About the song
Merle Haggard and the Honky-Tonk Sound
“The Bottle Let Me Down” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released in August 1966 as the second single from the album Swinging Doors. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
Haggard was born in Oildale, California, in 1937. He began playing guitar at a young age and was influenced by a variety of musical genres, including country, blues, and jazz. In the early 1960s, he began writing his own songs and performing in local bars and clubs.
In 1965, Haggard signed with Capitol Records and released his debut album, Strangers. The album was a critical and commercial success, and Haggard quickly became one of the most popular country music artists in the world.
“The Bottle Let Me Down”
“The Bottle Let Me Down” is a classic honky-tonk song about a man who is struggling with alcoholism. The song begins with the narrator singing about how he has been drinking all day to try to forget his problems. However, the alcohol has only made his problems worse.
The narrator then sings about how he is going to give up drinking. He knows that the bottle has let him down and that he needs to make a change in his life. The song ends with the narrator singing about how he is going to start a new life, sober and free from alcohol.
The Legacy of Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard was one of the most influential country music artists of all time. He was known for his distinctive voice and his songwriting skills. Haggard wrote songs about a variety of topics, including love, loss, and the working class.
Haggard’s music has had a lasting impact on country music. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Bakersfield sound, a subgenre of country music that is characterized by its hard-driving rhythms and its focus on working-class themes.
Haggard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994. He died in 2016 at the age of 79.
“The Bottle Let Me Down” is a powerful song about the struggle with alcoholism. Haggard’s lyrics are honest and moving, and his performance is full of emotion. The song is a classic example of Haggard’s songwriting skills and his ability to connect with his audience.
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Lyrics
“The Bottle Let Me Down”
Each night I leave the bar room when it’s over
Not feeling any pain at closing time
But tonight your memory found me much too sober
Couldn’t drink enough to keep you off my mindTonight the bottle let me down
And let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I’d found
Tonight the bottle let me downI’ve always had a bottle I could turn to
And lately I’ve been turnin’ every day
But the wine don’t take effect the way it used to
And I’m hurtin’ in old familiar waysTonight the bottle let me down
and let your memory come around
The one true friend I thought I’d found
Tonight the bottle let me downTonight the bottle let me down