Whiskey in His Veins

Performed by Erato & The Cattle Drive

Verse 1:
He’s a charmer when the bottle’s low,
Spins me ’round real slow,
With that smile, I can’t say no.
Sober, he’s a hale storm I can’t outrun.
In the Neon Moon, he’s my best friend,
But by morning, it’s a fight again,
I’ve seen the man I love turn to Jack,
Just wishin’ he could be the one.

Chorus:
He’s tender when he’s got Jack in his veins,
But the devil’s there in his sober state,
I’m torn between the love I crave,
And the man I hate to face.
I’m stuck between his sober bite
And the sweet talk when he’s tight,
Whiskey makes him kind, but sober, he’s mean as nails,
His name is Luke but Jack makes him kind and mine.
Lord, what’s a girl like me supposed to do?

Verse 2:
We laugh until the bottle’s dry,
Then he’s a different kind of guy,
I’ve learned to keep the tears inside,
‘Cause I know the morning’s gonna break.
Some nights I pray he’ll never quit,
‘Cause that’s the only time I get
The man who loves me like I’m it,
But when he’s sober, his love’s fake.

Bridge:
Do I stay, or do I blow?
Pour another glass or let it go?
I’m drowning in the space between
The man I want and the man I’ve seen.
Jack ‘n’ love, or Luke and the lies?
I’ve been trading tears for alibis.
Lord knows I’ve tried, I’ve tried…

Chorus:
He’s tender when he’s got Jack in his veins,
But the devil’s there in his sober state,
I’m torn between the love I crave,
And the man I hate to face.
I’m stuck between his sober bite
And the sweet talk when he’s imbibed,
Whiskey makes him kind, but sober, he’s mean as nails,
His name is Luke but Jack makes him kind-a mine.
Lord, what’s a girl like me supposed to do?

Outro:
Whiskey in his veins,
I keep hoping he’ll come through,
But deep down, I already know,
I love the Jack at night, but here I am with Luke in the day,
Lord, what’s a girl like me supposed to do?

Whiskey in His Veins –Music and Lyrics by Alan Nafzger

Whiskey in His Veins - A man the morning after a night out, slightly disheveled and accidentally breaking dishes in the kitchen. The man has a kind demeanor, wearing a plaid3 — Whiskey in His Veins – A man the morning after a night out, slightly disheveled and accidentally breaking dishes in the kitchen. The man has a mean demeanor, wearing a plaid…

Whiskey in His Veins - A warm, lively scene inside the Neon Moon dancehall in Texas. The setting features a sweet man, slightly drunk, leaning in and sweet-talking a woman. 1 — Whiskey in His Veins – A warm, lively scene inside the Neon Moon dancehall in Texas. The setting features a sweet man, slightly drunk, leaning in and sweet-talking a woman.

Interview with Alan Nafzger

The Man Who Knows a King in a Bottle

Sandi McQuarter:
Alan, you’ve written some unique songs over the years, but your latest track about a man who’s only mean when he’s sober—it’s certainly catching people’s attention. Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind it?

Alan Nafzger:
Well, you know, some songs just come from observing the folks around you. I’ve known a few men in my time who, when they’ve had a drink, suddenly become the most generous, thoughtful souls you’ve ever met. They’re kings of the barstool, treating everyone like royalty. But as soon as the bottle’s corked and they sober up, well… they turn a bit sour. It’s almost like the whiskey’s doing more than loosening their tongues—it’s also softening their hearts.

Interviewer:
That’s a fascinating character study. Do you have someone in mind when you write these songs, or is this a more universal experience you’ve witnessed?

Alan Nafzger:
(Laughs) There’s always someone, but I’m not naming names. Let’s just say I’ve spent enough time in honky-tonks and roadhouses to see this pattern more than once. One man in particular was the sweetest guy you could ever meet after a few rounds—he’d buy drinks for everyone, dance with the ladies, compliment the bartender, the whole deal. But catch him on a day without his ‘medicine,’ and he was like a rattlesnake. Quick to snap at you for nothing.

