Drive-By Truckers -- G*ddamn Lonely Love [REACTION/RATING]

[@MayorGoldieWilson825]

One of my favorite Drive By Truckers songs ever. I had this song on repeat the day my wife and I got divorced. Those were some tough days.

[@timallen3166]

The best version of this song is on Jason Isbell LIVE FROM ALABAMA. On the same record, check out Danko Manuel....absolutely incredible.

[@jonbradley2920]

That whole live from Alabama album is awesome

[@DustyPellman]

Jason is easily one of the greatest songwriters of all-time. I feel like he may be to the current generation what Dylan was to the 60s and 70s.

[@shackdiesel225]

Dusty Pellman agreed. I think of him as a southern man's Dylan or Bruce Springsteen. Or a new age Kris Kristofferson whose voice and guitar skills actually blows those guys away.

[@alwayscrazy1]

@@shackdiesel225 I totally agree!!

[@lilymcallister9751]

Love love love this song. Jason's life was going downhill fast due to addiction but some really good music came out of it. I never saw a bad live show, even back then before rehab. His songs are authentic. And of course, the language doesn't bother me, words are words. Good choice for a review. "TRY", is also another one that hits me to the core. I understand this song. I relate.

[@bryanhunt8375]

“I ain’t really drowning cause I see the beach from here” The best line he’s ever written

[@ronniefromOR]

"If there's one thing that's real clear to me, no one dies with dignity". We better do a top ten 😀

[@notabot3375]

“They all seem to be afraid of me, they turn their eyes away from me..like kids. “

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@ronniefromOR Here’s my nomination for that Top Ten. “Maybe time running out is a gift. I’ll work hard ‘til the end of my shift.”

[@JodyJaques]

Every time I think I’ve got one of Jason’s songs figured out I’ll listen again and hear something completely different. That’s what makes him so damn good, he’s a lyrical genius. I imagine that’s why he’s appealing to such broad audience. Of course, my boy just pretty much said all that so ima bounce lol Loved it, bro! ✌️

[@joshw7974]

I never took this song to be about a pregnant girl back home. I think he's talking about belly up related to blacking out from alcohol (I ain't really drownin' cause I see the beach from here; I belly up and disappear) I think of it as: he's trying to take a girl home from the bar, but he's trying not to black out. The girls he runs into on the road are a blur. His best relationship would never match them (Texarkana line) but that's over now. So, he uses the alcohol and women to try and temper it all and it creates this overall pit of misery for him. Also: the line, "Stop me if you've heard this one before, a man walks into a bar, and leaves before his ashes hit the floor." I interpret it as a very dark joke. Alcoholics don't leave the bar early or before their "ashes hit the floor".

[@RockN2Country]

@Josh W Good stuff right there. Jason does this to people, since he's a poet who sets his lyrics to music. So much to discuss when he publishes a song.

[@joshw7974]

@@RockN2Country Absolutely. Lots to unpack.

[@gordongrider8675]

"Dont be ashamed of things that hide behind your dress" .."belly up (to the bar), and arch your back (to hide baby bump)" Definately a pregnant girl at the bar IMO. Thoughts?

[@joshw7974]

@@gordongrider8675 It could be, but that's not how I take it. I think the first line you mention is him trying to a bag a girl at the bar who is embarrassed or modest. Belly up has a lot of connotations, one of which related to drinking too much alcohol. Since this song is mostly about alcohol. And arching your back wouldn't hide a belly bump, it would push it out more.

[@Charlotteapaige]

Jason has said this song is about his ex-wife and the end of their relationship. And she wasn’t pregnant.

[@user-uo1qr6vn1q]

Saw them perform this 22 years ago and it’s still dripping with just as much sadness today. A truly fantastic song by one of America’s best songwriters, years before his prime, performed by one of the best rock bands from one of the best rock records of the last 25 years. Thanks for listening.

[@sararubino8081]

I love the Truckers. This is Isbell's song, but Cooley and Hood are both stellar songwriters. You should check out some of their solo stuff when you get a chance.

[@abaste]

He mentions my hometown of Texarkana ❤️

[@latimoresky9421]

I have seen them twice and Jason 4 times. Love them both and wish and hope I get to see them many more times

[@bigdaddypiggy]

No matter the subject matter Jason Isbell’s music always has a beauty to it …..you feel it….it’s undeniable even

[@mikekelly1004]

Great song choice Don. That line "Well I ain't really fallin' asleep, I'm fading to black" always stood out to me. You should definitely check out Ian Noe. "Letter to Madeline" or "Irene" would be great choices and the album versions are here on youtube. You won't be disappointed! !

