Back in March 2020, at the start of the 2020-2021 novel coronavirus pandemic, I was putting away a bottle of “Early Times” bourbon that we had out for eggnog on New Year’s Day (yep, it took two months) and one line popped into my head: “Found and old whiskey bottle in the top of momma’s closet yesterday.” That was the foundation for the whole story about a tragic loss and the secrets a family keeps to preserve its sometimes dysfunctional narrative. A few passes between my great songwriting friend Josh Jones and myself, and this tune was complete.
Found an old whiskey bottle in the top of momma’s closet yesterday
Musta been twenty years since the night someone hid it away
And down in the neck was a note and a check
Daddy slipped it inside when he swallowed his pride
And he took his last walk down the road where he and I used to play
Momma told us one morning that daddy had run out for good
Snuck off in the night, ain’t done right by us like he should
and it broke all our hearts as our lives fell apart
I remember her crying and the bacon was frying
there inside the house where our souls went as dark as the woods
(bridge)
All of us knew it, Jack Daniels was daddy’s best friend,
Ol’ Jack and daddy together right to the end.
Well, we’ve done all right since momma she raised us alone
And we all came back for the service now that she’s gone.
but the note in the bottle says “I love you all.
My life is a wreck. Let the kids have this check,
it’s all I’ve got. Forgive me, darling, I’ve got to move on.”
(bridge)
