Released: 2011
Eric Church’s “Drink In My Hand” is a working man’s anthem. It’s all about escaping the grind of a tough workweek by cutting loose and enjoying a cold drink. The song paints a picture of someone who’s had enough of their demanding job and just wants to unwind with a drink in hand.
The opening lines, ‘Early Monday morning, ’til Friday at five / Man I work, work, work but I don’t climb, climb, climb’, set the stage for the struggle of the daily grind. Church makes it clear that despite all the hard work, he’s not getting ahead.
When he sings, ‘Boss man can shove that overtime up his can / All I wanna do is put a drink in my hand’, you can feel the frustration. He’s ready to let loose and forget about work. This sentiment resonates with anyone who’s felt stuck in a dead-end job.
As the song progresses, the chorus, ‘To fill it up, or throw it down / I got a 40 hour week worth of trouble to drown’, emphasizes the need to escape and relax. The idea of drowning his troubles in a drink is a classic country theme.
The second verse, ‘Yea the parking lot is muddy, can’t get to the door / I’ll take my jacked up drop er’ down in four by four’, showcases his readiness to party despite obstacles. His lifted truck and a long neck beer are quintessential country imagery.
Church’s lyrics, ‘Make me wanna go ouhhh ouh ouhhh, when you dance like that / You got that little tattoo playing peek-a-boo on your back’, introduce a romantic interest. It’s playful and flirtatious, adding a fun twist to the narrative.
In the end, lines like ‘My head Monday morning that alarm clock sings / It goes bang, bang, bang, while it ring, ring, rings’, highlight the cycle of work and play. Despite the hangover, he’s ready to do it all over again. The repetition of ‘All you got to do is put a drink in my hand’ drives home the simple pleasure he’s after.
