Did you know that you could fill a musical bar cabinet with artists who once wrote one or more songs about one of your favourite spirits? Not surprisingly, a lot of songs about whisky stem from country and blues, yet there are some surprising artists here and there.
Will you join us on a musical adventure?
Old Number Seven
Well-known performers: The Devil Makes Three
Starting we do with this one from The Devil Makes Three. The song describes the life of a man and his downfall, who has suffered misfortune and misery since childhood. That history seems to quietly catch up with him over the course of the song and he seeks refuge in (too many) Jack Daniel's, not coincidentally the Old N°7 .
Thank you Jack Daniel's Old Number Seven
Tennessee whiskey got me drinking in heaven
I know I can't stay here too long
'Cause I can't go a week without doin' wrong
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Known versions: John Lee Hooker, George Thorogood
The lyrics tell the story of a man who is in a bar towards closing time and wants to drink himself drunk to forget that his girlfriend has left. In the process, he harasses a tired barman who just wants to close up and go home.
One scotch, one bourbon, one beer
Please mister bartender, listen here
I ain't here for trouble, so have no fear
One scotch, one bourbon, one beer
John Lee Hooker further adapted the song, adding lyrics to the original lyrics.
And then I sit there, drinkin', gettin' high, mellow, knocked out, feelin' good
About that time I looked on the wall, at the old clock on the wall
About that time it was ten-thirty then, I looked down the bar at the bartender
He said "What do you want, Johnny?", "One bourbon, one scotch, and one beer"
Tennessee Whiskey
Known versions: Chris Stapleton
The song Tennessee Whiskey is older than you think, as it was performed by David Allen Coe back in the early 1980s. However, the song only really gained mainstream popularity when Chris Stapleton performed it with Justin Timberlake at the Country Music Association Awards (CMA).
The song tells the story of the singer and the hopeless road he was on until he met his wife. The start of the song already leaves no doubt about that: "Used to spend my nights out in a barroom, liquor was the only love I'd known" immediately indicates that things were not going so well for the singer, but that clearly changed later.
In the chorus, the singer applauds his wife and compares her to different types of liquor.
You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey
You're as sweet as strawberry wine
You're as warm as a glass of brandy
And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time
Whiskey in the Jar
Famous performers: The Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, Metallica
Whiskey in the Jar is about a highwayman who, after robbing a military or government official, is betrayed by a woman. The location of the story varies; in different versions of the song, the story takes place in Kerry, Kilmoganny, Cork, Sligo Town or other places in Ireland. Sometimes the story takes place in the southern United States because of the number of Irish migrants in this region. The names of the characters in the song also vary from version to version, for instance, the official is sometimes called a captain and sometimes a colonel, and his name is Farrell or Pepper. The woman who betrays the protagonist is often called Molly, Jenny, Emzy or Ginny. Other details also change from version to version.
Just by reading the chorus, you immediately know how this song even went.
Mush-a ring, dum-a doo-dam-a-da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There's whiskey in the jar-o
Thin Lizzy's version does not end on a particularly happy note, as the protagonist is in jail and closes with:
And I got drunk on whiskey-o
And I loved, I loved, I loved
I loved, I loved, I loved, I loved my Molly-o
And cheerio Farrell
And I'll burn it down
That dirty ol' town
Tequila
Famous performers: The Champs
There's not much to say about this 1958 song. Despite the song's extremely simple setup, The Champs scored a hit with it that is still relevant today. Indeed, in 2019, the song was performed during an audition for America's Got Talent, and even the stoic Simon Cowell could eventually appreciate the performance.
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Single Malt
Known versions: Hooverphonic
From Belgian soil, spirits have also been chosen more than once as the subject of a song. Such was the case with the group Hooverphonic, which in the song Single Malt describes the decline of a man addicted to alcohol while his wife sadly watches what happens.
You prefer the taste
Of single malt sadness
A dirty shot of madness
Further on in the song, it becomes clear that the booze has taken complete control of him.