[@Puncheons84]

Awesome! Now you gotta give some props to Cooley and Hood. Cooley writes the coolest lyrics. Try Gravitys Gone. Hood ain't the prettiest singer but he writes the songs that I relate to. Check out Righteous Path, ACL version

[@davidemswiler4351]

I second the request for "Righteous Path"...first time one of my daughters heard it she said "that song's about you, Dad". I also really like "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife"...it's a true story about a horrible event.

[@sabbyvk424]

I see it as... Even though he has money, he still has"blues". But he "belly up and disappear" meaning he accepts his wrongs but he doesn't deal with them. As in the next line "I ain't really drowning, cause I see the beach from here" referencing his drinking problem, but he's not "alcoholic" cause he can stop. Notice from here each time he says "I could do this, but..." His home won't ever be the same, his relationship will never be the same, etc so why not just drink it away. But "sister listen to what your daday says..." He's saying but "you" can do it, no matter what stands in your way. "Belly up and arch your back" step up and accept your wrongs and break your back to fix them... But as for "me" I can handle it "I ain't really falling asleep, I'm fading black". "You" can come here, or I can come there, but it's still not gonna be the same as it was. So "I'll take 2 of what your having, and everything you got" cause I can handle it all and I'm just gonna drink it all away. The first "stop me" is sarcastically saying "I'm gonna be here a while" while the second "stop me" is jokingly saying "but I'll never be that desperate, drunken fool". The last part is symbolic of him saying "sure I could move on and consume my thoughts with something else and it'll all be fine... 'But I'm not dreaming anymore, I'm waking up' ...so bring on the drinks and I'm gonna prove to you that I can get past this 'Goddamn Lovely Love' for good". That's just my look at it. But I did see an article where they asked Isbell what the meaning of the song was and he said "I tried real hard to come up with a different way of saying this, but it just seemed to fit. Loneliness can be drowned if you hold it under long enough, but it takes a lot of other things with it." Just leads me to think this is a "stand alone" type song. It can mean something different to each person. Everyone takes away something different from the song. ❤️🐘❤️

[@ChristopherNeill]

If you don't own this album and everything by this band, you really ought to go to the record store and grab up these albums. "Southern Rock Opera", "Decoration Day", "The Dirty South" is a good start. This song, so goes the legend was written around the time of Isbell's divorce from the Drive-by Truckers bassist Shonna Tucker.

[@crimsontide2186]

Great song choice. Keep those DBT reactions coming. Even if you just listen in your own time, you should check out Southern Rock Opera. It is a brilliant album.

[@luthierjustin1]

I love DBT, i used to live in Athens and I’d hang out with the drummer Brad and his wife at the time. I’ve seen them live 15 times. I used to hangout backstage with then at the 40 Watt. Great band, great people

[@DillonJBaldwin]

Sometimes I think understanding your own emotional reaction to the sounds and one liners of a track like this is all the interpretation you really need.

[@RockN2Country]

@Philsophical Blueberry You're totally and admirably living up to your screen name with that observation! Nicely done. :-)

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

Good tune! The Jason Isbell influence is undeniable!

[@charlesdavidson6288]

Checkout "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Guns of Umpqua" by The Truckers

[@Stevie8654]

This song just hits different. One of my top 10 favorite songs of all time.

[@BilbusWilbury]

I randomly heard this song for the first time tonight on Spotify and just decided to search for a reaction and was happy to find you had reacted to this and I missed it originally. This song is a whole mood and painting of a dark time in someone's life.. I enjoy the artistry and emotionality of the song but I'm glad I don't relate to it at the moment.

[@lelandlawrence4881]

Just seen Jason Isbell live for the 4th time a few weeks back and he did this song and it was the first I seen him do it live.

[@shackdiesel225]

I'd love to see you do The Drive By Truckers "Where the Devil Don't Stay" it's much more rock n roll though. Best song about moonshining ever written in my opinion. Plus it's a Mike Cooley song who is one of the two guys that really represent the Truckers. I love this Isbell song but he was in the band for a short time. They are fantastic live as well. Keep up the great work Don!

[@sararubino8081]

Yes!!!! ☝️

[@RockN2Country]

@Shack Diesel Thanks for the encouragement! I'll be doing more of Jason's stuff, as well as the DBTs, in due course.

