PMP prides themselves on being a small town, independent band. In every aspect of their music including song writing, recording, mixing, and producing, from end to end, in-house. Some of PMP’s accomplishments include playing for their American troops stationed in Guantanamo Bay (GTMO). Then winning the title, “Best New Act In Country Music” on the nationally broadcasted show, “Texaco Country Showdown” in early 2013 at the famous Ryman Auditorium and home of the “Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville.
After a long hiatus from 2014-2019 PMP began releasing new music with the song “Hell’s Comin’ With Me”. In 2022, “Hell’s Comin’ With Me” made its way onto many streaming charts including getting as high as #2 on the global viral charts, just under Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”.
Stronger Than the Whiskey
Poor Mans Poison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost in the drink
The bottle′s half empty
As he tries not to sink
There he goes again
He lost control again
The drink takes him down
As he tries not to drown
There he goes again
She says
"Don't give in now
We still need you
I still need you around
He says
"I don′t know how
But I still need you
To save me somehow"
There he goes again
Worse for the wear
Empty glass, empty stare
And he tried to outrun his history
And his kids and his wife fought like hell for his life
They tried
In the end, it ain't a mystery
He said
"Show me the way, don't give up on me today"
See, I tried
If anybody′s listening"
But they′re broken down now
As he lies in the ground
They tried
They just weren't stronger than the whiskey
There he goes again
Slave to the drink
The bottle′s now empty
As he tries not to think
There he goes again
She says
"Don't give in now
We still need you
I still need you around"
He says
"I don′t know how
But I still need you
To save me somehow"
There he goes again
Worse for the wear
Empty glass, empty stare
And he tried to outrun his history
And his kids and his wife fought like hell for his life
They tried
In the end, it ain't a mystery
He said
"Show me the way, don′t give up on me today
See, I tried
If anybody's listening"
But they're broken down now
As he lies in the ground
He tried
He wasn′t stronger than the whiskey
He wasn′t stronger than the whiskey
The song "Stronger Than the Whiskey" by Poor Mans Poison tells the story of a man who struggles with addiction to alcohol. The repetition of "There he goes again" highlights the pattern of his behavior, always returning to the bottle. The lines "The drink takes him down, despair in his eyes" paints a vivid picture of the toll addiction takes on a person's life. However, there is a glimmer of hope as the man's loved ones, particularly his wife, continue to support him and encourage him to not give up. The lines "We still need you, I still need you around" reflects the concept of the addict holding value to those around them despite their struggles.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that despite the best efforts of his family and friends, the man succumbs to his addiction. The lines "But they're broken down now, as he lies in the ground" painfully reveal the reality of the situation. The chorus "He tried, He wasn't stronger than the whiskey" drives home the message that addiction is an incredibly tough thing to overcome, despite one's best intentions. The song serves as a reminder of how addiction affects everyone involved and the immense burden it places on loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
There he goes again
He has lost control again and succumbed to alcohol
Lost in the drink
He is consumed by alcohol and has lost his way
The bottle's half empty
He has been drinking heavily and is nearing the end of the bottle
As he tries not to sink
He is struggling to stay afloat amidst his alcohol addiction
He lost control again
Alcohol has taken over his mind and actions, making him incapable of self-control
The drink takes him down
Alcohol is a destructive force in his life, leading him to despair
Despair in his eyes
He has given up hope and can't see a way out of his addiction
As he tries not to drown
He is fighting for survival, resisting the pull of alcohol that threatens to consume him
Don't give in now
His loved ones are urging him to keep fighting and not succumb to his addiction
We still need you
His loved ones value him and want him to survive his addiction
I still need you around
One of his loved ones needs him to be present and healthy in their life
I don't know how
He is lost and doesn't know how to fight his addiction
To save me somehow
He is asking his loved ones to help him overcome his addiction
Worse for the wear
He is exhausted and beaten down by his addiction
Empty glass, empty stare
He has consumed all of his alcohol and is left feeling hollow
And he tried to outrun his history
He has been trying to escape from his past and the reasons behind his addiction
And his kids and his wife fought like hell for his life
His family has done everything they can to help him overcome his addiction
In the end, it ain't a mystery
The outcome of his addiction was inevitable
Show me the way, don't give up on me today
He is asking for guidance and support from his loved ones to help him survive his addiction
If anybody's listening
He is begging for someone to hear his plea for help
But they're broken down now
His loved ones are worn out from trying to help him and are losing hope
As he lies in the ground
He has died from the effects of his addiction
He wasn't stronger than the whiskey
His addiction to alcohol was stronger than his will to survive
Slave to the drink
He was a prisoner of his own alcohol addiction
The bottle's now empty
He has consumed all of his alcohol and has nothing left to numb his pain
As he tries not to think
He is avoiding the painful thoughts and emotions that come with sobering up
Writer(s): Dustin Medeiros, Michael Jacobs, Ryan Hakker, Thomas Mccarthy
Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@leahgraves7742
I have for the past few months been listen to PMP and I adore their music. Last night, I found this song.
