Devil In The Bottle , T. G. Sheppard , 1974

Written by Bobby David. Released in October 1974 as the debut single from the album "T.G. Sheppard", it reached #1 on country charts in the U.S. and Canada, #54 Pop charts.

[@josephsassone3753]

This is pure country music, not like the garbage that passes for country music nowadays.

[@alr9967]

By escaping to the only freedom I’ve ever known. I knew this song and that line for decades. Understood it very well. 40 years of self destruction to self treat anxiety. But now I’m past the 3rd month on the other side. I’ve found freedom and it’s glorious ! Good luck out there

[@mikeltaylor6119]

Alcoholism is a terrible disease,I dealt with it for years and laid it down after many long years,I thought it brought me joy but it only brought trouble and heartache , I kept a job thought I had a good life until it led to jail and prison and misery and I decided I needed to talk to the Lord as I had often done,he helped me turn my life around and now I have a great life with the Lord and no devil in a bottle to deal with Thank you Jesus

[@Keeshablu]

Great Job

[@josephsassone3753]

I can so relate to this song. Alcoholism cost me two marriages and a myriad of problems. I can never touch another drop because of liver problems. T.G. Sheppard is speaking to people like me when he sings this beautiful song.

[@jackw8170]

Stay strong and sober! Good things always come! With your hope, faith and love! May your health be blessed by the Lord!

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

So sorry for you 😢

[@giantgrowth4204]

The alcohol didn't cost you anything. You cost yourself everything. Stay sober. Keep.making good choices

[@shannonhovis7595]

Dang it! Im not the only one??

[@walmartdriver]

Me too, but my second survived. 41 years a counting. I got the best girl ever.

[@beachlover54]

This song reminds me of my husband and I…I lost him in 2016 but this song always gives me chills…we were married 37 1/2 years…many times he had a date with the devil

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

😢

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

I know I s Do to have a date with him

[@Melinda8162]

Too much alcohol has done that to many. My ex and a younger nephew.

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

My condolences, madam.

[@johnnygill7784]

Nashville!!!!!!!! Do!!!!!!!!! You!!!!!!!!!!! Hear!!!!!!!!! This!!!!!!!!!!! This!!!!!!! Is!!!!!!! Country!!!!!!! Music!!!!!!!! Not That Trash!!!!!!! You!!!!!!! Play!!!!!!! Now!!!!!!!Johnny from ALABAMA

[@deniseodier6581]

Amen!

[@dgtwo3724]

Damn right!

[@taronhowell2523]

Ameeeeeeennnnnn

[@JohnDonovanProductions]

Y’all may already know this… But back in 1974, record promoter Bill Browder couldn’t get an artist to record the song. So he finally cut the song himself, as TG Sheppard, and the song zoomed to number one on the country charts! It’s a fun story about being so determined and having such conviction for a project that you stop at nothing.

[@NoleFan74]

Hank Jr Made it a masterpiece!!

[@weskimsey5434]

I miss this kinda music

[@sugarsugar3273]

Im here on May 24th 2021 and this Song Never Gets Old

[@johnnygill7784]

thank god!!! for real country music!!!!!!!! johnny from alabama

[@olddog2361]

How many lives I have seen destroyed like this? Came close but through the help of the Lord and a loving forgiving wife I was able to beat the devil. Nothing stronger than a lite beer or a small glass of wine now. I can feel it trying to drag me back every time I am stronger now because of what we went through together.

[@cleenlivin]

Such a great song on so many levels. The message, lyrics, arrangements, vocals, instruments and soul put into this song definitely hits you deep inside.

[@reggiehodges6784]

I remember this when I was little ,seeing my Daddy go through this ! He lost everything ! The bottle finally got him in 06 .

[@mikeclary5261]

I watched my father pass away in 06.

[@deniseodier6581]

So sorry. My Dad is 84. Lost my Mom to suicide last August. He's drinking himself to death. It's horrible, but after almost 62 years of marriage, he doesn't know how to live without her.

[@raymachado4481]

My dad did same thing, died at 55years. He told me just months before he died he just had to drink!

[@raymachado4481]

That was 1975 the year my daddy died!

