Tennessee Whiskey
Jason Boland & The Stragglers Lyrics


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Tennessee whiskey, Texas weed
Just don't give me the thrill I need
Not Tennessee whiskey, not Texas weed
Oh your sweet lovin'
That's all I need

I been a country boy
I been a city boy too
And there ain't nothin'
That I can't do
I been high and low
Been in between
And there ain't nothin'
I haven't seen

Tennessee whiskey, Texas weed
Just don't give me the thrill I need
Not Tennessee whiskey, not Texas weed
Oh your sweet lovin'
That's all I need

There will be thunder
There will be rain
But I outrun those hard times
And I've lived the pain
You spoke to my heart
Opened up my eyes
Yeah you brought the sun back
To my clouded skies

Tennessee whiskey, Texas weed
Just don't give me the thrill I need
Not Tennessee whiskey, not Texas weed
Oh your sweet lovin'
That's all I need





Yeah your sweet lovin'
That's all I need

Overall Meaning

The first verse of the song, "Tennessee whiskey, Texas weed, just don't give me the thrill I need, not Tennessee whiskey, not Texas weed, oh your sweet lovin', that's all I need," reflects on the singer's experiences with substances and love. The singer has experienced both Tennessee whiskey and Texas weed, but neither of them compares to the thrill he gets from his lover's sweet love. The song seems to recognize that while these substances may provide temporary relief, they cannot replace the profound feeling of closeness and the emotional high provided by genuine love. The second verse, "I been a country boy, I been a city boy too, and there ain't nothin' that I can't do, I been high and low, been in between, and there ain't nothin' I haven't seen," seems to speak to the singer's worldly experiences, also recognizing that although he's had his fair share of adventures and experiences, nothing quite measures up to the thrill and contentment he has found in his lover's arms.


The third verse, "There will be thunder, there will be rain, but I outrun those hard times, and I've lived the pain, you spoke to my heart, opened up my eyes, yeah you brought the sun back to my clouded skies," seems to speak to the fact that life can be difficult and throw unprecedented challenges at us, but when we find someone who is able to speak to our hearts, connect with us on a deep level, and help us see the light in darkness, all of the pain becomes worth it. Overall, the song seems to be a recognition of how powerful love can be and how it can offer even more of a thrill than drugs or alcohol.


Line by Line Meaning

Tennessee whiskey, Texas weed
I've tried the best whiskey and weed from Tennessee and Texas, but they can't give me the excitement I crave


Just don't give me the thrill I need
Despite the reputation of Tennessee whiskey and Texas weed, they are just not doing it for me


Not Tennessee whiskey, not Texas weed
I'm rejecting the stereotype that Tennessee whiskey and Texas weed are the ultimate highs


Oh your sweet lovin'
What I really crave is your affection and attention


That's all I need
Your love is enough for me, I don't need anything else


I been a country boy
I grew up in rural areas with a love for nature


I been a city boy too
I also experienced city life and its fast-paced excitement


And there ain't nothin'
I am confident in my abilities and there's nothing I can't achieve


That I can't do
I can handle anything that comes my way


I been high and low
I've experienced the highs and lows of life


Been in between
I've also experienced mediocrity and in-between moments


And there ain't nothin'
But through it all, I know that there's nothing I can't handle


I haven't seen
I've seen it all and there's nothing new under the sun


There will be thunder
Life will be tumultuous and chaotic at times


There will be rain
There will be moments of sadness and despair


But I outrun those hard times
But I am resilient and can overcome any adversity


And I've lived the pain
I've endured many difficult experiences


You spoke to my heart
You are the only one who truly understands me and speaks to my soul


Opened up my eyes
You helped me see the world in a different light and gain new perspectives


Yeah you brought the sun back
You brought joy and positivity back into my life


To my clouded skies
When my life was dark and cloudy, you brought light and clarity


Yeah your sweet lovin'
In the end, it's your love that I really need


That's all I need
I don't need fancy whiskey or weed, just your love




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Linda H Bartholomew, Dean Dillon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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