About the song
“If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” is a poignant and reflective song that stands as one of George Jones’ memorable tracks, capturing the raw emotional turmoil that defined much of his life and career. 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*. By the time this song hit the airwaves, Jones was already a well-established figure in country music, yet this track offered listeners a glimpse into the personal struggles that haunted the artist.
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who is caught in a downward spiral, torn between the bottle and the haunting memory of a lost love. The stark imagery of falling out of cars at four in the morning and the desperate attempt to drown sorrows with “twenty bottles” paints a vivid picture of despair and hopelessness. For Jones, these lyrics were not just a story— they were a reflection of his own life. By 1981, despite his professional success, Jones was battling a severe cocaine addiction and a drinking problem that had plagued him for nearly thirty years. His personal life was in shambles, marked by missed performances, run-ins with the law, and public appearances where he was visibly intoxicated.
Musically, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” fits squarely within the honky-tonk tradition, with its somber melody and Jones’ unmistakable, emotion-laden voice delivering each line with a sense of resigned acceptance. The song reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, a testament to its resonance with audiences who perhaps recognized the truth in Jones’ performance. The track came on the heels of Jones’ massive hit “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” a song that had reignited his career after a period of decline in the late 1970s. The success of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and subsequent hits like “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” marked a period of resurgence for Jones, although his personal demons continued to shadow his life.
Jones himself acknowledged the autobiographical nature of the song, often playing up to his reputation as a hard-living country singer. In his 1995 memoir *I Lived to Tell It All*, he candidly discussed how he would sometimes alter the lyrics during live performances, especially on national television, to reflect his turbulent relationship with his ex-wife, Tammy Wynette, by singing, “If drinkin’ don’t kill me, Tammy’s memory will.” This blend of humor, self-awareness, and vulnerability made Jones’ performances all the more compelling and authentic to his fans.
In many ways, “If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will)” encapsulates the essence of George Jones as both a musician and a man. It is a song steeped in heartache, yet delivered with a resilience that speaks to the enduring spirit of country music. For fans of Jones, this track remains a powerful reminder of the struggles and triumphs of one of the genre’s most iconic voices.
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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