 “Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses” is easily one of my favorite verses, and pretty much sums up how I feel about beer, although I think the horses deserve better. Whether drowning sorrows or about to kill someone, a lot of country singers sing about whiskey. Whiskey may have been a gentile drink in Scotland, but here in America, it goes with cowboy hats, wranglers, and saloons. And songs about heartache, revenge, and lost love. “I put some whiskey in my whiskey” is my theme song to loneliness. You know the days. And who hasn’t had a couple of glasses at the bar with a mind singing (or at least feeling), “Whiskey River, take my mind. Don’t let her (his) memory torture me.” Whiskey is something you drink alone thinking of someone else. Or, in “The Gambler,” something you drink with an odd stranger you meet on a train. I grew up in the cropland of Central California, and at the time, you wouldn’t catch me listening to country music. I hated it, but couldn’t escape it – Garth Brooks was on repeat in my friend’s car during the ride to school, and Shania Twain was the biggest hit at the Spring choral fair. I did have a soft spot for Willie Nelson – maybe because he was the only singer I ever heard my dad listen to voluntarily. My dad sang “On the Road Again” every single time we got back in the car during our 16-hour roadtrips to Oregon to see my grandparents, which was oddly endearing.
I left home for college near Seattle, where there was barely a twang to be found in the music, then found myself, by way of Montana, London, and France, to the East Coast where I had to get a car for work. I was setting my stations to the Boston tunes and rolled across – country music. I thought I would keep it there for just a minute for nostalgia. And that’s when I discovered I knew every word to Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, and Shania Twain. I couldn’t help it. The music had seeped into my brain. And not only that, it was fun to cruise along Highway 93 with the sun on my face singing “Dust on the Bottle” at the top of my lungs. I guess country music is my guilty pleasure – I don’t indulge often, but when I am in the right mood, Willie Nelson will fill my New York apartment. And if I pour myself a glass of whiskey, all the better to sit back and enjoy. It ain’t Brooklyn-style, but admittedly, neither am I. At Farm Aid a couple of years ago, I got to see Willie Nelson and sing along with him and a few thousands others to “On the Road Again” while we (okay, maybe just me) danced a jig. Sometimes drowning in a whiskey river is sad and lonely. And sometimes when you share it with friends, it is really fun. Here are some of my whiskey favorites. I’d sing them for you, but, as George Burns put it, “"I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch." “Beer for my Horses” (sung by Toby Keith, and I love when it features Willie Nelson), http://www.tobykeith.com/ Well a man come on the 6 o'clock news Said somebody's been shot, somebody's been abused Somebody blew up a building Somebody stole a car Somebody got away Somebody didn't get too far yeah They didn't get too far Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son A man had to answer for the wicked that he done Take all the rope in Texas Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys Hang them high in the street for all the people to see that (Chorus) Justice is the one thing you should always find You got to saddle up your boys You got to draw a hard line When the gun smoke settles we'll sing a victory tune We'll all meet back at the local saloon We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces Singing whiskey for my men, beer for my horses We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds We've got too much corruption, too much crime in the streets It's time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground Send 'em all to their maker and he'll settle 'em down You can bet he'll set 'em down 'cause “ Whiskey In My Whiskey” sung by the Felice Brothers, http://www.thefelicebrothers.com/ I put some whiskey into my whiskey I put some heartbreak into my heart I put my boots on that ole dance floor I put three rounds Lord, in my 44 I love the girl, she was my sunshine Her name was Eleanor Caroline She got fast, with a friend of mine At the dance hall Lord, on the county line I put some whiskey into my whiskey I put some heartbreak into my heart I make my way across that ole dance floor And put three rounds Lord, in my Eleanor I filled my glass with Uncle Jack I lay my skin, my sunday black I'll make my bed on them railroad tracks I'll leave this world lord and I won't look back And I put some whiskey into my whiskey I put some heartbreak into my heart I put my boots on that ole dance floor I put three rounds Lord, in my Eleanor “Whiskey River” by Johnny Bush, sung by Willie Nelson, http://www.willienelson.com/ Whiskey River take my mind, Don't let her mem'ry torture me. Whiskey River don't run dry, You're all I've got, take care of me. Whiskey River take my mind, Don't let her mem'ry torture me. Whiskey River don't run dry, You're all I've got, take care of me. I'm drowning in a whiskey river, Bathing my mem'ried mind in the wetness of its soul. Feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind. And warm an empty heart you left so cold. Whiskey River take my mind, Don't let her mem'ry torture me. Whiskey River don't run dry, You're all I've got, take care of me. I'm drowning in a whiskey river, Bathing my mem'ried mind in the wetness of its soul. Feeling the amber current flowin' from my mind. And warm an empty heart you left so cold. Whiskey River take my mind, Don't let her mem'ry torture me. Whiskey River don't run dry, You're all I've got, take care of me. “The Gambler” sung by Kenny Rogers, http://kennyrogers.musiccitynetworks.com/ On a warm summer's eve On a train bound for nowhere I met up with the gambler We were both too tired to sleep So we took turns a-starin' Out the window at the darkness The boredom overtook us, and he began to speak He said, "Son, I've made my life Out of readin' people's faces Knowin' what the cards were By the way they held their eyes So if you don't mind my sayin' I can see you're out of aces For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice" So I handed him my bottle And he drank down my last swallow Then he bummed a cigarette And asked me for a light And the night got deathly quiet And his faced lost all expression He said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy You gotta learn to play it right You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away Know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done Now every gambler knows the secret to survivin' Is knowin' what to throw away And knowin' what to keep 'Cause every hand's a winner And every hand's a loser And the best that you can hope for Is to die in your sleep" So when he finished speakin' He turned back for the window Crushed out his cigarette And faded off to sleep then somewhere in the darkness The gambler he broke even, but in his final words I found an ace that I could keep You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done You've got to know when to hold 'em (When to hold 'em) Know when to fold 'em (When to fold 'em) Know when to walk away know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done Comments are closed.
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