After a breakup, a lonely bar regular jokes that the only employee who never misses a shift is the bourbon. A clever, blue-collar honky-tonk anthem where whiskey clocks in nightly to help him survive heartbreak.
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Hard Workin’ Bourbon
Written By Christopher Mason
Boss gave Joe a gold watch
Gave Earl a plaque for twenty years
If they handed out awards in this bar
Yeah...it would be hard workin' bourbon
First one through the swingin' door
Every night since she moved on
Never missed a shift since she quit hers
And left me here alone
That hard workin' bourbon
Oughta get employee of the month
Punches in when the neon comes on
And stays 'til the hurt lets up
Never missed a shift since she quit hers
The night she said we're through
That hard workin' bourbon
Has been doin' my job too
It's worked every holiday
Pulled doubles when the memories hit
If heartbreak had a time clock
Lord, it'd own this place by now
The bartender just shakes his head
Every time I walk back in
Yeah, that hard working bourbon -
Is sitting here
That hard workin' bourbon
Oughta get employee of the year
Never missed a shift since she quit hers
And disappeared from here
Punches in when the neon comes on
And helps me make it through
That hard workin' bourbon
Has been doin' my job too
Owned By: Christopher Mason
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Love the line about heartbreak owning the place. The idea of using bourbon as his only reliable companion, is clever. But he seems too much of a victim, a man stuck in the middle of his hurt, so maybe embrace the metaphor even more so we see bourbon driving or doing more jobs?
June 13, 2026
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Robert Boog
Love the line about heartbreak owning the place. The idea of using bourbon as his only reliable companion, is clever. But he seems too much of a victim, a man stuck in the middle of his hurt, so maybe embrace the metaphor even more so we see bourbon driving or doing more jobs?
June 13, 2026
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