Hank Williams Jr – Tear In My Beer 1989

“There’s a Tear in My Beer”, song written by Hank Williams, Hank recorded a demo on October 25, 1951, the song was not released.

The first release of the song, he made it, the Texan, Big Bill Lister, he recorded it in 1952 for the Capitol label.

Hank Williams Jr. recorded it in the fall of 1988 at Emerald Sound Studio, 1033 16th Ave. South, Nashville, TN. The song was released in January 1989, on April 8, 1989, reaching number # 7 on the US Hot Country Songs charts, and staying a total of 14 weeks on the charts.

The song was included in the compilation album, Hank Williams Jr.’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (Warner 1989), the album was released in February 1989, and on April 1, 1989, it reached # 1 on the charts at US Top Country Albums, spending a total of 110 weeks on the charts. On the Canadian RPM Country Albums charts, it peaked at # 2. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.

“There’s a Tear in My Beer” in particular enjoyed great success. Using sophisticated editing technology, a music video was created in which it appeared as though Williams was singing with his father, Hank Williams, Sr., who died on January 1, 1953. Williams won his only Grammy Award for this performance, winning for Best Country Vocal Collaboration, an award that’s also officially recognized as being shared by his late father. The video for the song won both the Country Music Association Music Video of the Year and Academy of Country Music Video of the Year awards. It also received nominations for ACM Single Record of the Year and ACM Song of the Year.

Some Versions:

“Big Bill” Lister 1952 (Capitol)
Jett Williams 1999 (JWM)
Casino Steel 2005 (Revolution Records)
Sharon Benjamin 2008 (Redbak)
The Rambling Men 2014 (Chickens Records)
Ed Payne 2016 (Propayne Productions)
Lauren Duski & Blake Shelton 2017 (Republic Records)

Hank Williams Jr – Tear In My Beer Lyrics

[Chorus 1: Hank Williams Jr]
There’s a tear in my beer
‘Cause I’m crying for you, dear
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 1: Hank Williams Jr]
Into these last nine beers
I have shed a million tears
You are on my lonely mind
I’m going to keep drinking until I’m petrified
And then maybe these tears will leave my eyes

[Chorus 1: Hank Williams Jr]
There’s a tear in my beer
‘Cause I’m crying for you, dear
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 2: Hank Williams]
Last night I walked the floor
And the night before

[Chorus 2: Both]
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 3: Hank Williams]
It seems my life is through
And I’m so doggone blue
[Chorus 1: Both]
There’s a tear in my beer
‘Cause I’m crying for you, dear
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 4: Hank Williams]
I’m going to keep drinking til I can’t move a toe
And then maybe my heart won’t hurt me so

[Chorus 1: Both]
There’s a tear in my beer
‘Cause I’m crying for you dear
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 4: Hank Williams]
Lord, I’ve tried and I’ve tried
But my tears I can’t hide

[Chorus 2: Both]
You are on my lonely mind

[Verse 5: Hank Williams]
All these blues that I’ve found
Have really got me down

[Chorus 2: Both]
You are on my lonely mind
[Verse 6: Both]
I’m going to keep drinking til I can’t even think
Cause in the last week I ain’t slept a wink

[Chorus 1: Both]
There’s a tear in my beer
‘Cause I’m crying for you, dear
You are on my lonely mind