Late Night OTB – It’s Time to Switch to Whiskey

"It's Time to Switch to Whiskey" by Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans

I stumbled on this one the other day and thought I’d share: “It’s Time to Switch to Whiskey” by Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans:

There are better videos out there but this is by far my favorite of the audio renditions. Most of the Cord Lund versions start off with the long “Rye Whiskey, Rye Whiskey” sequence which is apparently a staple of his shows but doesn’t much appeal to me.

They Kyle Bennett Band has also gained some notoriety with their cover, but I prefer the attitude of the original.

The lyrics:

Well I like a full bodied lager as much as the next hardworkin’ man
The taste of suds while dealin Stud, I can surely understand
Trucker’s speed and yes indeed, it’s nearly gettin’ light,
It’s time to switch to whiskey, we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night.

You can fish for bass and cut your grass and drink that purple gas,
Sure enough, but the powerful stuff that’ll knock you on yo’ ass
Like diesel fuel, nobody’s fooled, don’t wanna get left behind
It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night

It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night,
We’re all half dead and them that’s left is spoilin’ for a fight,
Well who’da thunk we’d quit drinkin’ drunk
The boys don’t spare the rye,
It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin beer all night

I’ve been splittin 8’s and hittin my straights, in the card rooms of the world
Chasin’ skirt and gettin’ hurt, but now I gotta card playin’ girl,
Man she gets excited when the deal don’t come out right,
It’s time to switch to whiskey, we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night.

It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night,
We’re all half dead and them that’s left is spoilin’ for a fight,
Well who’da thunk we’d get jackass drunk
The boys don’t spare the rye,
It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin beer all night

Well I heard it said, that you can get some heat in irish pubs,
Servin’ Jameson’s to an Orangeman and a Bushmills to his cuz,
Here’s what you do, with Tullamore Dew, you can meet us both half way,
it’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve beend rinkin beer all day

t’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night,
We’re all half dead and them that’s left is pullin for a fight,
Well who’da thunk we’d quit drinkin’ drunk
The boys don’t spare the rye,
It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin beer all night

It’s time to switch to whiskey we’ve been drinkin’ beer all night.

Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, rye whiskey, I cry.

While I’m not much for getting jackass drunk or getting into bar fights, I do enjoy the switch to (Scotch) whisky. Indeed, I often start there. The bit about the Irish pubs is also classic and largely true–if one if talking about Irish American pubs, at least.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Jeremy says:

    I drink whiskey by default. Preferably Old Overholt.

    By the way, is this brought on by the GOP field or the Cards winning?

  2. Just nutha ig'rant cracker says:

    @Jeremy: The song for the GOP field is One Toke Over the Line.