Album: Mud On The Tires (2003)

Charted: 41

License This Song 

• She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette
  She broke his heart, he spent his whole life tryin' to forget
  We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
  But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
  Until the night
  
  He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger
  And finally drank away her memory
  Life is short, but this time it was bigger
  Than the strength he had to get up off his knees
  We found him with his face down in the pillow
  With a note that said, "I'll love her 'til I die"
  And when we buried him beneath the willow
  The angels sang a whiskey lullaby
  
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  
  The rumors flew but nobody knew how much she blamed herself
  For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath
  She finally drank her pain away a little at a time
  But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind
  Until the night
  
  She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger
  And finally drank away his memory
  Life is short, but this time it was bigger
  Than the strength she had to get up off her knees
  We found her with her face down in the pillow
  Clinging to his picture for dear life
  We laid her next to him beneath the willow
  While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby
  
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la
  La, la, la, la, la, la, la Writer/s: Bill Anderson, Jon Randall
  Publisher: IPRS, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Sentric Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

• Shawty from Bendigo Victoria 3550I knew what they meant somehow idk but it kinda just made sense the first time Iheard it but I searched it up to see what they actually meant so whats the actual meaning behind the lyrics?
• Just Say J from Oakland,caWho is the bus driver at the beginning of the video?
• Diamond from SacramentoI really like this song, never thought of this way until I checked the meaning behind it.
• Kacey from WalesI would like to know why and what the lyrics mean
  
• Anison from LusakaI really love this song it takes me to my own world.Though, what this song talks about has never happened to me before, I feel this song in my veins'.... At the end I even thought of singing this song as a cover...
• Felix Eyibo from NigeriaNever listened to anything this deep in a long time.. a friend sent the song to me, I felt reluctant to play it.. but when I eventually did.. I play it on repeat till date. I love it.
• Megan from Stevenson, AlThis is one of the best videos I've probably ever seen in my life. This song is so sad, but so good. True talent by both:)
• Jared from Palmer, KsIn the original version of this song right after it came out it said, "I put the barrel to my head and pulled the trigger"
• Adam from Boyce, VaI don't really care for Country all that much but this song rips your heart out for real. Damn good song..
• Dylan from Dodge City, KsThis song is so tragic.
• Christopher from Rome, GaYou know I heard this song when it first came out and it was just another song to me, then my fiancé left me and it's not just a song anymore. I understand what it is to live a constant nightmare from which you can't wake up. I can't forget and I don't think I ever will. This will be the story of my life.
• Radio Valley from Thimphu, Bhutanit's always nice to listen to songs that tell stories, and esp stories this sad... it makes you feel grateful for being strong but at the same time for the ones who have to live life this way and worse... die this way! I had tears in my eyes when i first listened to it... just like the time i heard the promise by tracy chapman.
• Will from Memphis, TnThe story of my life. I'm still trying. And I still miss her.
• Garrett from Spokane, WaThis song fits me well. After my girlfriend left me, I started drinking. It got wors and worse until I tried to kill myself.... twice. Obviously, that made her feel horrible, and that just made me worse. I don't know what to do now.
• Rachel from Cleveland, Althis song is great. the music video is good to. it's so sad but it was the womans fault. because she cheated on the dude, the woman and the dude are dead. suicide being their fate. the message it sends out really makes you think twice about cheating and women are not the only ones who cheat. guys do it to.
• Paul from Ireland, IrelandWritten By John Randall / Bill Anderson
  
  Jon Randall has a haunting version (My Personal Favourite) on his Album "Walking Among The Living"
  Just Acoustic & Strings with one of the most perfect vocals ever dedicated to record
• Lele from Little Elm , TxI love this song... it so sad and so well written. I love the story behind it.
• Sandy from Warsaw, InThis song took my heart last year and it still has it I love it!!
• Erin from Pittsburgh, PaI sing this every day. My cousin drunk himself to death. R.I.P.
• Justin from Keller, TxThis song took my heart when my mom frst had me liten to it...

More Songfacts:

Last NightGood Charlotte

Good Charlotte's video for "Last Night" reconstructs the TV show "Family Double Dare," complete with host Marc Summers.

Master Of PuppetsMetallica

In Metallica's 1986 metal classic "Master Of Puppets," the "Master" represents drugs, controlling the user like a puppet. Lead singer James Hetfield wasn't an addict at the time, but 15 years later he needed rehab to treat his alcoholism.

The Right ProfileThe Clash

After a devastating car accident, the actor Montgomery Clift had to be filmed from "The Right Profile" to look good - that provided the name of The Clash song.

Only The Good Die YoungBilly Joel

"Virginia" in "Only The Good Die Young" is named after a real girl Billy Joel was trying to impress.

If I Could Turn Back TimeCher

Cher was 43 in 1989 when she landed one of her biggest hits: "If I Could Turn Back Time." It made her an unlikely MTV star thanks to a video shot on the battleship USS Missouri where she's entertaining the troops in fishnet stockings and a thong.

MMMbopHanson

Hanson's megahit "MMMbop," released when they were teenagers, is surprisingly profound. Zac Hanson told Songfacts it "represents a frame of time or the futility of life."

Editor's Picks

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.