From the recording Full Circle (16-44 .WAV version)
In my life I’ve had three major types of jobs: environmental regulator, environmental consultant and environmental manager for and industrial operation. All of those roles had one thing in common (and not just the environment) – they all had a lot of paperwork - a hell of a lot of paperwork. Anyone who has ever had to deal with paperwork knows that it can be very frustrating and leads to a lot of stress and the pulling of one’s hair and banging your head against the wall. None of that helps or gets rid of the stress, so, at least in my experience, the end of the work week signals a time to throw of the chains and go have some fun because Monday morning comes way too early.
So – that’s where the seeds of “Me and Johnny Walker” came from. Me, drowning in a mountain of paperwork, looking for a way to get out from under the pile. Although Johnny Walker isn’t my scotch of choice (I prefer a nice single malt), I figured that the name would help to make it appear that I wasn’t drinking alone to cut loose. The same with adding Jim Beam in there as well – just 3 buddies tearing up the town after a hard week at the grindstone.
When JK arranged the song with a western swing vibe, I was thrilled. It really made the song stand out. I love the pedal steel and the keyboard fills that make this a fun song. Check it out.
Lyrics
Me and Johnny Walker
© 2001 RC Burns
All Rights Reserved
Verse 1
Friday night at five o’clock and I ain’t finished yet
Two more stacks of paper before I can forget
The drudgery and misery of my working day
The only time I’m happy is when I get my pay
Chorus 1
‘Cause that’s when me and Johnny Walker go out and paint the town
We always play it fast and loose with good times coming down
Don’t you try and stop us we’re just too good a team
We might even call upon our good friend Jimmy Beam
Verse 2
Every day from nine to five I’m in a paper hell
I feel just like a turtle trapped inside his shell
The only thing that keeps me from ending all my pain
Is knowing that Friday night will come around again
Chorus 2
‘Cause that’s when me and Johnny Walker go out and paint the town
We always play it fast and loose with good times coming down
Don’t you try and stop us we’re just too good a team
We might even call upon our good friend Jimmy Beam
Verse 3
I know I’ll never reach the top, I’ll never be the boss
No lunches at the country club or afternoons for golf
But still, I work like hell and keep my shoulder to the wheel
All the working stiffs out in the world know exactly how I feel
Chorus 3
‘Cause me and Johnny Walker are about to paint the town
We’re going to play it fast and loose with good times coming down
Don’t you try and stop us we’re just too good a team
We might even call upon
Yeah we might even call upon
Yeah we might even call upon
Our good friend Jimmy Beam