feels like driving with no destination, just the road and the horizon ahead.
Why It Matters:
With the recent push in NH around car inspections and personal freedom, this song felt timely. But it’s not just political — it’s cultural. It’s about pride in where we live, and the belief that the open road is still a symbol of what makes us free.
You can listen to the track here:
🎧 Live Free and Drive on SoundCloud
Hope it gets your wheels turning — and your spirit rolling.
Stay safe out there,
— Adam Sweet