About the song
“Beer for My Horses” is a captivating and spirited song recorded by American country music legends Toby Keith and Willie Nelson. The song was penned by Keith and his frequent collaborator, Scotty Emerick, for Keith’s seventh studio album, “Unleashed.” Released as the album’s fourth and final single on April 7, 2003, “Beer for My Horses” quickly became a fan favorite, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.
The song’s narrative and catchy chorus resonated with audiences, propelling it to significant chart success. “Beer for My Horses” reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a high point in Toby Keith’s career at the time. On the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, the song enjoyed remarkable success, peaking at number one for an impressive six weeks. This achievement marked Keith’s eleventh number one single and Nelson’s twenty-third, and notably, it was Nelson’s first number one hit since “Nothing I Can Do About It Now” in 1989. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified “Beer for My Horses” Platinum, a testament to its widespread popularity.
The accompanying music video, directed by Michael Salomon, premiered on CMT on April 9, 2003, during CMT Smash Hits of Country. Set in downtown Los Angeles and the Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, the video features Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, and actor Corin Nemec as detectives on the trail of a serial killer, played by Gregg Gilmore. In an entertaining twist, Nemec’s character dresses as a woman to lure the killer, culminating in his capture. This video is particularly notable for being the first in which Keith does not appear singing on screen. The video was well-received, earning a nomination for Video of the Year at the 2004 Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Beer for My Horses” also holds a special place in country music history for making Willie Nelson the oldest artist to top the country charts at the age of 70. The song’s title and theme draw from a line in the 1975 film “Bite the Bullet,” where Jan-Michael Vincent’s character utters the phrase, “Whisky for me beer for my horse.”
Chart-wise, “Beer for My Horses” initially entered the Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts on August 3, 2002, spending three weeks on the charts as an album cut and peaking at number 54. It later re-entered at number 60 on February 1, 2003, before achieving its peak positions. The song’s enduring popularity is reflected in its sales, reaching over a million in April 2014 and totaling 1,178,000 copies in the United States by January 2017.
In conclusion, “Beer for My Horses” is a dynamic collaboration between Toby Keith and Willie Nelson, combining their unique styles and storytelling abilities. Its success on the charts, compelling music video, and significant sales milestones underscore its impact and enduring appeal in the country music genre.
Video
Lyrics
Willie, man, come on the 6 o’clock news
Said somebody’s been shot, somebody’s been abused
Somebody blew up a building, somebody stole a car
Somebody got away, somebody didn’t get too far, yeah
They didn’t get too far
Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done
Take all the rope in Texas find a tall oak tree
Round up all them bad boys, hang them high in the street
For all the people to see
That justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys, you got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing
Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses
We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds
Too much corruption, and crime in the streets
It’s time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground
Send ’em all to their maker and he’ll settle ’em down
You can bet he’ll set ’em down
‘Cause justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys, you got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
We’ll all meet back at the local saloon
And we’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing
Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses
Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses
You know justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys, you got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we’ll sing a victory tune
And we’ll all meet back at the local saloon
And we’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing
Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses
Singing whiskey for my men, beer for my horses