A few days ago, I saw an online headline that said that one of my favorite country singers, Hank Thompson, had suddenly cancelled a tour and retired. The next day, it was announced that he was headed for a hospice. He never made it that far. Mr. Thompson died yesterday of lung cancer.http://www6.comcast.net/music/articles/2007/11/07/Obit.Hank.Thompson/?cvqh=itn_hankthompson
Hank Thompson wrote and sang one of my favorite-ever songs, Six Pack To Go. It's got particularly fond memories for me.
Back in my honky tonkin' days (before I was a parent), I hung at the Hopleaf tavern in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. I'd known the owner and his wife before they opened the place, which had been an "old man" bar before. For a couple of years, me and a group of fellow slackers hung out and tippled with the old clientele as they slowly literally died off. We had a lot of good talks, a lot of good times. Back then, the place was just a bar, not a restaurant, and there was an old-fashioned jukebox providing the music. One 45 that I spent a lot of quarters on was Hank Thompson's Six Pack To Go.These days, the place is a "gastropub." The jukebox is long gone. The place is more popular than ever. But for tonight, I'll remember back in the day (the early nineties) when it was just a bunch of old hillbillies, me and a couple others hanging out, with Hank Thompson providing the soundtrack.
Six Pack To Go
Hey Mr Bartender please don't be so slow
I've got time for me more round and a six pack to go
Tomorrow morning's Sunday I'm gonna be feeling low
So please please bartender I want a six pack to go
I've been a drinking all day long taking in the town
I've done spent my whole paycheck just a honky tonking round
Well I don't have enough to pay my rent but I ain't gonna worry though
I've got time for one more round and a six pack to go
Hey Mr Bartender please don't be so slow
I've got time for me more round and a six pack to go
Tomorrow morning's Sunday I'm gonna be feeling low
So please please bartender I want a six pack to go
I've been a drinking all day long taking in the town
I've done spent my whole paycheck just a honky tonking round
Well I don't have enough to pay my rent but I ain't gonna worry though
I've got time for one more round and a six pack to go
7 comments:
Oh man...he did "The Wild Side of Life" back in the 50's. " 6 Pack To Go" was from the mid-60's, a great time for honky tonk music.
Thanks for the video. I'm off to cry in my beer.
I love beer-drinkin' hits!
What a great song! Thanks for the intro to him!
Great memories, there were more than a few bars up in the hills that played that!
Back when my ex was in the Griffin Theatre Company in Andersonville, I spent many a night in the Hopleaf. It was a great bar.
Loved it, ah the memories!
Bubs-
I've got to check out "Wild Side," which the obits mentioned. I'm sure I've heard it.
Kristi-
Another beer-drinkin' favorite is Dwight Yoakam's "Since I Started Drinking Again." Me and an old friend spent Fourth of July 1990 or so at the Gingerman tavern, singing that one until they threated to throw us out.
Dr. Monkerstein-
You're welcome!
Skyler's Dad-
I'll bet those places had that Schlitz sign with the crew-cutted guy drinking a beer!
Vikki-
It was a marvelous place. It's still good, but I miss the old ambience. Michael and Louise bought the building and made the back part a restaurant. Megan and Slim are still bartending, which is tres cool.
Bubbles-
It's always fun to get yer Honky Tonk on, isn't it?
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