Fowler put together a country band in 1998 and began playing Tuesday nights at Babe's on Sixth Street in Austin. Within two years, he'd begun recording albums and struck big with his self-released Beer, Bait and Ammo (2000). The album sold around 30,000 copies in the Texas area and garnered an impressive amount of airplay, particularly for the album's title track. The song became somewhat of a Texas anthem; Mark Chesnutt made the song part of his live show, and Sammy Kershaw recorded it. Fowler returned in 2002 with his third album, High on the Hog, and boasted some impressive guests, including Willie Nelson and David Lee Garza.
Lord Loves a Drinkin
Kevin Fowler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Lord loves the drinkin' manSends honkey tonk angels to the promise land
I hear that he can turn water to wineAny man that can do that is a good friend of mineI've been baptized in beer, I'm here to testifyI was speaking in tongues when I came home last nightSome folks say I'm livin' in sin, but I know
(chorus)
The Lord loves the drinkin' man
The Preacher man he told me boy you ain't no good
The devils gonna getcha, better start actin' like you
Should
NightThe good book it tells me boy your soul's gonna burn
My mamma said son you're headin' down the wrong roadThey don't let honkey tonkers up in heaven I've been
Told Don't you worry mamma I'll see you up in heaven
I've been thinking 'bout it and I've come to this
Conclusion now,
(chorus)
My daddy says son you're living your life all wrong
Lighting's gonna strike you down before too long
That man upstairs he don't like what you do
When you reach those pearly gates you ain't getting
ThroughWell I've been thinkin', I've got a brand new plan
I'm gonna start a little church down at the Stumble
Inn
Yea that's right I'm gonna start my own religion
We'll be drinkin' and dancin' at the church of Hank
Williams yea,
(repeat chorus)
Oh, yea I know
The Lord loves, I hope he does, the Lord loves the
Drinkin' man
Kevin Fowler's song, The Lord Loves The Drinkin' Man, can be seen as a playful yet rebellious take on religion and drinking. The song is about a man who enjoys drinking and going to bars, and despite being judged by people around him, he believes that God loves the drinking man too. The chorus repeated throughout the song suggests that God sends honky-tonk angels to the promise land and that any man who can turn water to wine is a good friend of the singer. The singer claims to have been baptized in beer and that he was speaking in tongues when he came home last night. He brushes off any criticism by saying "the Lord loves the drinkin' man."
The verses of the song depict the singer's encounters with people who judge him for his drinking habits. A preacher tells him that he's no good and that the devil will get him if he doesn't change his ways. His mother warns him that he's heading down the wrong road and that they don't let honky-tonkers up in heaven. His father tells him that he's living his life all wrong and that God doesn't approve of what he does. Despite all of these criticisms, the singer remains confident that God loves him, and he even decides to start his own religion where people can drink and dance at the Church of Hank Williams.
Line by Line Meaning
The Lord loves the drinkin' man
God doesn't judge you for your love of alcohol and places honkey tonk angels in heaven to welcome you.
Sends honkey tonk angels to the promise land
God welcomes people who love country music and drinking, as proven by the presence of honkey tonk angels in heaven.
I hear that he can turn water to wine
God has the ability to turn water into wine, which means he understands the importance of alcohol in people's lives.
Any man that can do that is a good friend of mine
Any being that understands the joy and importance of drinking, especially wine, is someone worth knowing.
I've been baptized in beer, I'm here to testify
The act of drinking beer is so important to me that I feel like I've been immersed in it like one is during a baptism.
I was speaking in tongues when I came home last night
I drank so much that I was barely coherent, and even though some may see it as a sin, I see it as a positive experience.
Some folks say I'm livin' in sin, but I know
While people may judge me for my love of drinking, I know in my heart that it isn't a sin, and that God understands.
The Preacher man he told me boy you ain't no good
The preacher judges me for my vices and sees me as someone who isn't worth anything.
The devil's gonna getcha, better start actin' like you should
The devil will try to tempt me because of my sinful behavior, so I need to change my actions to be better and resist temptation.
All the cold beers and bright lights, stayin' out all night
Having fun and drinking all night may not be seen as responsible behavior, but it's an important part of my life and brings me joy.
The good book it tells me boy your soul's gonna burn
The Bible judges me for my vices and warns me that I may end up in hell for them.
My mamma said son you're headin' down the wrong road
My mother worries that my behavior will lead me to a dark place and wants me to change my ways.
They don't let honkey tonkers up in heaven I've been told
People believe that heaven doesn't welcome those who enjoy country music and drinking, which is very concerning to me.
Don't you worry mamma I'll see you up in heaven
Despite others' opinions or beliefs, I believe I will be reunited with my mother in heaven, where my lifestyle will be accepted.
My daddy says son you're living your life all wrong
My father also disapproves of my lifestyle and thinks I need to change my ways in order to live a better life.
Lighting's gonna strike you down before too long
My father believes that I am tempting fate by living a life of sin and that bad things will happen to me because of it.
That man upstairs he don't like what you do
God, who lives upstairs in heaven, disapproves of my drinking and other vices.
When you reach those pearly gates you ain't getting through
My father believes that I will not be accepted into heaven because of my sinful lifestyle.
I'm gonna start a little church down at the Stumble Inn
In order to create a space where people like me are accepted, I'm going to start a church at a bar called the Stumble Inn.
Yea that's right I'm gonna start my own religion
I'm so dedicated to my beliefs and my lifestyle that I will start my own religion that makes sure people like me are accepted by God.
We'll be drinkin' and dancin' at the church of Hank Williams yea
In my church, we will celebrate our love of drinking, country music, and Hank Williams, as we believe God accepts us just as we are.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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