As a teen, Hall put together a band called the Kentucky Travelers that performed before movies for a travelling theater. During a stint in the Army, Hall performed over the Armed Forces Radio Network and wrote comic songs about Army experiences. His early career included being a radio announcer at WRON, a local radio station in Ronceverte, West Virginia.
Hall's big break came in 1963 when singer Jimmy C. Newman recorded his song "DJ For a Day." In 1964 Hall moved to Nashville, TN, and within months had songs climbing the charts. Nicknamed "The Story Teller", he has written songs for dozens of country stars such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings, and Alan Jackson.
One of the most popular songs, "Harper Valley PTA", was originally recorded in 1968 by Jeannie C. Riley, sold over six million copies, and won both a Grammy and CMA award. The song later would inspire the motion picture and television program of the same name.
Hall's own recording career took off after that and he had such hits as "A Week in the Country Jail," "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine," "I Love," "Country Is", "The Year Clayton Delaney Died," "The Old Side of Town," and "I Like Beer." He was also noted for his children's songs, the most popular being "Sneaky Snake".
He also hosted the syndicated country music TV show Pop Goes the Country.
His son, Dean Hall, is also a singer and is member of the MuzikMafia.
A hard-rock adaptation of his song I love was featured in a series of successful television commercials for Coors beer.
Hall largely retired from writing new material in 1986 and from performing in 1994; his final public performance, which was also his first in several years, was in 2011.
Discography
Singles Written and Performed By Tom T. Hall
* "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew" (#30, 1967)
* "Ain't Got The Time" (#68, 1968)
* "The World The Way I Want It" (#66, 1968)
* "Ballad of Forty Dollars" (#4, 1969)
* "Homecoming" (#5, 1969)
* "Strawberry Farms" (#40, 1969)
* "Day Drinkin'" (#23, 1970)
* "Salute to a Switchblade" (#8, 1970)
* "Shoeshine Man" (#8, 1970)
* "A Week in a Country Jail" (#1, 1970)
* "Ode to Half a Pound of Ground Round" (#21, 1971)
* "One Hundred Children" (#14, 1971)
* "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" (#1, 1971) (also reached #42 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Me and Jesus" (#8, 1972) (also reached #92 on the Pop Chart)
* "More About John Henry" (#26, 1972)
* "The Monkey That Became President" (#11, 1972)
* "Old Dogs, Children, And Watermelon Wine" (#1, 1973)
* "Ravishing Ruby" (#3, 1973)
* "Spokane Motel Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Watergate Blues" (#16, 1973)
* "Country Is" (#1, 1974)
* "I Love" (#1, 1974) (also reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #12 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Sneaky Snake" (#69, 1974) (reached #55 on the Pop Singles Chart the following year)
* "That Song Is Driving Me Crazy" (#2, 1974) (also reached #63 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "Deal" (#8, 1975)
* "I Care" (#1, 1975)
* "I Like Beer" (#4, 1975)
* "Faster Horses (The Cowboy And The Poet)" (#1, 1976)
* "Fox On The Run" (#9, 1976)
* "Negatory Romance" (#24, 1976)
* "It's All in the Game" (#12, 1977)
* "Your Man Loves You, Honey" (#4, 1977)
* "What Have You Got to Lose" (#9, 1978)
* "Son of Clayton Delaney" (#14, 1979)
* "You Show Me Your Heart (And I'll Show You Mine)" (#11, 1979)
* "Back When Gas Was Thirty Cents a Gallon" (#36, 1980)
* "Jesus On the Radio (Daddy On the Phone)" (#9, 1980)
* "Solder Of Fortune" (#51, 1980)
* "The Old Side of Town" (#9, 1980)
* "Everything From Jesus To Jack Daniels (#42, 1983)
* "P.S. I Love You" (#8, 1984)
* "A Bar with No Beer" (#40, 1985)
* "Down At The Mall" (#65, 1986)
Singles Written By Tom T. Hall But Performed By Other Artists
* "Mad" performed by Dave Dudley (#6, 1964)
* "Artificial Rose" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#8, 1965)
* "Back In Circulation" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#13, 1965)
* "City of the Angels" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#37, 1965)
* "What We're Fighting For" performed by Dave Dudley (#4, 1966)
* "Back Pocket Money" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#10, 1966)
* "California Uptight Band" performed by Flatt & Scruggs (#20, 1967)
* "Dropping Out of Sight" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#32, 1967)
* "Louisiana Saturday Night" performed by Jimmy C. Newman (#24, 1967)
* "Town That Broke My Heart" performed by Bobby Bare (#16, 1968)
* "Anything Leaving Town Today" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1968)
* "There Ain't No Easy Run" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1968)
* "Harper Valley PTA" performed by Jeannie C. Riley (#1, 1968) (also reached #1 on the Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart)
* "Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman" performed by Jim & Jesse (#49, 1968)
* "(Margie's At) The Lincoln Park Inn" performed by Bobby Bare (#4, 1969)
* "George (And the Northwoods)" performed by Dave Dudley (#10, 1969)
* "One More Mile" performed by Dave Dudley (#12, 1969)
* "Boo Dan" peroformed by Jimmy C. Newman (#31, 1969)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Bobby Bare (#3, 1970)
* "Pool Shark" performed by Dave Dudley (#1, 1970)
* "If I Ever Fall in Love (With a Honky Tonk Girl)" performed by Faron Young (#4, 1970)
* "Second Handed Flowers" performed by George Jones (#5, 1972)
* "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)" performed by Johnny Rodriguez (#1, 1973) (also #86 on the Pop Singles Chart)
* "I Can Still Hear the Music in the Restroom" performed by Jerry Lee Lewis (#13, 1975)
* "I'm Not Ready Yet" performed by George Jones (#2, 1980)