[@AJCarr77]

One of my personal favorites, as far as moonshine songs. you gotta give moonshiners by uncle tupelo

[@shackdiesel225]

@Adam carr love that song as well. Probably my second favorite as far as moonshine songs go. Son Volt is one of my favorite bands.

[@AJCarr77]

@@shackdiesel225 yea absolutely Jay is the man son volt is fantastic

[@davidemswiler4351]

Interesting song to figure out...may mean more or just may not be that deep. Isbell did say in an interview that this was written for his bassist Shonna Tucker (who was also his wife). If I really look beyond the lines to push out a story, I would say that Shonna may have cheated on him and got pregnant. Regardless of who the father was, she had an abortion (the life "leaves before the ashes hit the floor"). Isbell talks about taking two... two drinks and Shonna and her unborn baby. He thought alcohol and an abortion would fix his pain and guilt and "kill this goddamn lonely love"...it didn't.

[@alwayscrazy1]

I never knew that about the abortion... but I did know Isbell and Shonna were married for a while... yeah, if you can drink enough to get kicked out of DBT that's really saying something!

[@jasper_north]

Thank you…interesting

[@AndrewDLacelle]

Great reaction video I like how you convey that you're deeply listening. Sometimes in reaction videos people talk over the lyrics and their questions would have been answered by just listening, If you like the Truckers you'll love The Gourds, I dig a lot of their stuff especially Blood of The Ram and Lower 48. Kudos on being good at this.

[@jamesgibson5876]

Sorry ... my take on this reaction is ..dude has no understanding of the actual lyrics

[@jessieconley6519]

I seen the Truckers a few years ago in Charleston, WV. Hung out with them a little bit after the show. Nice folks. Great show.

[@stephens9462]

I always interpreted this song as being about Jason’s alcoholism.

[@lilymcallister9751]

Me too

[@alwayscrazy1]

And it is... the opening line, " I got green and I got blues; every day there's a little less difference between the two "... he's got money but it can't buy happiness or peace of mind that he's searching for.

[@TR-yi8up]

@@alwayscrazy1 my .02...greens are uppers and blues are downers, and neither are working anymore.

[@alwayscrazy1]

@@TR-yi8up ...Aahhhhhh..... didn't realize that... yet another layer! ;)

[@TR-yi8up]

@@alwayscrazy1 I’ve never heard a great song that revealed itself totally in the first 20 listens (that wasn’t pop). Songwriters with limitless talent, like Jason, leave open spaces for all of us to fit in. Your interpretation (though totally wrong to me! 😀) isn’t any less valid than mine. It’s why it’s a great song.

[@TheodorePSpunk]

This song kills me every time.

[@murph1329]

i've seen them a few times. First time was in Tuscaloosa around 2004-ish and the last time was in huntsville

[@TooTallTree]

The line “ you could come to me by plane, but that wouldn’t be the same as that old motel room by Texarkana way.” It feels like either his relationship now.. he could send planes to pick up his significant other but because all the extravagance of his life now can’t match the true love felt when they used to meet up at cruddy motels to feed into their love and lust. The love has dwindled so slowly but it’s still there, so it’s lonely. You’ve got this person that you are connected to but that connection is slowly breaking down but you still cling to it because goddamn that’s my love.

[@isthatwhatemptymeans8222]

Damn good song.. "Stop me if you've heard this one before, a man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor." that line is tits!!!

[@CelebrateSuccessPodcast]

Just looking at logistics. Jason Isbell ratings and views are the highest (=More money for you). We all love you insight on the songs. Jason has a new album out that is fantastic. I haven't found any reaction videos about it. Please reach.

[@timshelley8635]

Great reaction video! It was definitely Jason's song, and it was great. They have a lot of them, you oughta check em out.

[@carty43]

These are grownups singing about adult problems. Please go away if you are expecting childish lyrics.