[@CooperStCloud]

The bottle will win

[@Johnny-xw7mf]

Hey, Nashville this is!!! Country Music 🎶🎶🎶 wooooooo Johnny from Alabama 🎶🎶🎶

[@andyvalenti5095]

There have been a few times in my life that I can relate to this song. When I think about it, how I disappointed my dad and mom. T.G. Sheppard does a great job singing this song. It teaches a lesson on what not to be. And to be like the The Good Sheppard.

[@toneyholcombe7088]

It took me 40-something years to finally hear this live. Him and Waylon were my 2 favorite country singers of the 70s and 80s. -Very different from each other and definitely their own brand of country.

[@danielburns987]

his first top 40 hit, reaching #1 on the country charts in 1975!!!

[@jessicanewell943]

Geoo George jones

[@RickMills-mi4ut]

Great song and singer

[@shirleyelliott8605]

So many faces including mine that this song speaks of. The hell is unspeakable unless you have lived it, in the bottle or loving someone that did

[@raymondturner1478]

First time hearing this man. Great voice.

[@Johnny-xw7mf]

Boy!!! Did!!! Trash i Mean Nashville!!! Make a wrong turn!!! Sing T.G. Sing 🎶🎶🎶 wooooooo Johnny from Alabama

[@Keeshablu]

Reminds me of my dad

[@johnnygill7784]

Dam!!! Real!!! Country!!! Music!!! Wooooooo!!! Johnny from Alabama

[@FreddieMorgan-r8y]

Lived it twice

[@betsyadkins4658]

First time hearing of him and this song. I just saw him on You TUBE (Mowtown 25: Yesterday Today, Forever and fell in love!! What a beautiful song!! I have listened to it over and over again. I don't know how I missed him!!

[@susycue3]

My Papa loved this song.

[@kevinmac1989]

I’ve always thought this was the greatest bc I used to be drinker and only a drinker could have written this.

[@justinellison4214]

Yes remeber this very well on wmaq am chicago . Damn good song

[@allanferrell6874]

One of the very best of all time

[@marryannlamb9853]

Great song Bill thanks for sharing

[@stepabove2136]

They don't make music like that anymore 😪.

[@davidgarris2513]

These are the only days that will never be replaced.

[@justinellison4214]

Please bring this guy back!

[@leta9267]

There's more than one kind of bottle used.for escape!!

[@whiterabbitt503]

George Jones style song TG tells the story

[@adtr2016]

Awesome singer

[@hollynelson543]

One of my favorite artist.

[@jayvarner1305]

thank you

[@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic]

You're welcome

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

Saying again dont let any one Judge you

[@davidgarris2513]

Reminder of my first love. Damn I still regret not saying anything.

[@chrisfrancis4627]

know this feeling all to well

[@pcetnarowski4129]

Great song

[@geraldturberville2068]

A masterpiece

[@Johnny-xw7mf]

As Alan Jackson sings sweet country music where have you gone 😭 wooooooo 😭😭🎶😭🎶🎶🎶 Johnny from Alabama

[@johnsparrow5607]

T G is a fine entertainer.

[@sugarsugar3273]

I come home late at night with my shoes in my hands Stumble in the back door being quite as I can And I know she there in bed cold and all alone And she's crying cause I'm breaking up our home And she knows (and she knows) the hell I'm going through In this world (in this world) inside my head There's a devil (there's a devil) in a bottle And he wants to see me dead I fall into her arms and she helps me with my clothes Yeah she stays on with me cause she really knows Cause I'm trying lord to find my freedom By escaping to the only freedom I've ever known And she knows (and she knows) the hell I'm going through In this world (in this world) inside my head There's a devil (there's a devil) in a bottle And he wants to see me dead There's a devil (there's a devil) in a bottle (in the bottle) And he wants (and he wants) to see me dead And it's killing her to see me die this way

[@waynemullins8841]

I have been around that devil a couple times

[@sugarsugar3273]

@@waynemullins8841 😢

[@RRC66TX]

no truer words,...something I deal with daily

[@paulineludwig5321]

awesome song saw him live in the late 70,sin pa ,,,,funny guy

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

Don't let no one pas judgement on you

[@billbennett1882]

The Devil in the bottle is killing my son. and that is killing me

[@aiden4237]

Mine too

[@BrotherEDEN]

Motown's #1 Country Hit !!

[@angieharrell2793]

So meaning full and true ..killing someone' I love

[@firekip685]

I hate that I cannot find this original recording on any streaming service. Nothing but re-recordings and it does not even come close to capturing the emotion and overall vibe of this recording.

