Born in Texas, Jones first heard country music when he was seven, and was given a guitar at the age of nine. He married his first wife, Dorothy Bonvillion, in 1950, and was divorced in 1951. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was discharged in 1953. He married Shirley Ann Corley in 1954. In 1959, Jones recorded "White Lightning", written by J. P. Richardson, which launched his career as a singer. His second marriage ended in divorce in 1968; he married fellow country music singer Tammy Wynette a year later. Years of alcoholism compromised his health and led to his missing many performances, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones". After his divorce from Wynette in 1975, Jones married his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado, in 1983 and became sober for good in 1999. Jones died in 2013, aged 81, from hypoxic respiratory failure.
George Jones has been called "The Rolls Royce Of Country Music" and had more than 160 chart singles to his name from 1955 until his death in 2013. Johnny Cash once said, "When people ask me who my favorite country singer is, I say, 'You mean besides George Jones?'"
Jones tirelessly defended the integrity of country music, telling Billboard in 2006, "It's never been for love of money. I thank God for it because it makes me a living. But I sing because I love it, not because of the dollar signs." Jones also went out of his way to promote younger country singers that he felt were as passionate about the music as he was. "Everybody knows he's a great singer," Alan Jackson stated in 1995, "but what I like most about George is that when you meet him, he is like some old guy that works down at the gas station...even though he's a legend!"
Shortly after Jones' death, Andrew Mueller wrote about his influence in Uncut, "He was one of the finest interpretive singers who ever lifted a microphone...There cannot be a single country songwriter of the last 50-odd years who has not wondered what it might be like to hear their words sung by that voice." In an article for The Texas Monthly in 1994, Nick Tosches eloquently described the singer's vocal style: "While he and his idol, Hank Williams, have both affected generations with a plaintive veracity of voice that has set them apart, Jones has an additional gift—a voice of exceptional range, natural elegance, and lucent tone. Gliding toward high tenor, plunging toward deep bass, the magisterial portamento of his onward-coursing baritone emits white-hot sparks and torrents of blue, investing his poison love songs with a tragic gravity and inflaming his celebrations of the honky-tonk ethos with the hellfire of abandon." In the New Republic essay "Why George Jones ranks with Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday," David Hajdu writes:
"Jones had a handsome and strange voice. His singing was always partly about the appeal of the tones he produced, regardless of the meaning of the words. In this sense, Jones had something in common with singers of formal music and opera, though his means of vocal production were radically different from theirs. He sang from the back of his throat, rather than from deep in his diaphragm. He tightened his larynx to squeeze sound out. He clenched his jaw, instead of wriggling it free. He forced wind through his teeth, and the notes sounded weirdly beautiful."
David Cantwell recalled in 2013, "His approach to singing, he told me once, was to call up those memories and feelings of his own that most closely corresponded to those being felt by the character in whatever song he was performing. He was a kind of singing method actor, creating an illusion of the real." In the liner notes to Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Rich Kienzle states, "Jones sings of people and stories that are achingly human. He can turn a ballad into a catharsis by wringing every possible emotion from it, making it a primal, strangled cry of anguish". In 1994, country music historian Colin Escott pronounced, "Contemporary country music is virtually founded on reverence for George Jones. Walk through a room of country singers and conduct a quick poll, George nearly always tops it." In the wake of Jones's death, Merle Haggard pronounced in Rolling Stone, "His voice was like a Stradivarius violin: one of the greatest instruments ever made." Emmylou Harris wrote, "when you hear George Jones sing, you are hearing a man who takes a song and makes it a work of art - always," a quote that appeared on the sleeve of Jones' 1976 album The Battle. In the documentary Same Ole Me, several country music stars offer similar thoughts. Randy Travis: "It sounds like he's lived every minute of every word that he sings and there's very few people who can do that"; Tom T. Hall: "It was always Jones who got the message across just right"; and Roy Acuff: "I'd give anything if I could sing like George Jones". In the same film, producer Billy Sherrill states, "All I did was change the instrumentation around him. I don't think he's changed at all."
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed George Jones among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.
A Drunk Can't Be A Man
George Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord he leads a miserable life
But still he thinks the bottle is his right hand
Yes and he can tear down more
Than he's ever built before
A man can be a drunk sometimes
But a drunk can't be a man
For the nightlife he can find
Why he does all this he'll never understand
And in the morning when he wakes up
Lord he can't wait to fill his cup
A man can be a drunk sometimes
But a drunk can't be a man
For he goes from Doctor Jekyll to Mr.Hyde
He seem proud to have a devil for his guide
Still he keeps on reaching out
Lord he needs a helping hand
But a man can be a drunk sometimes
But a drunk can't be a man
Yes a man can be a drunk sometimes
But a drunk can't be a man
The lyrics to George Jones's song "Drunk Can't Be a Man" paint a somber picture of a man who has succumbed to alcoholism. The first verse describes how his behavior has led to embarrassment for his loved ones, and how his life is miserable. Despite this, he still clings to the bottle, as if it were his "right hand". The second verse reveals that he neglects his work, preferring to seek out the nightlife, and that he cannot understand why he does this. The chorus is a warning - while a man may sometimes drink too much, someone who is frequently drunk cannot truly be considered a man. The final verse depicts the man's struggle with his inner demons - he seems "proud to have a devil for his guide" but still reaches out for help.