[@playa3214]

I got green and I got blues And everyday there's a little less difference between the two I belly-up and disappear Well, I ain't really drowning 'cause I see the beach from here And I could take a Greyhound home but when I got there it'd be gone Along with everything a home is made up of So I'll take two of what you're having And I'll take all of what you got To kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love Sister, listen to what your daddy says Don't be ashamed of things that hide behind your dress Belly-up and arch your back Well, I ain't really falling asleep, I'm fading to black And you could come to me by plane, but that wouldn't be the same As that old motel room in Texarkana was So I'll take two of what you're having And I'll take all of what you got To kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love Stop me if you've heard this one before A man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor Stop me if I ever get that far The sun's a desperate star that burns like every single one before And I could find another dream One that keeps me warm and clean But I ain't dreamin' anymore, girl, I'm waking up So I'll take two of what you're having And I'll take everything you got To kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love All I got is this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love All I got is this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love All I got is this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love

[@chucksarvis2991]

Jason was a member of DBT

[@simeonteitelbaum3673]

Jason Isbell wrote this while his first marriage was unraveling. He would have been in his mid 20's when he wrote it, can you believe it. There is a direct through line from this one to "Songs she Sang in the Shower" and "Cover me Up. This is probably my favorite Isbell song, certainly with the Truckers. the line "The sun's a desperate star that burns like every single one before" showed me the sort of lyricist this guy is. Isbell's songs with the Truckers are the strongest, DBT's are a garage band with country inflections but I would also recommend a few others that would fit this channel. the alt version of "Goode's Field Road" from their outtake album The Fine Print is a particular favorite. "Carl Perkins Cadillac" and "Primer Coat". One song they absolutely slay live is One of these Days, a father-son song anyone can relate to. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZTIg3dpg6qhfNk

[@shackdiesel225]

Simeon Teitelbaum and Shonna Tucker the wife at the time as I'm sure you know also being a band member had to be really bizzare for everyone lol. Love to see him do "Carl Perkins Cadillac" as well. Hard to believe there were three songwriters of that caliber in one band at that time.

[@simeonteitelbaum3673]

@@shackdiesel225 I know right? Its incredible the talent they had when back then. You're not kidding about how weird it was, there's a documentary about the truckers called "Secret to a Happy Ending" which shows them performing that song and Shonna looked a bit confused and hurt but that may have been something else too.

[@notabot3375]

Carl Perkins’ Cadillac is the best music industry tribute song ever. Sam Phillips was THE man. More than possibly the greatest single factor in getting music to the masses. That was the DBT song I thought made them next level, and made me want to hear what else they had to say. It's perfect.

[@notabot3375]

Also, about that direct line between this, Songs that She Sang, and Cover Me Up. I think Cigarettes and Wine should be in there, too. 😀

[@timshelton8535]

I got to see The Truckers w/Isbell twice. The Truckers 3 without. Isbell solo 3 times. I think one of these days they’ll tour together again! They did a unplugged show not too long ago! Cooley, Isbell and Hood! Incredible!!!

[@navy004]

Don this is a great song right here; you can hear a more sober version from Jason Isbell's Live in Alabama album that's great as well. I mentioned Reckless Kelly earlier, but Hayes Carll "Love That We Need" is another amazing song.

[@jeffweaver865]

Yes Hayes

[@kdbadk]

RN2C: I noticed the sincerity with which you asked people who might be put off by language, to get past that thought to the substance of the matter. 👍 I always took "belly up and disappear" to mean belly up to the bar, "drowning" to mean drinking too much and falling apart", and "I can see the beach from here" to mean convincing himself he's close enough to getting it together that he can pull himself out before it spins out of control.

[@RockN2Country]

@kdbadk Thank you for the kind observation. I try to straddle a few worlds without offending, while being true to who I am. That might explain why my eyes move around so much when I'm thinking on camera!! Ha!!

[@thomasbrylewski3317]

I seriously love how flabbergasted you were with the song. It’s just so heavy and pure that if you feel it, you feel it hard. Jason Isbell is a song writer on par with Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan.

[@thomasbrylewski3317]

Another great JI song is Chaos and Clothes.

[@64RRussell]

She isn’t IN a room in Texarkana. He is remembering being with her in a room in Texarkana when things weren’t the way they are now. Things were great then.

[@dianethornhill3651]

I encourage you to listen to Isbell and the 400 Unit do this song.

[@mattdrake4884]

Tyler Childers does a great cover of this

[@tomjames8761]

Any chance of adding Holly Williams - Waiting on June to the list. Thanks.

[@RockN2Country]

@Tom James Yes sir, will be up in about a week. Stay tuned!

[@tomjames8761]

@@RockN2Country thank you.

[@jeremygrossenbacher5870]

Always great stuff Don... love the channel. You should check out Ian Noe. He just dropped his album and I can’t stop listening to it. Irene is a great tune, but all of them are absolutely solid. His stories, song writing and delivery are top notch. Thanks for what you do Don!

