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The Whiskey Ain't Workin'
Marty Stuart Lyrics
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And drown out all of the heartaches
That hurt me night and day
When the thought of you came crashing through
I'd have one more
But now the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
I need one good honky-tonk angel
That's reason enough for me to lay
This ol' bottle down
A woman warm and willin', that's what I'm lookin' for
'Cause the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
They knew my name at every bar in town
And they knew all of the reasons
Why I was comin' 'round, round, round (sing it, Travis)
'Cause in my mind, peace I'd find when they'd start to pour
But now the whiskey ain't workin' anymore (sing it, son)
I need one good honky-tonk angel
To turn my life around
That's reason enough for me to lay
This ol' bottle down
Well, a woman warm and willin'
Lord, that's what I'm lookin' for (that's right)
'Cause the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
Lord, the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
(That's for sure)
The lyrics to Marty Stuart's song "The Whiskey Ain't Working" depict a struggling individual coming to terms with the reality that the temporary relief they sought in alcohol is no longer effective in numbing their pain. The singer longs for a woman to turn his life around, to replace the numbing effects of alcohol with the warmth and connection of another person. The song is musically somber, with a slow pace and a steady beat. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the importance of finding something new to hold onto, as the singer recognizes the need for change and a new way of coping with his pain.
The song touches on the timeless theme of addiction and the search for something to fill an emotional void. It also highlights the idea that sometimes, even the things that once brought comfort and solace can become ineffective when we rely on them too heavily. The singer's realization that the whiskey isn't working anymore serves as a reminder that we must be willing to seek out new approaches and new solutions when the old ones no longer serve us.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time I could drink my cares away
I used to rely on whiskey to make my troubles disappear
And drown out all of the heartaches
I'd drink until I could no longer feel the pain in my heart
That hurt me night and day
The heartaches were so unbearable, they haunted me all day and night
When the thought of you came crashing through
Whenever I thought of you, my heartache intensified
I'd have one more
To cope with the pain, I would drink another glass of whiskey
But now the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
Drinking whiskey no longer brings me any relief
I need one good honky-tonk angel
I am looking for a woman who can save me from my pain
To turn my life around
I need someone to help me break out of this cycle of using alcohol to cope
That's reason enough for me to lay
I am willing to give up my habit for this woman and what she represents
This ol' bottle down
I am ready to put away my old ways and start anew
A woman warm and willin', that's what I'm lookin' for
I want a kind, loving woman who is willing to help me move on
'Cause the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
Whiskey is no longer enough to numb my heartache
They knew my name at every bar in town
I was a regular at every bar in town
And they knew all of the reasons
People at the bars knew that I was there to escape my pain
Why I was comin' 'round, round, round (sing it, Travis)
I would go to the bars repeatedly to deal with my heartache
'Cause in my mind, peace I'd find when they'd start to pour
I believed that drinking would bring me some sense of calm and inner peace
But now the whiskey ain't workin' anymore (sing it, son)
The whiskey has lost its effectiveness in numbing my heartache
Lord, the whiskey ain't workin' anymore
I am admitting that I can no longer find solace in whiskey
(That's for sure)
I am certain that whiskey is no longer the answer to my heartache
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Marty Stuart, Ronny Scaife
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1992 {February 2nd} "The Whiskey Ain't Working"* by Travis Tritt {featuring Marty Stuart} peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "A Jukebox With A Country Song" by Doug Stone...
"The Whiskey Ain't Working" reached #4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart...
Between 1989 and 2007 the Marietta, Georgia native had forty-nine records on the Hot Country Singles chart, twenty made the Top 10 with five reaching #1; "Help Me Hold On" {1990}, Anymore" {1991}, "Can I Trust You with My Heart" {1992}, "Foolish Pride" {1994}, and "Best of Intentions" {2000}...
Eleven of his forty-nine charted records were duets, three with Marty Stuart and one each with Lari White, George Thorogood, John Mellencamp, Bill Engvall, The Charlie Daniels Band, Cory Marks, the Hot Country Kings, and Little Feat...
Travis Tritt, born James Travis Tritt, will celebrate his 58th birthday in seven days on February 9th, 2021...
* "The Whiskey Ain't Working" was Travis Tritt's third of six of his records to peak at #2...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles Top 10 on February 2nd, 1992:
At #3. "Better Class of Losers" by Randy Travis
#4. "What She's Doing Now" by Garth Brooks
#5. "The Dirt Road" by Sawyer Brown
#6. "Sticks and Stones" by Tracy Lawrence
#7. "Maybe It Was Memphis" by Pam Tillis
#8. "Turn That Radio On" by Ronnie Milsap
#9. "Love, Me" by Collin Raye
#10. "Mama Don't Forget To Pray For Me" by Diamond Rio
Luke 2:52
Been revisiting Travis Tritt lately.
He was really good. Younger folks will probably look back on him like people my age did Cash and them guys. 👏
Gabby Hayes
Travis and Marty together though were something special. Wish I could've seen that tour.
Tobias Walker
Never tire of this song!
Cvd
Me either!
Sandra Cargle
Awesome albums ! I love this countrymusic
beef on weck eastside
When country was country
Aleksander Ales
@BOHCxHOBO true ...
BOHCxHOBO
Exactly
Sue Fortner
I love this song and this is gonna hurt for a long time
jscountrygirl85
Love this song! Another ultimate classic from the early 90's, and one of my all time favorites. I actually remember them showing part of the making of this video on TV when I was very young, and I was thinking "Oh no, why are they going to jail?!" Of course, that was before I saw the actual music video. lol