The song was written and originally recorded by Harlan Howard in 1962, but it was George Jones's recording that became the most well-known version. It was released in 1966 and quickly became a hit, climbing to number 11 on the country charts. The song is notable for its raw, emotional delivery and its unflinching portrayal of the consequences of alcoholism.
Line by Line Meaning
He embarrasses his child and wife
His behavior is a source of great shame and humiliation for his family
Lord he leads a miserable life
His life is miserable and unpleasant due to his alcoholism and the consequences it brings
But still he thinks the bottle is his right hand
He believes that the source of his happiness and comfort is alcohol, and he cannot let go of it
Yes and he can tear down more
Due to his alcoholism, he causes more destruction and harm than he does anything productive or constructive
Than he's ever built before
He destroys more than he creates, and the things he creates are often overshadowed by his destructive tendencies
A man can be a drunk sometimes
It is possible for a man to struggle with alcoholism, but it does not define his entire being
But a drunk can't be a man
Alcoholism fundamentally strips a person of their dignity, character, and humanity
He lets his business lag behind
Due to his fixation on drinking and partying, he ignores the things that should be important to him, such as his career or responsibilities
For the nightlife he can find
He is attracted to the party lifestyle and the excitement of drinking, even if it means neglecting his other obligations
Why he does all this he'll never understand
He is unable to comprehend the reasons behind his self-destructive behavior and the damage it causes to his life
And in the morning when he wakes up
The consequences of his actions become apparent to him when he is forced to face the aftermath of his drinking
Lord he can't wait to fill his cup
Despite the harm it brings, he has an insatiable desire to continue drinking and indulging in alcohol
For he goes from Doctor Jekyll to Mr. Hyde
He experiences a drastic shift in personality and behavior when he drinks, transforming from a calm and rational person to a volatile and unpredictable one
He seem proud to have a devil for his guide
Despite the harm it brings, he feels a sense of pride in being able to indulge in his base desires and indulge in his addictions
Still he keeps on reaching out
Despite his flaws, he continues to seek help and support to overcome his addiction
Lord he needs a helping hand
He recognizes that he cannot overcome his addiction alone and requires assistance and guidance from others
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JONES, MONTGOMERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert McElrath
He embarrasses his child and ex wife✅
Lord he Leeds a miserable life✅
I could tear down more than ever built before ✅✅✅
While drinking I never understood why I did all that✅
After all the Hell, Rehabs, divorce, jobs, suicide attempt and very close to gone, sheriffs office visits, and torment on my family and friends I finally had to surrender to alcohol and understand I am powerless over alcohol and my life was very unmanageable. PTL I am 15 months sober now I never thought I could get sober.
Jay Vervalen
I'm 42 years old I grew up to both the bottle and George Jones music, I became a drunk about 12 years ago and I've had my share of embarrassment including arguing with a cop who arrested me for drunk and disorderly, I've been sober about four months and it's one helluva thing for me to stay sober. I've lost a lot because of it and hopefully one day I kick the addiction for good.
Robert McElrath
Brother hold you head up high and keep on keeping on. Our stories are almost the same except I’m 39. Four months sober is awesome, I’m sure your sleep is better and mind is clearing up! Ain’t it great not waking up at 2-3 am to drink not to shake! I am 15 months sober but we must remember we are one shot away from going back to a 5th a night. That life was pure Hell and I would not wish that on my worst enemy. If no one has told you I’m proud of you bc I understand. Getting and living sober hands down was the hardest thing I ever done, but the best decision we ever made. Idk how to do it but I’d like to get your contact info and if you ever get where you’re going to drink you would please call me anytime and I mean that. Btw I understand the embarrassment and all that comes with being a drunk.
Andy Pesko
Drinking sure can change a man I said some things to my dad when I was drunk that I regret now that he is passed away hope he's in heaven George Jones
Sandra Dee Powder
Paap
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Sandra Powder
@Sandra Dee Powder lfi
Sandra Powder
@Sandra Dee Powder hi
MR Pensive
I was drinking with my Dad, he gets drunk, throws me out of his house rings me an hour later, did you get home alright son? yes dad rings again a half-hour later I say YES DAD!.. this is his neighbor he has just passed away, true story, the drink, and other factors took my dad.. Love George Jones BTW what legend.
Manny Ruiz
But he was a man. He might've gone from Dr.Jerkel to Mr. Hyde but he was a BAD ASSSSSSS. RIP
DeadlightVisions
Amen to that.
Mike Graham music
As my grandpa says nothing comes out of a bottle of booze.