From the recording Full Circle (16-44 .WAV version)
A lot of great country songs are about drinking and bars and lover’s quarrels, so I figured I should write a song that fit in that category. Having spent some time in bars (in my younger days – really) I’ve often heard the expression “that’s just the whiskey talking” about some of the idiotic things people say in bars when they’ve had a little too much to drink. I decided that I could take that and turn it around a little so that the principle character tries to drown his sorrows but has a wizened old bartender set him straight about what’s important in life.
The story takes him from home to bar to home again in a way that opens his eyes to how drinking is affecting his relationship. I use an old battered bartender as the bearer of wisdom gained through personal experience. The bartender tells the younger man of his downfall and makes every effort to steer him straight. I always like to make sure my songs have a happy (or at least no too sad) ending so that listeners can feel like there hope.
Lyrics
Don’t Let the Whisky Do the Talking
© 2019 RC Burns
All Rights Reserved
Verse 1
I could see the storm brewing in her eyes
Like a hurricane – a category five
I turned on my heels and headed for the door
Thinking that our love could not survive.
A seedy little bar on the other side of town
Seemed like the place I ought to be
What’s your poison son said the barkeep with a smile
As he laid that glass down in front of me
Whisky I said and a beer to chase it down
Its going to be a long night you see
Pre-Chorus
He looked me in the eye and I thought I heard him sigh
And this I what the old man said to me
Chorus 1
Son don’t ever let the whisky do the talking
That’s something that I learned along the way
Cause if you do your love will soon go walking
And you’ll regret it to your dying day
Verse 2
I can tell son by the look in your eye
You’ve got woman troubles on your mind
Well I’ve been there myself and no matter how I try
I can’t forget the life I left behind
Believe me when I say whisky ain’t the way
To figure out the troubles in your soul
Why, hell, just look at me and tell me what you see
A tired man whose eyes are far too old
Just another bum from the wrong side of town
Who’s given up and thrown away his life
Pre-Chorus
But I can tell you son that the demon in the bottle
Took away my children and my wife.
Chorus 2
Son don’t ever let the whisky do the talking
That’s something that I learned along the way
Cause if you do your love will soon go walking
And you’ll regret it to your dying day
Verse 3
The old man turned away and shuffled down the bar
I swear there were tears in his eyes
I jumped in my car, drove around all night
Stopped to watch the morning sun rise
The words the old man said spun around my head
As I tried to figure out just what to do
I knew I couldn’t find the answer in a bottle
To save my love I needed something new
When I got home I found my love still crying
Pre-Chorus
I got down on my knees and I begged her darling please
Forgive me and believe me when I say
Chorus 3
I won’t ever let the whisky do the talking
That’s something I forgot until today
And I don’t ever want to see you go walking
And I will love you till my dying day
Yes I will love you till my dying day