About the Song 

Ernest Tubb was a country music legend, known for his distinctive voice and his songwriting skills. One of his most popular songs is “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin,” a cautionary tale about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

The song was written by Jerry Irby and released in 1946. It tells the story of a man who is slowly destroying his life with alcohol. He sings about how his drinking is driving away his loved ones and ruining his health. He knows that he is on a path to self-destruction, but he is powerless to stop himself.

The song is a powerful and moving ballad that has resonated with listeners for generations. It is a reminder of the high cost of alcohol abuse and the importance of seeking help if you are struggling with addiction.

The song’s lyrics are simple but effective. They paint a vivid picture of the pain and suffering that addiction can cause. The singer’s voice is full of emotion, as he expresses his regret and despair.

The song’s melody is also haunting and memorable. It is a slow, mournful ballad that perfectly captures the song’s message.

“Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” is a classic country song that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and moving ballad that is sure to touch the hearts of listeners of all ages.

Here are some additional details about the song:

  • The song was released in 1946 and reached number five on the Billboard country charts.
  • It has been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard.
  • The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Video 

Lyrics: Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin

My sweetheart is gone and I’m so lonesome
She said that she and I were through
So I started out drinking for past time
Driving nails in my coffin over youI’m just driving nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I’m just driving nails in my coffin
Driving those nails over you

Every since the day that we parted
I’ve felt so sad and so blue
I’m always worrying about you love
And I just can’t quit drinking that old booze

I’m just driving nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I’m just driving nails in my coffin
Driving those nails over you

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?