About the song
“If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” is a poignant and introspective country music ballad that showcases the raw emotion and vulnerability of one of the genre’s most iconic artists, George Jones. Written by Harlan Sanders and Rick Beresford, the song was released in January 1981 as the third single from Jones’ album I Am What I Am, and it would go on to peak at number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
At the time of the song’s release, Jones was in the midst of a remarkable resurgence in his career, following the massive success of his #1 hit single “He Stopped Loving Her Today” in 1979. However, despite his professional success, Jones’ personal life was marked by turmoil and struggle. His long-standing addiction to cocaine and his nearly thirty-year battle with alcoholism had taken a significant toll on his relationships and overall well-being.
The lyrics of “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” reflect the despair and hopelessness that Jones was feeling at the time. The song’s narrator is a man who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his loved one, and is using drink as a way to cope with his grief. The song’s title is a poignant commentary on the destructive power of addiction, and the devastating consequences that it can have on those who are struggling with it.
Throughout the song, Jones’ distinctive vocals bring a sense of authenticity and emotional depth to the lyrics, making it feel like a deeply personal and intimate reflection on his own struggles with addiction. The song’s themes of loss, grief, and redemption are timeless and universal, and continue to resonate with listeners to this day.
In his 1995 memoir I Lived to Tell It All, Jones would later reflect on the song’s lyrics, revealing that he often changed the words when he sang it publicly, particularly on national television. He would substitute the name “Tammy” for “her memory,” a nod to his tumultuous relationship with his ex-wife Tammy Wynette. This added layer of complexity to the song’s already poignant lyrics, and serves as a powerful reminder of the personal struggles that Jones was facing at the time.
Overall, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” is a powerful and haunting country music ballad that showcases George Jones’ remarkable vocal range and emotional depth. The song’s themes of loss, grief, and redemption continue to resonate with listeners today, making it a timeless classic of the country music genre.
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Lyrics
The bars are all closed
It’s four in the mornin’
I must have shut ’em all down
By the shape that I’m in
I lay my head on the wheel
And the horn begins honkin’
The whole neighborhood knows
That I’m home drunk again
If drinkin’ don’t kill me
Her memory will
I can’t hold out much longer
The way that I feel
With the blood from my body
I could start my own still
But if drinkin’ don’t kill me
Her memory will
These old bones, they move slow
But so sure of their footsteps
As I trip on the floor
And I lightly touch down
Lord, it’s been ten bottles
Since I tried to forget her
But the mem’ry still lingers
Lyin’ here on the ground
And if drinkin’ don’t kill me
Her memory will
I can’t hold out much longer
The way that I feel
With the blood from my body
I could start my own still
But if drinkin’ don’t kill me
Her memory will