[@beckyd.236]

He has a pretty voice, when people say GD around me I just tell them "He doesn't need a damn, he can walk on water"

[@chucksarvis2991]

Jason Isbell wrote this

[@cpouch870]

Jason was part of the Drive By Truckers for a little while. You should really do Will Hoge's "Trying to be a Man"

[@Caperhere]

She could fly to where he is, but it wouldn’t be the same ( couldn’t match up to) the time they were in that hotel room in Texarkana.

[@joshw7974]

Also, you have to, have to, have to HAVE TO do "Zip City" by Driveby Truckers. It's not an Isbell song. It would be right up your alley.

[@alwayscrazy1]

Yes! Zip City!! Cooley is my favorite DBT.. Heard Isbell say that he loved doing Zip City and that was probably what he missed most about being in the band.

[@kdbadk]

The lyrics to Zip City have a couple of the most devastating lines you'll hear - it's a seriously well written song.

[@heyskipj]

DBT is one of the few country(ish) groups that do it for me. They should get more hype too!

[@IisDeeps]

The song is about the end of his relationship with Shonna Tucker. She was his first wife and the bass player in DBT at the time.

[@JD4plt]

Any chance you could react to John Moreland-Cherokee?

[@wendel5520]

You should use the lyrics you will get more out of the song. To get a Jason Isabel song at some point you almost have to get the lyrics.

[@mitchweber2423]

This song he wrote for his ex-wife while they were together.

[@mitchweber2423]

She also played in the DBT. Shonna Tucker. She is pictured in the background at the end of this video. I believe she also played in a band with Neil Young's late wife.

[@jamesgibson5876]

Jason is better with out the truckers ..

[@arkiemomma9832]

I love ones that make you think. Good reaction. I def felt he was referring to pregnancy in someway. Hiding what was under her dress, belly, and arched back.

[@etb10]

Gotta do their song Never Gonna Change

[@smalltownblackouts]

"Country music started going down hill the day Johnny Cash quit doing pills" - Ray Wylie Hubard Country music started to rebound when Jason Isbell got clean. This is a little before he really hit his stride but was starting to show his brilliance. He got kicked out of dbt bc he liked cocaine too much. who doesnt though?

[@chucksarvis2991]

Cottonseed by DBT

[@simeonteitelbaum3673]

Here are a few more links if you're interested kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoCxhoF3eMefmck, kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJOcpJehiNSYh5Y, kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpKxaJKjmM-rac0

[@oppothumbs1]

I'm not into Jason but this could be his best song. "Goddamn" (lonely love) is going to upset some? Are we still in the 1950s?

[@letstalktruecrime01]

I agree that the better version of this song was when Jason recorded it on his own without the dbt. no hate towards them just that jason puts out such emotion in that song and when he is singing his own version the pain and emotion inside one just boils to the surface. i will disagree with the assessment that the woman in the song is pregnant....belly up and arch your back sounds more like a dancer....dont be afraid of things that hide behind your dress in my opinion is her body. making her money....dancing. as many times as i have heard this and seen jason live in concert 7 times, i always feel so deeply while hearing this song.

[@etb10]

You would love Will Hoge

[@Rhino132410]

I’m new to the channel, but Tyler Childers covered this and it’s amazing! The emotion in his voice makes this song that much better.

[@RockN2Country]

@Ryan Wolff Welcome aboard the channel! Tyler is the real deal. I haven't heard a bad song or performance from him, and he's done so much in his young life already.

[@chucksarvis2991]

Play Lucero. I'll just fall

[@yunka49849]

I wish you would get over bringing up "potty mouth" all the time.

[@RockN2Country]

@Aaron Yunker I don't have a problem with foul language at all, but I have a sensitivity to the folks on the channel that have told me they watch the reactions with their grandchildren to expose them to older country music.

[@tommyward7471]

Fan of yours but not theirs.. I cuss but I never use that fraise!!! They sound like a bad knock off of the Eagles!!!!!

[@TheGrahamSnyder]

They are better than the egals my friend and isbell is the best song writer since Dylan

[@tommyward7471]

@@TheGrahamSnyder I agree that the song is ok but you need to change the battery in your hearing aid if you think he better than the eagles

[@BamaFan5833]

I have never heard DBT compared to the Eagles lol. I love the eagles but they wish they could write a song half as meaningful as DBT or Jason.

[@tommyward7471]

@@BamaFan5833 they maybe able to write a song but they need to learn how to sing it