You don't even care what it does to me
I used to be your gladness
As a drug against the rush
Now you are my sadness
Robbin' the liquor store
Famous performers: The Scabs
Also from Belgian soil: this rock solid song by The Scabs, the band led by Guy Swinnen and featuring the late Willy Willy on guitar.
The song tells yet another story of a downtrodden man who spends his days in bars and liquor shops, robbing them to keep satisfying his addiction.
This is the way that I spend my days
The bottle is my best friend
I light a cigar as I walk to the bar
My head is killing me
I take breath and count to three
One for the road boy one for the road
I'm robbin' the liquor store
In the song, the main character also refers to his favourite brands in a single sentence. Jacky refers to Jack Daniel's and Johnny is obviously a reference to Johnnie Walker. If we have to guess, we suspect Jimmy is most likely referring to Jim Beam.
Jacky Jimmy Johnny Johnny I tasted them all
They're real good friends of mine
When we're together we're havin' a ball
We have ourselves a real good time
Also in Barkeep , Guy Swinnen tells another dark story of a man looking for some company and a chat with his local barman. The story soon reveals that some pretty drastic things happened last weekend.
Hey barkeep, where's my favourite ale
to all my friends, to all their tales
What's the story, what happened this weekend
they say Gilbert 's in the can
and what they say about Jenny can you tell me if it's true
'cause you know I love her too
I wish I had been here that night
I could 've made her feel allright
I could 've told we love her so!
Sloe Gin
Famous performer: Joe Bonamassa
The opening verse of Sloe Gin leaves no stone unturned and sets the tone for the rest of the song.
Sloe gin, sloe gin
Tryin' to wash away the pain inside
Well, I'm sick and I'm all done in
And I'm standin' in the rain
And I feel like I'm gonna cry
The song's full lyrics draw a picture of a broken man seeking solace in gin. As is often the case in blues songs, the song does not end on a happy note right away.
And ain't even high
I'm so damn lonely
Baby, come and get the best of me
Cognac
Famous performers: Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards
Hennessy has been a fixture on the hip-hop scene since the 1980s. Hennessy, "Henny" to its friends, was (and is) regularly name-dropped in songs by 2Pac, Biggie, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Eminem, The Weekend and Kendrick Lamar.
In addition, Megan Thee Stallion, who you no doubt know from that other literary masterpiece WAP, also released the song Cognac Queen a while ago. The song is, not unexpectedly, about success, fame, drinking cognac, dancing and hitting on men.
But long before that, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards also released a song dedicated to this French spirit.
Look a here
And it's smooth and it goes down really nice
Costs two hundred dollars a bottle
And that's a damn good bargain price
Talkin' 'bout Cognac
Liquid gold in every sip
Yeah
Look a-here
Let's play some blues while we all take a little nip
Buddy knew his stuff, because a little further on we hear him invite Keith and Jeff for a glass of Remy Martin XO.
Remy Martin XO
Come on in here, Beck
Stretch you neck and drink this XO with me
Vodka
Famous performers: Stef Bos
Let's end this blog with a song by our neighbours to the north. Although, of course, at least half of Stef Bos can also be considered Belgian.
In the song Vodka, the singer seems to drink himself into courage to woo a lady and tell her the things he dares not say sober.
Another glass of vodka
It's getting clear in my head
Just a little more and I'll see everything
What I never believed in
In the process, he also seems to realise that his honesty, sincerity and credibility are diminishing further with every sip.
I love you, I love you
I don't know what I'm saying
But I love you
I know I'm lying this
That I see everything more beautiful
But I love you, I love you
Listen to these and other songs in our Spotify playlist
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Marketing • IT • Klantenservice
I've known Broekmans since I graduated in 2006 and thanks to Jan I've come to know the passion for spirits. I dedicate myself every day to the webshop, customer service and all the IT involved. In my spare time, besides whiskey, I can also really enjoy rum, but just as much as a gin tonic or a simple bellini. In the words of Martien Meiland, if there's no alcohol in it, don't call me!