* "Dropping Out Of Sight" performed by Bobby Bare (#35, 1981)
* "Little Bitty" performed by Alan Jackson (#1, 1996)
* "That's How I Got To Memphis" performed by Deryl Dodd (#36, 1996)
I Like Beer
Tom T. Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fact that I like to drink beer
This little song is more to the point
Roll out the barrel and lend me your ears
[Chorus:]
I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow
I like beer, it helps me unwind and sometimes it makes me feel mellow (Makes him feel mellow)
This little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I like beer
(He likes beer)
My wife often frowns when we're out on the town
And I'm wearing a suit and a tie
She's sipping vermouth and she thinks I'm uncouth
When I yell as the waiter goes by
[Chorus]
Last night I dreamed that I passed from the scene
And I went to a place so sublime
Aw, the water was clear and tasted like beer
Then they turned it all into wine (Awww)
[Chorus]
The song I Like Beer by Tom T. Hall is an ode to the writer's love for beer. Hall introduces the song by acknowledging that he has made references to his love for beer in some of his songs before, but this song is more to the point. He then calls out for his listeners' attention and requests that they roll out the barrel and lend him their ears. This chorus then leads into a catchy tune where Hall expresses his adoration for beer. Hall sings about how beer makes him a jolly good fellow, helps him unwind, and even makes him feel mellow. He further explains how other alcoholic beverages like whiskey are too rough, champagne is too costly, and vodka puts his mouth in gear. In the end, the little refrain explains that he likes beer, and that's a matter of fact.
Hall continues to sing how his wife frowns upon his love for beer. She thinks he is uncouth when he yells for the waiter to bring him a beer while she sips on vermouth. However, Hall doesn't care because he likes beer, and nothing can change that. In the last verse, Hall dreams that he has passed from the scene and has gone to a place so sublime, where water tastes like beer. He sings that this heaven on earth turned it all into wine, but he still prefers a cold one.
In conclusion, the song I Like Beer by Tom T. Hall is a celebration of beer's virtues. Hall emphasizes that beer helps him unwind, makes him a jolly good fellow, and even makes him feel mellow. He doesn't care what other people say about his love for beer or what other alcoholic beverages may offer; beer is what he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
In some of my songs I have casually mentioned
Tom T. Hall has previously mentioned in some of his songs that he enjoys drinking beer.
The fact that I like to drink beer
Tom T. Hall likes drinking beer.
This little song is more to the point
This song is specifically about Tom T. Hall's enjoyment of beer.
Roll out the barrel and lend me your ears
This line is a playful way of asking the listener to pay attention to the song.
I like beer, it makes me a jolly good fellow
Tom T. Hall enjoys beer and it makes him feel happy and sociable.
I like beer, it helps me unwind and sometimes it makes me feel mellow
Tom T. Hall enjoys beer because it helps him relax and sometimes it has a calming effect on him.
Whiskey's too rough, Champagne costs too much, vodka puts my mouth in gear
Tom T. Hall prefers beer to other alcoholic drinks like whiskey, Champagne, and vodka for various reasons.
This little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I like beer
This chorus reinforces the fact that Tom T. Hall likes drinking beer.
My wife often frowns when we're out on the town
Tom T. Hall's wife disapproves of his behavior when they go out in public together.
And I'm wearing a suit and a tie
This line suggests that Tom T. Hall is dressed formally, but still acts in a way that his wife disapproves of.
She's sipping vermouth and she thinks I'm uncouth
Tom T. Hall's wife is drinking a fancy cocktail and doesn't approve of Tom's preference for beer.
When I yell as the waiter goes by
Tom T. Hall's behavior embarrasses his wife when they are in public and he calls out to the waiter.
Last night I dreamed that I passed from the scene
Tom T. Hall is describing a dream he had.
And I went to a place so sublime
Tom T. Hall went to a wonderful and peaceful place in his dream.
Aw, the water was clear and tasted like beer
In Tom T. Hall's dream, the water he drinks tastes like beer.
Then they turned it all into wine
In Tom T. Hall's dream, the water that tasted like beer was transformed into wine.
This little refrain should help me explain as a matter of fact I like beer
This line repeats the chorus and once again reinforces that Tom T. Hall enjoys beer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOM HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Libby
I can’t believe we lost such a great story teller. RIP Tom T!
ericplaysbass
As a matter of fact, I love beer! Thanks Tom, for all the great songs! RIP
James Dauphinais
Rest in Peace Tom. Thank you for all the wonderful songs.
Rick OBrien
The Old storyteller has always been a fave. of mine , and I saw him at the Crazy Horse in Tustin singing this song . And my Mom told me to take him a beer up on stage , and I did . He smiled real big & said thank you.
John dyson
Remarkable
brian5o
This has to be the best drinkin’ song ever written.
Joe Biden’s Mistress
“BEERISGOOD! BEERISGOOD! BEERISGOOD!…. ANDSTUFF!”
Cycle Gypsy
Absolutely 🤣
parKb5
As a child, I remember this song playing on the juke box at our local boat club. I used to hang out there while my father bartended. For some reason 40 years later, out of the blue, this song popped into my head. I haven’t thought of it since way back then. I’m glad I could find it on YouTube and even gladder that I still remember all of the words,
Lone Wolf Productions NY
Rest In Peace Tom.