About the song
“Honky Tonk Heroes (Like Me)” is the title track from Billy Joe Shaver’s 1994 album of the same name. The song, and the album itself, are considered significant for a couple of reasons:
- Outlaw Country: This period in the 1970s and 80s saw a rebellion against the polished pop-country sound of Nashville. Shaver, along with artists like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, championed a return to the raw and rebellious spirit of classic honky-tonk music. “Honky Tonk Heroes” exemplifies this with its storytelling about down-and-out characters and a driving, working-class sound.
- Honky Tonk Revival: The album helped revive interest in honky-tonk itself, a style characterized by barroom pianos, steel guitars, and lyrics about heartbreak, drinking, and working-class struggles.
Here are some of the key themes explored in the song:
- Celebrating the Underdog: The song portrays “honky tonk heroes” as flawed, blue-collar characters who find solace and escape in the honky-tonk lifestyle.
- Love and Loss: Romantic struggles are a common theme in country music, and “Honky Tonk Heroes” is no exception. The lyrics hint at failed relationships and the heartache that comes with them.
- Finding Community: Despite their rough edges, the song suggests a sense of camaraderie among these characters who find connection in the shared experience of the honky-tonk.
Lyrics and Interpretation
The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and Shaver’s signature raspy vocals. Here are some lines that capture the essence of the song:
- “I’m a honky tonk hero, with a heart full of tears” – This opening line establishes the character’s identity and inner conflict.
- “We’re the losers that keep singin’ the same old song” – This line highlights the underdog status of the “honky tonk heroes” but also their resilience.
- “There’s a tear in my beer and a ache in my heart” – This simple line paints a picture of heartbreak and finding solace in a drink.
Overall, “Honky Tonk Heroes” is a celebration of the working-class spirit, the resilience of those on the fringes, and the enduring power of honky-tonk music as a space for connection and commiseration.
Video
Lyrics
Low down leaving sunDone, did everything that needs doneWoe is me, why can I see?I’d best be leaving well enough aloneThem neon lighting nights couldn’t stay out of fightsKeep a-haunting me in memoriesWell, there’s one in every crowd, for crying out loudWhy was it always turning out to be me?
Where does it go? The good Lord only knowsSeems like it was just the other dayI was down at Green Gables, a-hawking them tablesAnd generally blowing all my hard-earned payPiano rolled blues, danced holes in my shoesThere weren’t another other way to beFor lovable losers, no-account boozersAnd honky-tonk heroes like me, hey-hey
Where does it go? The good Lord only knowsSeems like it was just the other dayI was down at Green Gables, hawking them tablesGenerally blowing all of my hard-earned payThe piano rolled blues, danced holes in my shoesThere weren’t another other way to beFor lovable losers and no-account boozersAnd honky-tonk heroes like me (little boogie)
Where do it go? The good Lord only knowsAnd seems like it was just the other dayI was down at Green Gables and hawking them tablesAnd generally blowing all of my hard-earned payWell, my piano rolled blues, danced holes in my shoesThere weren’t another other way to beFor them lovable losers and no-account boozersAnd honky-tonk heroes like me, yeah