Tennessee Whiskey Lyrics: The Story Behind the Hit Country Song

Verse 1

Used to spend my nights out in a barroom

Liquor was the only love I'd known

But you rescued me from reachin' for the bottom

And brought me back from bein' too far gone

Chorus

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

Verse 2

I've looked for love in all the same old places

Found the bottom of a bottle's always dry

But when you poured out your heart, I didn't waste it

'Cause there's nothin' like your love to get me high

Chorus

And you're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

Guitar Solo

Chorus

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

Outro

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

Tennessee whiskey, Tennessee whiskey

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

Tennessee whiskey, Tennessee whiskey

Many people today believe Tennessee Whiskey is Chris Stapleton's original composition. However, the song is actually a cover of an earlier work. The track was written by Dean Dillon, a renowned country musician and songwriter known for creating numerous hit songs for other artists, along with co-writer Linda Hargrove.

According to American Songwriter, the collaboration began when Dillon encountered Hargrove during her performance at Nashville's famous Bluebird Cafe. Following that meeting, the two songwriters worked through the night to create this now-iconic piece.

Once completed, they presented the song to David Allan Coe, who recorded it and selected it as a single for his 1981 album bearing the same title. Tennessee Whiskey achieved modest success, reaching number 77 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

Two years later, country legend George Jones covered the song, releasing it as the third single from his 1983 album "Shine On." Jones's version proved more successful, climbing to number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

How did Chris Stapleton start singing this song? In a 2015 talk with Fader, he said the song was always one of his favorites. During a sound check at a show in Charlottesville, Virginia, his band started playing and got into a groove. He began singing "Tennessee Whiskey" over it. They had a steel player named Steve Hinson who used to play with George Jones, which may have helped inspire the choice. After that night, they played the song at every concert. By the time they went to the studio, it had become something the whole band enjoyed playing.

While Stapleton had been performing the song regularly at concerts, it didn't achieve widespread recognition until his memorable duet with Justin Timberlake in 2015. Following that performance, the song soared to number 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

What makes Stapleton's cover special is that he add his own touch to this song. He borrowed melody from Etta Jones' classic hit “I’d Rather Go Blind," adding some bluesy and R&B touch to the song. The Rolling Stones put Stapleton's version of "Tennessee Whiskey" on no. 90 of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time list.