Johnny Russell – Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer

“Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer” is a song written by Bob McDill and Wayland Holyfield, and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Russell. It was released in July 1973 as the first single from his album Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer. The song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, making it his only top-ten. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada, thus becoming his only number 1.

The song is performed from the perspective of a patron of a neighborhood tavern. Although he notes the cigarette smoke hanging in the air (a dated reference to a time when most taverns allowed smoking), and describes several customers – patrons who either make an unwanted pass at a female bartender, a cowboy who “cusses the pinball machine”, a drunken customer who has become boisterous and another customer who phones his wife to tell her he’ll soon be leaving for home – he also refers to the good times and camaraderie of friends at the establishment (“The four-thirty crowd is about to arrive/The sun’s goin’ down, and we’ll all soon be here”).

From the album Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer
B-side “She’s a Natural Woman”
Released July 30, 1973
Genre Country
Length 2:46
Label RCA
Songwriter(s) Wayland Holyfield. Bob McDill
Producer(s) Jerry Bradley

Johnny Russell – Rednecks, White Socks And Blue Ribbon Beer Lyrics

[Hook]
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Verse 1]
The bar-maid is mad cause some guy made a pass
The juke box is playin’, there stands the glass
And the cigarette smoke kinda hangs in the air
Rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Verse 2]
A cowboy is cursin’ the pinball machine
A drunk at the bar is gettin’ noisy and mean
And some guy on the phone says, “I’ll be home soon, dear”
Rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Chorus]
No, we don’t fit in with that white collar crowd
We’re a little too rowdy and a little too loud
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Verse 3]
The semis are passing on the highway outside
The four-thirty crowd is about to arrive
The sun’s goin’ down and they’ll all soon be here
Rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Chorus]
No, we don’t fit in with that white collar crowd
We’re a little too rowdy and a little too loud
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer

[Hook]
There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here
With my rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer