The draw of country music–or any music, for that matter–is the ability of the listener to relate to lyrics delivered by singers they believe. As a result, the genre can be hard on those who are trying to quit alcohol or other substances. Country music is packed with songs about drinking and having a great time that people in recovery may not want to hear. Fortunately, there are some other options.
Videos by American Songwriter
The songs below come from country artists who are in one form of recovery or another. Some are completely abstinent, others leave a little wiggle room for their recovery. No matter how they’re doing it, these are songs about getting right by people who have been where you are.
[RELATED: Jamey Johnson Gets Candid About Substance Abuse and His 13-Year Sobriety Journey]
1. “Using Again” by Benjamin Tod
Anyone who has been in a 12-step program or any other community of those fighting to be clean and sober knows this. How one deals with a relapse is what matters. Do they give up or get back on the wagon? No matter how it ends, there’s always an amount of shame and self-loathing that comes with a misstep.
Country singer/songwriter Benjamin Tod has been in recovery for years. He was open about the struggles he faced in his early solo releases. “Using Again” captures the emotional weight of temporarily losing a battle with substances. This song is both heart-wrenching and relatable for those who have been there.
2. “High Cost of Living” by Jamey Johnson
Any country fan who is in recovery has likely already heard this song from Jamey Johnson’s 2008 breakthrough album, That Lonesome Song. While the single only peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it has touched millions of listeners since its release.
In “The High Cost of Living,” Johnson tells a familiar story of a man with a wife, a good job, and a little piece of land who loses it all to addiction. However, the story isn’t all doom and gloom. By the final verse, the protagonist gets clean and is in the first stages of recovery.
3. “Better Than the Bottle” by Cody Jinks
Cody Jinks spent most of his life and career deep in the bottle. While working on his 2024 album, Change the Game, the modern outlaw country singer entered recovery. He’s been working to better himself for the last couple of years. His next album, In My Blood, will be his first release as a completely alcohol-free artist. The album opener, and lead single, “Better Than the Bottle,” sets the tone.
“Better Than the Bottle” is about two old friends who have put down the bottle and are living a better life. As the song points out, they still have a “vice or two,” but they were able to get away from the bottle that threatened to destroy their lives. The song’s lyrics reflect on people who weren’t lucky enough to survive their wilder days and share gratitude for being where they are. There is a lot of hope in this song.
4. “One Day at a Time” by American Aquarium
Alt-country band American Aquarium has plenty of songs about recovery. The band’s singer and principal songwriter, BJ Barham, will celebrate 10 years of sobriety later this year. He’s shared his sobriety journey with listeners over the years.
“One Day at a Time” is an honest look at Barham’s alcoholism and sobriety. It discusses his justifications for drinking and how putting down the bottle has helped him. Maybe more importantly, he admits to missing the booze from time to time. However, he doesn’t give in to temptation and keeps moving forward, one day at a time.
5. “California Sober” by Billy Strings and Willie Nelson
Not everyone’s journey out of addiction to alcohol or other substances looks the same. Country legend Willie Nelson and bluegrass firebrand Billy Strings teamed up for a song about a different kind of recovery plan in 2023.
Recent years have seen many people walk away from booze and hard drugs in favor of being “California sober.” This is a lifestyle that allows the use of cannabis and psychedelic substances, including LSD and magic mushrooms, while being abstinent from alcohol and other damaging substances. It has been hotly debated in the larger recovery community. However, at the end of the day, it’s all about what works for the individual. Recovery, like music, isn’t a one-size-fits-all affair.
Featured Image by John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.