[@robwasnj]

I feel you pain, I have a lot of recordings on old CD's that never made it to streaming. However, if you have Amazon HD music check out the version of this song that's on "Motown: The Complete #1's". It's the same recording with prominent up front steel guitar and the same backing vocalists, it sounds quite a bit better than this youtube rip also. Happy listening, hope this helps.

[@nickdoneilo1551]

@@robwasnj I have noticed that Pandora (and probably all other streaming services, Amazon, etc...) all play the re recorded versions of certain songs. I don't understand why?

[@robwasnj]

@@nickdoneilo1551 It's probably a licensing thing. Many things were re-recorded on updated labels and whoever the streaming service is dealing with likely has the rights to those particular recordings. I still find value on old, often used CD's for this reason.

[@alanskinner7031]

Music that will stop you in your tracks!

[@patrickmoldenhauer4291]

My God set me free

[@georgekusz4221]

Spot on, soonest you put your confidence IN HIM, cheers from down under.

[@famousfinalscene]

HE can!

[@cut1986]

Hope you found your way.

[@NoleFan74]

Hank Jr Made it a masterpiece!!

[@michaelmartinovich7610]

This song is my life right now

[@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic]

You'll beat it Michael....show me one person it's helped and I'll show you a hundred it ruined.

[@hollynelson543]

I'm praying for you. Tomorrow is a new start.

[@fjcruisefjcruise4527]

Never too late . To stop . I'll pray for you . God loves everyone

[@greglunsford7343]

You have the strength, trust yourself.

[@davidgarris2513]

TIMELESS !

[@laughingcat341]

Nothin' beats this song. Nothin'

[@davidgarris2513]

I know, some of these songs are kinda hokey. This IS NOT one of those !!! I've lived this more than you can imagine.

[@jimbotc2000]

Please tell me what a "hokey" song is. Or better yet, explain why they would be "hokey."

[@taronhowell2523]

Me too

[@davidgarris2513]

@@jimbotc2000 ANY Ray Stevens song is hokey. Like " The Streak " . Or The Spinners "Rubbeband Man " . Get it ?

[@jimbotc2000]

Oh, you mean silly novelty songs perhaps.

[@davidgarris2513]

@@jimbotc2000 yes perhaps. 🐶🐶🐶

[@mikeirwin670]

I've seen this devil before, you got to becareful or he will get you.

[@dennisboehmann5677]

now come on he wont get ya

[@lonniewilson4188]

Mike Irwin tooooo late for me. But just maybe I can warn others before he gets too them!!!

[@Chris-zz8ul]

My them song

[@michellewalker2007]

❤❤❤

[@davidgarris2513]

Whatever happened to this type of reality in music??? Damn. .. David Jonathan Garris Esquire Ret Warner Bros 🐾🐶🐕

[@johnnygill7784]

Boy!!! Did Nashville take a wrong turn johnny from alabama

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

Sorry for u😢

[@davidwollenberg9319]

Janie Fricke sang backup on it. Dave

[@ThePomoman]

Pretty good

[@davidgarris2513]

Was my life. .. Is he still performing ?

[@jimmurphy2398]

Lot of truth

[@travisbrady3593]

Boy this sure let's the demons out to play

[@elleb541]

❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@greghartman2655]

Classic

[@johnbartholomew2381]

so for real

[@timwagers6933]

My wife said this song is so you. I said now who are you again.

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

I am sixty 😂

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

I don't what to say😮

[@jasonambriz5990]

I need a Budweiser

[@jimbotc2000]

You do?

[@kellybrown4875]

Give me 2

[@jimbotc2000]

You're through..

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

😮

[@kennethbesselman5739]

On MOTOWN nonetheless!

[@BettyMorrison-xp9qc]

So sad for you 😢

[@tinaholman956]

Play this song at at AA meeting instead of there Bible cult BS

[@sjhoff]

Or you could start your own program to help fight addiction instead of trying to crash on others who HAVE done so successfully. Anyway, this song wouldn't be good for those seeking recovery because like you, it doesn't offer any hope. Notice that the narrator just sees a problem and no real way out, he then mournfully accepts that it is inevitable that he is going to die from it. He seems more concerned on what it is doing to his wife than himself, but cannot change, even for her.

[@97140604]

AA is a cult

[@calebchris100]

God damn come on in

[@stephenhammock1269]

The whiniest song ever written