Interviewer:
So, for this man, alcohol actually made him kinder?

Alan Nafzger:
Strangely enough, yes. I think it helped him drop all the walls he put up sober. Maybe he didn’t like who he was without it—too proud, too guarded. The whiskey gave him permission to be something better, someone more considerate, at least for a little while. It’s not a healthy pattern, but it’s one a lot of people relate to, whether they admit it or not.

Interviewer:
That’s a complex way to look at it. Would you say your songwriting aims to get people thinking about these types of contradictions in human behavior?

Alan Nafzger:
Absolutely. I mean, life’s complicated. We’re all full of contradictions. A guy can be mean sober and sweet when he’s tipsy—that doesn’t make him evil or angelic, just human. I think people connect with songs that reflect those truths about themselves or someone they know. I’m just the guy who writes it down and puts it to a melody.

Interviewer:
In the song, you also mention that this man is “king” when he’s been drinking. Do you mean that literally, or is that more metaphorical?

Alan Nafzger:
It’s both, really. When he’s had enough whiskey, he feels like a king—he’s confident, he’s generous, he’s holding court with his friends. But of course, it’s all temporary. The real him is still lurking underneath, and as soon as the drinks stop, that façade crumbles. The sad part is, he’s chasing that feeling, but it’s never real, just a passing thing.

Interviewer:
It reminds me of one of your lines: “I love the Jack, but here I am with Luke.” That’s such a simple but powerful lyric. What’s the story behind it?

Alan Nafzger:
Ah, that’s one of my favorite lines. It came from a conversation I overheard once. A woman at a bar was sitting next to this guy, and she leaned over to her friend and said, “I love the Jack, but here I am with Luke.” It hit me because she wasn’t talking about the whiskey or the guy, not really. She was talking about choosing between what makes her feel good and what she’s stuck with. It’s a kind of resignation—like, yeah, the whiskey’s better company right now than the man I’m sitting next to. That line could mean so many things, but it all circles back to making the wrong choices for the wrong reasons.

Interviewer:
Do you think songs like this help people face those choices?

Alan Nafzger:
I hope so. I’m not here to judge anyone’s choices, but if a song can make you stop and think for a minute, then it’s doing its job. Maybe it’ll make someone realize they’re chasing the wrong thing, or maybe they’ll just see themselves in the character and laugh. Either way, it’s about connecting people to something real.

Interviewer:
Do you ever worry that writing about characters like this—people who are only kind when they drink—might romanticize drinking?

Alan Nafzger:
That’s a good question. I don’t think I’m romanticizing it. If anything, I’m pointing out the problem. If you need a drink to be decent, there’s a deeper issue at play. But I don’t sugarcoat it either. People relate to it because it’s true for some of them. I’d rather be honest about the messiness of life than pretend everything’s simple and clean-cut.

Interviewer:
It seems like there’s a lot of empathy in your songs, even for flawed characters. Is that intentional?

Alan Nafzger:
It is. I think everyone deserves a bit of understanding. Nobody’s perfect. We all have our vices, our mistakes. The man in this song? Yeah, he’s got issues, but he’s not evil. He’s just lost, and the bottle gives him a momentary way out. Empathy makes the stories real. It doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it helps explain it.

Interviewer:
Do you think that’s why your music resonates with so many people?

Alan Nafzger:
Maybe. I like to think people hear the truth in what I’m saying. It’s not about glamorizing anything—it’s about showing the whole picture, the good, the bad, and everything in between. If someone listens and feels like I’m telling their story, then I’ve done my job.

Interviewer:
Alan, thanks for sitting down with us. Your ability to turn real-life contradictions into art is truly something special. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with next.

Alan Nafzger:
Thank you. And hey, remember to watch for the signs—especially when the whiskey’s pouring!

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Whiskey in His Veins