It could be argued that country music fans love whiskey more than any other drink. In any respect it’s at least the one they sing about the most. It’s been a tradition since the genre first existed and doesn’t look to subside anytime soon. From country drinking songs, to love songs, breakup songs, ballads and everything between, whiskey is the main star of so many tunes. We’ve chosen our top picks for the best country songs about whiskey.
“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley and Allison Kraus
Chart-topping and award-winning, “Whiskey Lullaby” tells the story of a man who drinks himself to death because he can’t get over a breakup. His former love does the same thing and the two succumb to the misery caused by a broken heart.
“Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton
The song “Tennessee Whiskey” was actually written and originally recorded by David Allen Coe in 1981. Current fans of the song would say it didn’t really exist until Stapleton put his spin on it with his signature rasp and country twang. As an added bonus, watch him sing it with Justin Timberlake at the 2015 CMA Awards in a goosebump-inducing performance that made it a chart-topping hit again.
“Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” by Hank Williams, Jr.
Williams’ song about whiskey tells a story at least a few people can relate to. It’s about a man who finds it difficult to remain faithful to his “sweet girl at home” after a few shots of whiskey. There are many things that can happen to your body when you drink whiskey and poor choices can be one of the adverse effects!
“Whiskey River” by Willie Nelson
Thanks to this heart-wrenching ballad about whiskey, it became one of Nelson’s greatest hits. In fact, he opens almost all of his concerts with this country song about whiskey. “Whiskey river, take my mind / Don’t let her memory torture me / Whiskey river, don’t run dry / You’re all I’ve got, take care of me.” If this song were a whiskey drink, we’d order it straight.
“Whiskey’s Gone” by Zac Brown Band
A lot of country songs about whiskey are downers, and for good reason since they are about heartbreak or drowning your sorrows. “Whiskey’s Gone” is an upbeat and fast tune with a dizzying array of fiddles and guitar solos. “Kentucky, Tennessee, you better find whiskey / Not leaving, that’s a fact / Small batch, sour mash / Red nose, red face, gonna wreck the whole place.”
“Whiskey, whiskey” by Kris Kristofferson
At first it’s hard to tell if Kristofferson is singing about a woman or the whiskey, which makes it the perfect whiskey song. “She’s a part of my heart and a whole lot of my pain” and then the chorus reveals the truth: “Whiskey, whiskey, my old friend / I’ve come to talk with you again.”
“Cheap Whiskey” by Martina McBride
One of the most common themes in country songs, aside from whiskey, is singing about regret. In “Cheap Whiskey,” McBride sings the story about a heartbroken man who chose whiskey over love and all he’s left with is the whiskey. Hey, things could be worse!
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