Bottle Let Me Down
Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight you memory found me much to sober
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
Tonight the bottle let down
And let you memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let downI've always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I've been turning everyday
But the wind don't take effect the way it used to
And I'm hurting in an old familiar way
Tonight the bottle let down
And let you memory come around
The one true friend I thought I'd found
Tonight the bottle let down
The song "Bottle Let Me Down" by Emmylou Harris is a heartbreaking tune that describes the comfort that alcohol can provide to someone who is struggling with heartache. The singer has always relied on a bottle of alcohol to numb the pain of lost love, but on this particular night, the memories of the former lover were too powerful to escape. Despite drinking as much as possible, the singer becomes "much too sober" and cannot escape the haunting memories. The line "tonight the bottle let down" is used to describe the failure of alcohol to provide a shield from the pain, and instead allowed the memories to come flooding back.
The singer is lost and hurt, and is desperately searching for a way to escape the pain. The use of the word "friend" to describe the bottle, suggests that the singer has relied on alcohol as a constant companion and a source of comfort. However, the events of this night suggest that alcohol is no longer the solution. The line “And I’m hurting in an old familiar way” suggests that the singer has experienced heartbreak before, and that the familiar pain is just as acute as it has been in the past. By the end of the song, the singer seems to be giving in to the pain, and admits defeat by stating that "tonight, the bottle let down."
Overall, the song "Bottle Let Me Down" is a poignant and powerful depiction of the pain of heartbreak, and the limits of alcohol to provide comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Each night I leave the barroom when it's over
I typically leave the bar at the end of the night
Not feeling any pain at closing time
I don't feel any physical or emotional pain at the end of the night
But tonight you memory found me much to sober
But tonight, I am too sober to forget about you and move on
Couldn't drink enough to keep you off my mind
No matter how much I drink, I can't stop thinking about you
Tonight the bottle let down
Tonight the alcohol was not enough to help me forget about you
And let you memory come around
And your memory came back to haunt me
The one true friend I thought I'd found
I thought alcohol was my friend and my escape, but it failed me tonight
I've always had a bottle I could turn to
I have always relied on alcohol to help me escape from my problems
And lately I've been turning everyday
Recently, I have been drinking more frequently
But the wind don't take effect the way it used to
But alcohol doesn't work the way it used to and it can't help me forget about you
And I'm hurting in an old familiar way
I am feeling the same pain that I have felt before
Tonight the bottle let down
Tonight the alcohol failed me
And let you memory come around
And your memory haunted me once again
The one true friend I thought I'd found
I thought alcohol was my friend and my escape, but it failed me once again
Tonight the bottle let down
Tonight the alcohol was not enough to help me cope with my pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Merle Haggard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind