Honky Tonk Women
Big Country Lyrics


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I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride
She had to heave me right across her shoulders
I just can't seem to drink you off my mind

She's a honky tonk woman
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
I laid a divorcee in New York City
I had to put up some kind of a fight
I laid her then she covered me in roses
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind

She's a honky tonk woman
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues

She's a honky tonk woman
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues

She's a honky tonk woman
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues





She's a honky tonk woman
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Big Country's Honky Tonk Women paint a picture of two different encounters with women. In the first scenario, the singer meets a woman in a bar in Memphis who is heavily intoxicated on gin. Despite her inebriation, she attempts to seduce the singer and take him upstairs with her. However, she is unable to do so as the singer is too heavy to carry. Despite this, the singer cannot seem to get her off his mind, perhaps indicating that he is still intrigued by her despite her drunken advances.


In the second scenario, the singer is in New York City and meets a divorcee. He mentions having to "put up some kind of a fight" which suggests that she may have been resistant to his advances at first. However, they eventually have sexual intercourse and she covers him in roses. She also does something to "blow his mind," possibly indicating that she was skilled in the bedroom. The chorus repeats that both women are "honky tonk women" and he wants the "honky tonk blues" from them, which could be interpreted as a desire for a wild and carefree lifestyle.


Line by Line Meaning

I met a gin-soaked barroom queen in Memphis
I encountered a woman in a Memphis bar who had consumed a lot of alcohol and was likely looking for a casual encounter.


She tried to take me upstairs for a ride
The woman was attempting to initiate a sexual encounter with me in a private location.


She had to heave me right across her shoulders
The woman needed to physically lift or carry me in order to move me to the desired location.


I just can't seem to drink you off my mind
Despite attempting to forget or move on from this woman, I cannot stop thinking about her.


She's a honky tonk woman
This woman is a type of country music-loving woman who frequents bars and clubs known as honky tonks.


Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
I crave the experience of being in a honky tonk environment and listening to music associated with that culture.


I laid a divorcee in New York City
I had sexual relations with a woman who had previously been through a divorce in New York City.


I had to put up some kind of a fight
There was some level of resistance or challenge involved in pursuing this woman or engaging in sexual activity with her.


She laid her then she covered me in roses
After engaging in sexual activity, the woman was affectionate and romantic by covering me in roses.


She blew my nose and then she blew my mind
The woman provided physical care for me, such as cleaning my nose, and also had a profound impact on me mentally or emotionally.




Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

J Rabbit

Love it 😍

Chris A

Love it !!! They look like they're having fun. Thanks for this. Last time I saw them was '86 and they only did their own songs which of course was great but why not do a fun cover?.....

Sarah J.

First time I've heard them do this. I wonder if Stuart played it in his pre-Skids cover band?

BC1000Stars

Interesting question! I’ve not heard mention that this was one of the songs Tattoo ever covered but it’s a possibility.

Sarah J.

@BC1000stars  I wonder if there is anyone who follows your amazing channel (thank you) that remembers seeing Tattoo?

Svein B H

I do wish they had stuck with their own material. If I had been in that crowd, it would have been hard not to think of all the fantastic songs from their own catalogue that they COULD have been playing, but instead they pulled up this one. This one was probably more fun for the band than it was for the fans. Or possibly for audience members who did not really know BC that well - for them this was at least a recognizable song.

BC1000Stars

Svein B H I couldn’t agree more. The reason for this song's inclusion is most likely exactly that. At least there were no singing ladies. 😉

jaford2

Don't worry, they did plenty of BC songs too - I think they opened with Restless Natives (which isn't even an album number ).

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