Every word and line of this song really resonates with me. This is exactly what my sister and I went through with my father. My mother as well, but she tapped out when I was 7 years old after years of effort and heartbreak as well.
For years, my sister and I tried to tell him of the importance of him in our lives and how we need him. He refused (or was incapable) to change. He died in January 2020 from it. This song really captures the desperation between my sister and I. The frustration, the anger, the anguish, the heartbreak, and the fear of knowing where he was heading. It also beautifully shares his side, too. The trapped feeling he was experiencing, the pleas for help, the recognition and being hyper-aware of his situation without having the strength to change it. The reliance on others to carry him to safety, the pain of which he experienced to where he needed to drown them out.
It really shows in a beautiful format how truly painful this situation is on everyone who is around it or directly involved.
My sister just gave birth two months ago to what would be his first grandchild and he never know him.
This song is beautifully written. It's amazing how powerful this song is and how similar this type of story plays out for all who know it. It's a gift and a reminder.
Thank you for this song.
@ana_ft16
There he goes again
Lost in the drink
The bottle's half empty
As he tries not to sink
There he goes again
He lost control again
The drink takes him down
Despair in his eyes
As he tries not to drown
There he goes again
She says
"Don't give in now"
"We still need you"
"I still need you around"
He says
"I don't know how"
"But I still need you"
"To save me somehow"
There he goes again
Worse for the wear
Empty glass, empty stare
And he tried to outrun his history
And his kids and his wife fought like hell for his life
They tried
In the end, it ain't a mystery
He said
"Show me the way, don't give up on me today"
"See I tried"
"If anybody's listening"
But they're broken down now
As he lies in the ground
They tried
They just weren't stronger than the whiskey
There he goes again
Slave to the drink
The bottle's now empty
As he tries not to think
There he goes again
She says
"Don't give in now"
"We still need you"
"I still need you around"
He says
"I don't know how"
"But I still need you"
"To save me somehow"
There he goes again
Worse for the wear
Empty glass, empty stare
And he tried to outrun his history
And his kids and his wife fought like hell for his life
They tried
In the end, it ain't a mystery
He said
"Show me the way, don't give up on me today"
"See I tried"
"If anybody's listening"
But they're broken down now
As he lies in the ground
He tried
He wasn't stronger than the whiskey
He wasn't stronger than the whiskey
@cosmothearchangel
Hello. This song was actually dedicated to Poor Man's Poison's high school friend (Aaron Vryhof, my uncle). Its a good song, but I always cry reminded about him, and it hurts. I miss him like hell, me and the rest of the Vryhofs' (his family). I just wanted to explain that. Thank you, Poor Man's Poison, for this song, and thank you for reading.
@PoorMansPoison
He was a good person and piece of this small town we call home. We loved him dearly. It was actually Adam (his twin for the not Hanfordians) that came over and said that line, "He just wasn't stronger than the whiskey." I told him right then I was gonna make it a song. His response as we started making it and he heard it for the first time was, "Thats hard to hear, but if it helps even one person out there, Then you should put this song out". RIP Aaron Vryhof
@obattle6041
🙏
@user-ir7sj8jr5c
My condolences… This song hits hard, and knowing the story behind it makes it even harder. I wish you guys all the best, and thanks for bringing this song to the light.
RIP Aaron Vyrhof, you’ll always be remembered with such caring friends and family, and a part of you lingers within this song.
@brians7901
@PoorMansPoison it helps me every day 🙏
@loggerman2353
I’d drink too If your weird gacha ass was my niece too
@dragonchampion7
Today was the first day in a long time where I could say I was stronger than the whiskey.
@elianalulu820
proud of u my dude, keep going on
@Mitchsmagicshop
Congratulations! Let’s keep fighting 🙌🏻
@brenndanmcdonaugh1672
Keep it up. You're still stronger.