Honky Tonk Women
Hank Williams Jr. Lyrics
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I tried to take her upstairs for a ride
I had to heave her right across my shoulder
I just don't seem to drink you off my mind
Honky tonk, honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
As naked as the day that I will die
The sailors, they're so charming there in Paris
They just don't seem to sail you off my mind
It's a honky tonk, honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
Honky tonk, honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
Honky tonk, honky tonk women
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
The lyrics of Hank Williams Jr.'s "Honky Tonk Women" speak of a man's encounter with a woman in a bar in Memphis. The woman is described as a "gin soaked, bar-room queen," which can be interpreted as someone who is drunk and spends a lot of time in bars. The man in the song tries to take her upstairs with him but finds that she is too heavy to carry so he has to heave her over his shoulder. Despite her physical weight, the woman seems to weigh heavily on the man's mind as he proclaims that he just can't seem to drink her off his mind.
The lyrics then shift to the streets of Paris where the man is walking naked. He encounters sailors who he finds charming but still can't seem to get the woman from Memphis off his mind. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk women, gimme gimme the honky tonk blues." The honky tonk music genre is characterized by lively, upbeat music that is often played in bars and clubs. The chorus may be seen as a desire for the energy and liveliness of the honky-tonk lifestyle, which may have been attractive to the man in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis
I came across a woman who had been drinking heavily in a bar in Memphis
I tried to take her upstairs for a ride
I attempted to take her to a private room for some romantic or sexual activity
I had to heave her right across my shoulder
I had to lift her up and carry her because she was too intoxicated to walk on her own
I just don't seem to drink you off my mind
I can't seem to stop thinking about her even when I'm trying to forget her by drinking
Honky tonk, honky tonk women
A musical genre known for its lively, rowdy atmosphere typically frequented by women who enjoy dancing and drinking
Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues
I want to experience the lively, energetic atmosphere and have a good time
Strollin' on the boulevards of Paris
Walking leisurely on the streets of Paris
As naked as the day that I will die
Completely exposed or vulnerable
The sailors, they're so charming there in Paris
Men who work on ships are often charming and attractive when in Paris
They just don't seem to sail you off my mind
I can't stop thinking about this woman, even when I'm in another location
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind