Jason Boland – Bottle By My Bed
For those that don’t know Jason Boland you might find it strange for me to post a song for you to listen to that is this deep country… and is sung by someone that isn’t already dead. The way he can craft a song out of experience and life puts him in a category with some of the best I’ve ever heard and this song of his latest album, Comal County Blue, is no exception.
I could go into all the demons that have chased Boland throughout the years so you can see that he writes this song out of his own experience… his own heartache and truth. But it’s just not necessary…. I think we can ALL relate to this song because we’ve all been in the pit of despair in one way or another. We’ve all been in that lonely place where we can either continue to try to drown out our despair with one empty bottle after another… or we can do as Boland writes about here and push that bottle aside and put our Hope in something greater.
What makes this song so great is that you can feel the pain that he’s lived by emptying each bottle… but in the same breath, you can feel the power of him being set free. Now that’s Truth…
written by a man that has been there and overcome.
“Bottle By My Bed” by Jason Boland and The Stragglers
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My life was as empty as the bottle by my bed
My friends turned into strangers and I was all but dead
Jesus came and found me there, that day those demons bled
When my life was as empty as the bottle by my bed
My first taste of the Spirit, it brought me to my knees
I knew that I was helpless, I prayed Lord help me please
each time was the last time, that’s what I always said
when my life was as empty as the bottle by my bed
By my bed, everything seemed further out of reach
And in my head, oh I found it hard to practice what I preached
And now I’m going back home, it’s down this path I’m led
And I’m no longer empty like the bottle by my bed
Sometimes this road gets lonesome and I wish that I could fly
So don’t be afraid to stop me when I pass you by
We’ll sit and watch the sun go down as the waters turn to red
And if you’d like i could tell you all about the bottle by my bed
By my bed, everything seemed further out of reach
And in my head, oh I found it hard to practice what I preached
And now I’m going back home, it’s down this path I’m led
And I’m no longer empty like the bottle by my bed
Thank God that I’m not empty, like the bottle by my bed
11 Comments
V on August 26th, 2008
Great post and song. The reaction I had to this cd was somewhat overwhelming. I couldn’t love it more.
suzy on August 26th, 2008
This cd lyrically is some of the very best he has given us.
andrea on August 26th, 2008
i can’t turn this cd off. it hurts my heart and makes me happy at the same time. no reason in being late is my current favorite.
Thoughts on the New Jason Boland Disc « The Gobblers Knob on August 28th, 2008
[...] under: blah blah blah Like I did earlier this week with the new Chris Knight disc, I would like to direct your attention to one of my fellow bloggers in order to get, what I feel at least, are some pretty dead-on thoughts on a song from the new [...]
Christy on August 29th, 2008
“My friends turned into strangers” how painfully true this is. Sometimes you feel that no-one will ever understand.
Trailer on September 1st, 2008
I’ve never been a fan until this album, but wow. I’m gonna have to go back and find out what I was missing before.
Ziggy on October 23rd, 2008
anyone that struggles with a drinkin problem can truly appreciate this song. Brilliant song writting and most importantly, the soul and passion that has damn near been lost in country music these days. Hank Williams, Gary Stewart, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Robert Earl Keen. Jason Boland is bringing the heart and soul back to country and hopefully will soon be compared to these men. Tremendous album and song.
Ross on October 28th, 2008
This song says it all, girl is gone. drinkin’s up. friends start dropping off to girlfriends or move away, then just when you think you have hit your point of no return, something comes into your life like God himself sent it to help you pull yourself out….even if you find it from an empty bottle. This song says it all without saying my wife dog and trailer left me… like so many critics seem to think all TRUE country music says. It’s about real life, I don’t know a single person who’s life is anything like them pop songs, but I could name you off a list of people who live songs like this everyday.
nwilder on July 15th, 2009
man great song….i think i have worn out my live at billy bobs cd…..great blog
debpnigerians on November 30th, 2009
The first time I heard Bottle By My Bed I had to pull off the road and cry…I think Kris Kristofferson would be proud of that song had he written it. And that’s the highest praise I know to offer.
Jamie Sch on August 26th, 2008
The first time I heard this song, I cried. Then I listened to it again and cried some me. I’m so proud of Jason to see where he was and where he is now. My thoughts and prayers are with him that he heals quickly. I want to hear this live!!