Introduction:
“Beer for My Horses” is a timeless country anthem released in 2002 by American country music singer-songwriter Toby Keith, featuring the legendary Willie Nelson. The song, which is the fourth and final single from Keith’s seventh studio album, “Unleashed”, quickly became a massive hit, cementing Keith’s status as a leading figure in the genre.
The song’s catchy melody and powerful lyrics resonated with audiences, telling a tale of revenge and justice. The narrative revolves around a group of men who seek retribution against a corrupt sheriff and his henchmen, ultimately leading to a showdown. The song’s title, “Beer for My Horses,” is a symbolic reference to the idea of raising a toast to fallen comrades.
“Beer for My Horses” was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also earned Keith a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. Additionally, the music video, which featured a cameo appearance by Keith’s daughter, won the Country Music Association Award for Music Video of the Year.
The enduring popularity of “Beer for My Horses” can be attributed to its relatable themes, catchy melody, and the powerful performances by Keith and Nelson. The song’s success solidified Keith’s position as a country music superstar and further cemented Nelson’s legacy as one of the genre’s most iconic figures.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Beer For My Horses”
Willie man, come on, six o’clock news
Said somebody’s been shot, somebody’s been abused
Somebody blew up a building
Somebody stole a car
Somebody got away
Somebody didn’t get too far, yeah
They didn’t get too far[Willie Nelson:]
Grandpappy told my pappy back in my day, “Son,
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done.”
Take all the rope in Texas
Find a tall oak tree,
Round up all of them bad boys
Hang them high in the street
For all the people to see
[Toby Keith and Willie Nelson:]
That justice is the one thing you should always find
You gotta saddle up your boys
You gotta draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singing, “Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.”
[Toby Keith and Willie Nelson:]
We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds
Too much corruption and crime in the streets
It’s time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground
Send ’em all to their maker and he’ll settle ’em down
You can bet he’ll settle ’em down
‘Cause justice is the one thing you should always find
You gotta saddle up your boys
You gotta draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
And we’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singing, “Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.”
“Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.”
Justice is the one thing you should always find
You gotta saddle up your boys
You gotta draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
And we’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singing, “Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.”
Singing, “Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses.”