May 2010 saw the release of her new album, Lifted of the Ground.
He Don't Do Bars Anymore
Chely Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Couldn't wait til he came
But they haven't seen him
Since I got his last name
He plays at home now
And he always wins
Those swingin' doors
Don't do nothin' for him
[Chorus]
Cause he don't do bars anymore
That ol' jukebox
Don't turn him on like before
We dance to our radio
On our own hardwood floor
No he don't do bars anymore
He used to sit on a bar stool
Keepin' sad company
Now he lays on the couch
And he watches TV
When he's wrapped up in my arms
He knows what he's found
So don't bother askin'
For him to come 'round
[Chorus]
No he don't do bars anymore
The lyrics to Chely Wright’s song “He Don’t Do Bars Anymore” tell the story of a man who has given up his old habits of going out to bars and playing cards with his friends now that he has settled down. The singer explains that ever since she became his wife, he spends his evenings at home with her rather than going out for a night on the town. The man’s previous friends used to enjoy his company, but the singer reveals that they have not seen him around since they got married. He has found new happiness at home, and playing at home with his wife now satisfies him more than the life he used to lead.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this theme, with Wright singing that the man “don’t do bars anymore” and that “that ol’ jukebox don’t turn him on like before”. The singer continues to emphasize that the man is happy with his new life, and even when someone asks him to come out to the bar, she knows he won’t go. It is clear that the man has found new contentment in his home life, and that his perspective has shifted considerably since he met the singer.
The song is a reflection of the way in which love and companionship can cause people to change and grow. The once social and outgoing man has become a homebody, content in his new relationship and enjoying the time he spends with his wife. The song suggests that this is a positive shift- the man has found new happiness and stability, and the singer is happy with the new man that she has helped him become.
Line by Line Meaning
All the boys he played cards with
The group of friends he used to hang out with before he got married
Couldn't wait til he came
They eagerly awaited his arrival to play cards with him
But they haven't seen him
After getting married, he stopped hanging out with his old group of friends
Since I got his last name
After getting married, he became a husband and took on his wife's last name
He plays at home now
He now spends his free time at home instead of going out to bars with his friends
And he always wins
He is happy spending time at home because he feels fulfilled with his new life
Those swingin' doors
The doors of bars that used to be his go-to spot with his friends
Don't do nothin' for him
He no longer finds bars appealing or enjoyable
Cause he don't do bars anymore
He stopped going to bars after getting married
That ol' jukebox
The old jukebox that used to be a favorite of his
Don't turn him on like before
He doesn't find the jukebox or the bar scene exciting anymore
We dance to our radio
He and his wife now enjoy dancing to their favorite songs on the radio
On our own hardwood floor
They dance in the comfort of their own home on the hardwood floor
No he don't do bars anymore
He has given up on his old bar hopping habits and prefers to spend his time at home with his wife
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, JEM SONGS
Written by: DODSON, MELTON, WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind