Diving into the meaning Chris Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey

The song kicks off painting a picture of a lonely soul, spending his nights in bars, finding comfort in the bottle rather than in love. The lyrics "Used to spend my nights out in a bar room / Liquor was the only love I've known" introduce us to a man who's more familiar with the burn of alcohol than the warmth of genuine affection. He talks about hitting rock bottom, being lost in the depths of addiction. But then, a shift. He sings about love rescuing him, comparing its qualities to the smoothness of Tennessee whiskey and the sweetness of strawberry wine, gently leading us into the core theme of the song - the redemptive power of love.

Sources & Credits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBLruNfUqUs

https://harmonyhay.com/meaning-of-tennessee-whiskey-by-chris-stapleton/

https://genius.com/Chris-stapleton-tennessee-whiskey-lyrics