George Jones – “Bartender’s Blues”

Introduction:

“Bartender’s Blues”, released in 1978, isn’t actually a song written by George Jones himself, but a cover of a song by singer-songwriter James Taylor. It appeared on Taylor’s 1977 album JT and was even the B-side to the lead single, “Handy Man.” However, “Bartender’s Blues” found a new life when George Jones recorded it for his own 1978 album of the same name.

George Jones, a legend in the country music world, was known for his powerful vocals and his ability to deliver songs that resonated with the working class and those facing heartbreak. His own personal struggles with alcoholism lent a layer of authenticity to his performances, and “Bartender’s Blues” was no exception.

The song itself is a melancholic look into the world of a bartender. Country music often thrives on stories of heartbreak and “Bartender’s Blues” falls squarely in that tradition. The narrator of the song is someone who pours drinks for others all night, witnessing their sorrows but unable to solve them. There’s a sense of loneliness and disillusionment that permeates the song, a feeling of being surrounded by people but still being completely alone.

“Bartender’s Blues” was produced by Billy Sherrill, a major figure in country music production during the 1960s and 1970s. Sherrill was known for his polished “countrypolitan” sound, a lush and smooth style that George Jones helped to popularize. “Bartender’s Blues” doesn’t stray far from that formula, but it retains a sense of rawness and emotional honesty that cuts through the smooth production.

The song wasn’t a major hit on the charts, but it has become a beloved entry in George Jones’ catalog. It perfectly captures the world-weariness and loneliness that country music audiences often connect with. “Bartender’s Blues” also stands as a testament to George Jones’ vocal talent and his ability to inhabit a song and deliver its emotional core.

Video:

Lyrics:

Now I’m just a bartender, and I don’t like my work
But I don’t mind the money at all
I’ve seen lots of sad faces and lots of bad cases
Of folks with their backs to the wall

But I need four walls around me to hold my life
To keep me from going astray
And a honky tonk angel to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away

I can light up your smokes, I can laugh at your jokes
I can watch you fall down on your knees
I can close down this bar, I can gas up my car
And I can pack up and mail in my keys

But I need four walls around me to hold my life
To keep me from going astray
And a honky tonk angel to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away

Now the smoke fills the air in this honky tonk bar
And I’m thinkin’ ’bout where I’d rather be
But I burned all my bridges and I sunk all my ships
Now I’m stranded at the edge of the sea

I still need four walls around me to hold my life
To keep me from going astray
I need some honky tonk angels to hold me tight
To keep me from slipping away