Country singer Walker Hayes just released his song “AA” last November. The lyrics are great. Its good music stars discuss their sobriety struggles in public because it helps others deal with their lives. Such efforts help ‘mainstream’ talking about alcoholism and recovery, both to those in (or in need of) recovery and the ‘normie’ community.
The song comes out at a time when many in this country are just losing it (alcohol and drug abuse, deaths are skyrocketing) because of the pandemic, economic and political turmoil. There is an effective, free alternative to killing yourself with alcohol and drugs: AA!
The song was co-written by Hayes with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. It expresses Hayes’ anxieties as a dad, his love for his wife Laney, and his own sobriety struggles, fears and doubts.
Hayes said in one interview, “At the end of the day, we are all just doing the best we can. … I’ve struggled with alcohol abuse, and sometimes I wish I didn’t need AA, but I do. I think a lot of people can relate to that. I’m just trying to be the best dad and husband I can be. It’s not easy all the time, but my wife smiles a lot and my kids are growing up with more than I had, and that’s a really good thing.”
Here are the song’s lyrics:
Alright
Coffee cup cold and black
Wish it had a little shot of jack
‘Sides that, can’t complain
Just tryin’ to do the dang thing
Might change the oil in my truck
I ain’t paying no thirty-five bucks
Kids need shoes, mama needs Levi’s
And I’m just tryna keep my daughters off the pole
And my sons out of jail
Tryna get to church so I don’t go to hell
I’m just tryna keep my wife from figuring out
That I married up and she married way way down
In Alabama where they love Nick Saban
Tryna write a song the local country station will play
Hey, I’m just tryna stay out of AA
Ooh
Well I gave up Skoal and cigarettes
Now I’m just hooked on Nicorette
Trying not to be like my old man
But the older I get the more I am
Tryna get paid and a little love made, y’all
Hey y’all, at the end of the day, y’all
I’m just another John Deere guy (hey)
Up on a tractor
Tryna steer my daughters off the pole
And my sons out of jail (sons out of jail)
Tryna get to church so I don’t go to hell
I’m just tryna keep my wife (hey babe) from figuring out (I love)
That I married up (you’re so fine, girl) and she married way way down
In Alabama where they love Nick Saban (alright)
Tryna write a song the local country station will play (I’m just tryna write a song)
Hey, I’m just tryna stay out of AA
Ooh ooh ooh
Come on babe, right here
Check it out
Ooh, tryna stay out of AA everyday
One step at a time, y’all
Life’s hard, family’s weird
Sometimes you just need a beer
Can I get an amen (amen)
Man, I’m just tryna keep my daughters off the pole
And my sons out of jail (sons out of jail)
Tryna get to church so I don’t go to hell
I’m just tryna keep my wife (hey babe) from figuring out (I love)
That I married up (You’re so fine, girl) and she married way way down
In Alabama where they love Nick Saban (alright)
Tryna write a song the local country station will play (I’m just tryna write a song)
Hey, I’m just tryna stay out of AA
Hey hey hey, I’m just tryna stay out of AA
Yes, I am (AA lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.)
Hayes is slated to perform in St. Paul January 29.
