'Damn Good Taste In Whiskey' by Hudson Westbrook - Lyrics & Meaning

Country music's most buzzed about newcomer, Hudson Westbrook, has had a whirlwind last 14 months or so dating back to the release of his breakout, debut single, 'Take It Slow.'

Soaking in the limelight from one release to the next ever since–including his debut radio single, 'House Again,' and the viral offerings of 'Sober,' '5 to 9,' 'Dressed Down' and more–the burgeoning artist is finally releasing his debut record, Texas Forever, on July 25.

Carving his place as one of country music’s most promising new voices, the project features 17 tracks, all co-written by the North Texas native, showcasing the depth and charm of a young artist raised on country tradition but unafraid to push its boundaries. Created alongside close collaborators like Neil Medley, Lukas Scott, Reid Haughton, Beau Bailey and more, the record explores themes of hard work, family, love and personal battles.

Amidst the album's offerings is the boozey heartbreak anthem, 'Damn Good Taste In Whiskey,' which finds Westbrook lamenting on his poor choice of female company but delighting in his taste in libations.

Written alongside hit making songwriter Randy Montana, the newest offering from the native Texan serves up the same general sound that has quickly become his signature calling card, seamlessly blending neotraditional and red dirt country with a sleek mainstream sheen.

Taking shape as a laid back, slow rolling, acoustic-driven tune, 'Damn Good Taste In Whiskey' finds Westbrook joined by a symphony of organic instrumentation in the way of acoustic guitars, fiddles and a steady drum beat.

Revitalizing the organic country-rock of red dirt, the rough-around-the-edges singer-songwriter first picked up a guitar in just 2020, effectively teaching himself how to play while enrolled in high school. In 2023, during his time at Texas Tech, he started playing around with melodies, penning what would be the first of many songs to his name, including the sprawling list of tracks that found their way onto Texas Forever.

"Well, damn it looks like I’ve gone done did it again
I'm sippin' Tennessee with a Texas ten pullin' me in
I like 'em smooth, I like ‘em top shelf
They get me high and I can’t help"

We meet our narrator seemingly in a familiar predicament as he's sat at a bar taking in some always delicious Jack Daniels while a stunning woman starts chatting him up.

Explaining his type as "smooth" and "top shelf," it's hard to determine if he's referring to his taste in women or alcohol, but it seems as though he can't control himself very well around either, to be fair.

"I’m a fool on a stool for some baby blue eyes
Steal a kiss from their lips while they’re telling me lies
You think I oughta know by now, but it’s too late when it hits me
I guess I like things that burn my chest
Leave a heart full of hurt with a shot of regret
If love's a game I sure ain’t winning, gotta bad taste in women
But a damn good taste in whiskey"

Explaining that he has a weakness for a pair of beautiful blue eyes, he's aware of the fact that the girls he tends to like are playing him for a fool, whispering sweet nothings and saying all the write things to make him fall in love.

Almost as if he's addicted to the pain of heartbreak, he continues to follow this same pattern even though he knows how it'll end. While he's surely not good at the game of love and finding the right girl for him, he's exceptionally talented at picking his spirits, and whiskey is his favorite.

"Take it from me I’m livin’ and sippin’ proof
The liquor and the ladies don’t mix like you want ‘em to
I go from spinning her around to my head spinning
Go for never again to who am I"

At this point, it feels like our narrator is using himself as a cautionary tale of what not to do.

Explaining that liquor and ladies don't always mix, he's a professional when it comes to heartbreak and a regular at his local watering hole, too.

"I’m a fool on a stool for some baby blue eyes
Steal a kiss from their lips while they’re telling me lies
You think I oughta know by now, but it’s too late when it hits me
I guess I like things that burn my chest
Leave a heart full of hurt with a shot of regret
If love's a game I sure ain’t winning, gotta bad taste in women
But a damn good taste in whiskey"

In the build up to the release of Texas Forever, Westbrook has been popping out one instantly beloved hit after another.

While he hasn't said anything specific about 'Damn Good Taste In Whiskey' at this point, the budding talent has noted just how important this long-awaited debut project is to him and all the work that went into bringing it to life.

“I’m so proud of this record,” Westbrook says. “I love Texas, it’s shaped so much about who I am. We wrote 50-60 songs for this project and narrowed it down to 17 that I think really represent where I am in my life right now and what I love making as an artist: songs that sound like where I grew up, but read like something that just about anyone could relate to.”

Well, damn it looks like I’ve gone done did it again
I'm sippin' Tennessee with a Texas ten pullin' me in
I like 'em smooth, I like ‘em top shelf
They get me high and I can’t help

I’m a fool on a stool for some baby blue eyes
Steal a kiss from their lips while they’re telling me lies
You think I oughta know by now, but it’s too late when it hits me
I guess I like things that burn my chest
Leave a heart full of hurt with a shot of regret
If love's a game I sure ain’t winning, gotta bad taste in women
But a damn good taste in whiskey

Take it from me I’m livin’ and sippin’ proof
The liquor and the ladies don’t mix like you want ‘em to
I go from spinning her around to my head spinning
Go for never again to who am I

I’m a fool on a stool for some baby blue eyes
Steal a kiss from their lips while they’re telling me lies
You think I oughta know by now, but it’s too late when it hits me
I guess I like things that burn my chest
Leave a heart full of hurt with a shot of regret
If love's a game I sure ain’t winning, gotta bad taste in women
But a damn good taste in whiskey

I’m a fool on a stool for some baby blue eyes
I steal a kiss from their lips and that's when it hits me
I guess I like things that burn my chest
Leave a heart full of hurt with a shot of regret
If love's a game I sure ain’t winning, gotta bad taste in women
Good taste in whiskey

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