About the song
Ernest Tubb, often hailed as the “King of Country Music,” released “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” in 1946. This mournful ballad, a classic example of country music’s melancholic storytelling, encapsulates the profound heartache and self-destructive tendencies that often accompany a broken heart.
Tubb’s distinctive, nasal vocals provide the perfect vehicle for delivering the song’s poignant lyrics. His voice, raw and emotive, conveys the deep-seated pain and regret of the narrator. The song’s simple, repetitive melody, accompanied by a mournful steel guitar, serves to amplify the emotional weight of the lyrics.
The title itself, “Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin,” is a stark metaphor for the narrator’s self-destructive behavior. He acknowledges that his excessive drinking and brooding are slowly but surely hastening his demise. The song’s refrain, “I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin,” serves as a constant reminder of the narrator’s tragic fate.
“Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin” is a timeless piece of country music that continues to resonate with listeners today. Its themes of heartbreak, regret, and self-destruction are universal, and Tubb’s powerful performance ensures that the song’s emotional impact remains undiminished.
Video
Lyrics
My sweetheart has gone and I’m so lonely
She said that she and I were through
So I started out drinkin’ for past time
Drivin’ nails in my coffin over you
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Everytime I drink a bottle of booze
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Lord, drivin’ those nails over you
Ever since the day that we’ve parted
I’ve been so sad and so blue
I’m always thinking of you, love
And I just can’t quit drinking that old booze
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Everytime I drink a bottle of booze
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Lord, drivin’ those nails over you
Now you’ve turned me down , you don’t want me
There’s nothing now I can lose
I’m just drivin’ those nails in my coffin
And worryin’, my darlin’, over you
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Everytime I drink a bottle of booze
I’m just drivin’ nails in my coffin
Lord, drivin’ those nails over you