Honky Tonk Heroes
Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman Lyrics
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I done did everything that needs done
Always me
Why can't I see
I'd best be leavin' well enough alone?
Oh, them neon light nights
Couldn't stay out of fights
There's one in every crowd
For cryin' out loud
Why was it always turnin' out to be me?
Oh, where does it go?
The good Lord only knows
It seem like it was just the other day
I was down at Green Gables
Yeah, hoggin' 'em tables
And generally blowin' all my hard earned pay
Piano rolled blues
Danced holes in my boots
There weren't another other way to be
For loveable losers
And no account to boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me (yeah, Lord)
Piano rolled blues
Danced holes in my boots
There weren't another other way to be
For loveable losers
And no account boozers
And honky tonk heroes like me
Yeah, Lord
Hey, yeah, yeah, that's a good one
The lyrics of Billy Joe Shaver's Honky Tonk Heroes depict a sense of regret and nostalgia for the reckless lifestyles lived in the past. The sun setting in the low down evening signifies the end of a long day, and the persona confesses to having done everything that needs to be done. However, despite all the memories and experiences, the persona still wonders why he couldn't recognize the consequences of his actions and just leave things be. The neon light nights are reminiscent of the time spent in smoke-filled bars and their memories haunt the persona even now. The frequent fights that ensued during those nights make him wonder why he was always the one caught in the middle. The lyrics "there's one in every crowd, for crying out loud, why was it always turning out to be me?" show a remorseful tone and self-awareness on his part for his past behavior.
The persona expresses a sense of disbelief and wonders where did the time go. He muses how it seems like it was just the other day when he was hanging out in a bar called Green Gables, gambling away his hard-earned money on the tables. The piano rolled blues would fill the air, and he would dance so much that it would create holes in his boots. He admits that there wasn't another way to be, especially for loveable losers, no account boozers or honky tonk heroes like him, and he is aware that this is what he became.
Line by Line Meaning
The low down evenin' sun
The evening sun is setting, marking the end of another day.
I done did everything that needs done
I have done everything that needed to be done or attempted everything I could think of.
Always me
I am always at the center of the problems or situations that arise.
Why can't I see
I don't understand why I can't see or avoid the negative consequences of my actions.
I'd best be leavin' well enough alone?
Perhaps I should stop trying and leave things as they are, as they might not get any better.
Oh, them neon light nights
The nights under the neon lights of bars and clubs.
Couldn't stay out of fights
I always ended up getting into fights, and couldn't avoid them.
They keep a-hauntin' me in memories
These memories keep haunting me, and I can't seem to escape them.
There's one in every crowd
There is always someone in every group who provokes or fights with me.
For cryin' out loud
An expression of exasperation to emphasize how often it happened.
Why was it always turnin' out to be me?
I don't understand why I was the one always getting into fights, or why it always seemed to happen to me.
Oh, where does it go?
Where does the time go? How did I end up where I am now?
The good Lord only knows
Only God has the answers to these questions.
It seem like it was just the other day
It feels like only yesterday that I was doing these things, even though it's been a while.
I was down at Green Gables
I remember being at Green Gables, a place where I spent time and money on entertainment.
Yeah, hoggin' 'em tables
I dominated the tables, playing for fun and winning or losing money.
And generally blowin' all my hard earned pay
I spent all my hard earned money on entertainment and drinking, often without thinking about the consequences.
Piano rolled blues
The blues played on a piano, often heard in bars and clubs.
Danced holes in my boots
I danced so much that my boots were worn down and full of holes.
There weren't another other way to be
This was the only lifestyle and way of being that I knew or found acceptable.
For loveable losers
People who are not successful, but still lovable or charming in their own way.
And no account to boozers
People who drank heavily, without much thought or care for their life or health.
And honky tonk heroes like me
People who spent their time in honky tonk bars and clubs, living a certain lifestyle that they considered heroic.
Hey, yeah, yeah, that's a good one
An expression of appreciation for the song or the memories it evokes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Shaver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind