Treat Her Right's self-financed debut, Treat Her Right, was released on the small Boston label Soul Selects Records in 1986. It was a modest success; Champagne's "I Got a Gun" and Sandman's cover of James Blood Ulmer's "Where Did All the Girls Come From?" received some play on college radio. "I Think She Likes Me" describes Sandman's experience in a Fairplay, Colorado bar where a woman came on to him. The group signed to RCA Records, who reissued the debut in 1988.
Tied to the Tracks was issued in 1989. Sales did not meet RCA's expectations. In the notes for their third record, the group writes, "RCA decided that if our little basement tape could do so well, why not spend fifty times more money and it will be fifty times better! (They think everything works like that.)" Treat Her Right were dropped from their RCA contract.
What's Good for You was issued on Rounder Records in 1991. The ragged, live-in-the-studio sound was partly modeled on the model established by Chess Records, which had released many classic blues and early rock and roll records.
Shortly after this third release, Treat Her Right disbanded, but reformed in 1995 under the direction of Rolling Stones backup guitar player Bob Anderson, and disbanded a second time in 1998.
King Of Beers
Treat Her Right Lyrics
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To her I was a king
A king of everything
She used to like the way I drive
She looked so happy by
So happy by my side
Now I'm just a king of beers
Just a table full of empty
I am
I am the king
I am the king of beers
I am the king of beers
And it's funny how things go
While simply driving down
While driving down the road
You start with two
And then there's one
It's hard for one
For one to get alone
Now I'm just a king of beers
And lord of all I see
Just a table full of empty
I am
I am the king
I am the king of beers
I am the king of beers
I remember that night
We were driving just like this
If I could have another chance
That night I wouldn't drive
I wouldn't drive so fast
But of course that's in the past
There is no going back
There is no going back
Now I'm just a king of beers
And lord of all I see
Just a table full of empty
I am
I am the king
I am the king of beers
I am the king of beers
I am the king
I am the king
I am the king
Hey, bartender! Give me one more beer
No! I do not think I have enough.
Don't you know who I am?
Don't you know who I am?
I am the king of beers
The song "King of Beers" by Treat Her Right tells the story of a man who used to be someone special to his partner. She used to admire the way he sang and drove, and he was like a king to her. However, things took a wrong turn somewhere along the way, and the man found himself reduced to being the "King of Beers" and nothing more. He has become a shadow of his former self, drinking beer alone at a table that's full of empties, with nothing but his thoughts for company. The lyrics reflect on the fleeting nature of life and how easily things can change.
The man in the song regrets his past actions, particularly a night when he was driving too fast and caused an accident that may have resulted in the loss of his partner. He wishes he could go back in time and fix things, but he knows it's impossible. The song is a cautionary tale about how quickly life can change and how important it is to cherish the people and moments that matter.
Line by Line Meaning
She used to like the way I sing
She used to appreciate the way I sang.
To her I was a king
She saw me as a powerful and influential figure in her life.
A king of everything
My status in her eyes was of a ruler who had control over everything.
She used to like the way I drive
She used to enjoy my driving skills.
She looked so happy by
She felt happy and content by my side.
So happy by my side
I was a source of happiness for her.
Now I'm just a king of beers
Now I'm nothing more than someone who drinks too much beer.
And lord of all I see
I have the illusion of control over everything I see.
Just a table full of empty
All I have is a table full of empty beer bottles.
I am
I exist.
I am the king
I have the illusion of being powerful.
I am the king of beers
I am someone who drinks beer excessively and is proud of it.
And it's funny how things go
It's ironic how life takes unexpected turns.
While simply driving down
While going on a simple drive.
You start with two
Two people are in the car.
And then there's one
One person is left alone.
It's hard for one
It's difficult for one person to be alone.
For one to get alone
It's tough to get comfortable with being alone.
I remember that night
I recall that particular night.
We were driving just like this
We were driving in this same manner.
If I could have another chance
If I could go back in time.
That night I wouldn't drive
On that night, I wouldn't have driven.
I wouldn't drive so fast
I wouldn't have driven recklessly.
But of course that's in the past
However, that is in the past and cannot be undone.
There is no going back
It's impossible to reverse what's already happened.
Hey, bartender! Give me one more beer
I'm asking the bartender for another drink.
No! I do not think I have enough.
The bartender thinks I've had too much to drink already.
Don't you know who I am?
A rhetorical question implying that they should recognize my status.
I am the king of beers
I am proud of being someone who drinks a lot of beer.
I am the king
I still have the illusion of being powerful.
I am the king
I am still someone who sees themselves as powerful, despite their current state.
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.