- Backstory
- Backstory On Christmas Eve of 2016, I was watching @chrisstapleton , Chris Stapleton play Tennessee Whiskey on tv and I prayed for God to give me a song that showed that Love was better than whiskey and as soon as I thought it I knew that was the title. Evolution of the Song I've marinated on the song now for 8 years and looking back I see:
- The first 5 years it barely changed with all choruses just belting out that she was "Better Than Whiskey" and it had the sundress element and the Na, na, na's in the bridge. The idea was the first verse was her kiss was better than whiskey. And the second verse was about the actual thought of loving her forever when it first hit me was better than whiskey.
- While studying Luke Combs' Hurricane song, I fell in love with his layered chorus approach and in 2019 I transitioned the choruses to the "Lonely I was" lines to give it more depth.
- The next iteration was the bridge itself and trying to compare her kiss to Jack Daniel's fireball. I wanted a tongue twister and I'm happy with how that turned out.
- Only recently have I really been able to get my lyrics to the level that I feel is appropriate to share with the world. And in 2025 I added the "In a Stapleton Song" aspect and being down on one knee. I always wanted this to be a wedding song or a song people could propose to. I guess time will tell if people use it for that. If you do and she says yes, send me the video!
- Musicians
- Producer - Smith Curry
- Pedal Steel - Smith Curry
- Drums - Evan Hutchings
- Electric Gtr - Chris Condon
- Bass - Tim Denbo
- Acoustic Gtr - Devin Malone
- Keys - Billy Justineau
- Tracked by Caleb Fisher
- Recorded at Farmland Studios on 6.4.2021
Lyrics
Written by Jonathan Pierce
Girl you were lookin so good in that sunflower dress
I thought you were an angel cause
You took away my breathe
You were made in the image of His eye, Divine
I said hey boys this one’s mine,
They said she's out of my league
Better buy her a drink just to break the ice,
And who could refuse a bribe so I
Ponied on up to the bar
Said hey bartender please pour me glass of that tenn I see
And that's when you snuck up behind me
And said boy, why don't you just kiss me
I did and it was better than the
Chorus 1
Lonely I was out for a buzz
sittin at a bar under that neon sign
when out of no where you came in
And had me floatin on cloud nine
I felt luckier than that four leaf clover and
told the bartender to toss those drinks
yeah for now jack daniels gonna miss me
cause she’s better than whiskey
Verse 2
A couple weeks later I took another chance
Called you on the phone And asked for a little bit of that sweet romance
She said hey boy that just ain’t right
She grew up a small town alabama girl
Her daddy was a farmer, and her mom a librarian
they taught her to wait til she’s all dressed up in white
Then the thought of loving you forever
First hit me, and it was better than the
Chorus 2
Lonely I was out for a buzz
Sittin at a bar under that neon sign
When out of no where you came
And i was floatin on cloud nine
I felt luckier than a four leaf clover
Told the bartender to toss those drinks
For now, jack daniels gonna have to miss me
Cause she's better than whiskey
Bridge
Ooooh the sparks and the flames went a mile high
when I looked in her eyes
that fifth with the cinnamon twist is bliss but
Fireball's got nothing on your kiss
it’s better than, na na na, na na na
yeah you’re better than better than ooooh baby
Chorus 3
You’re better than whiskey In a Stapleton song
Better than all this bourbon i’m sippin on
Smoother than crown when its going down
Girl yeah you get me
I felt luckier than a four leaf clover
Told the bartender to toss those drinks yeah now,
Jack Daniel's gonna have to miss me
Cause you’re better than whiskey in a Stapleton song
Better than whiskey, I’m on one knee.
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