Don't Tell Mama I Was Drinking

Album: Sunshine & Whiskey (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this Buddy Brock, Kim Williams and Jerry Laseter written song alludes to the last words of a drunk truck driver after an accident. The track was previously recorded as "Don't Tell Mama" by Ty Herndon on his 1996 album Living in a Moment, Gary Allan on his 1999 CD Smoke Rings In The Dark and Doug Stone on his 2007 set My Turn.
  • Ballard recalled to Artist Direct how he ended up recording the tune: "I was over my publisher's on a Friday afternoon, about 5:30, having a glass of whiskey, talking deep, deep, back catalog songs that became lost and were never singles," he said. "He was playing some stuff, and he played it, it was written by Kim Williams, like 20 years ago."

    "A few people had cut it but it had never become a single," Ballard continued. "I never heard it. I never heard anyone do it. I thought, 'Wow, this is an incredible tune.' It sounded old school but it didn't matter. The song was amazing. I took a copy of it and thought, 'I had to have this tune,' and this was four years ago. I played it for my producer, for fun. He said, 'We should try and update this and make it your own and bring it to life.' So we horsed around with it, I sped up the tempo and worked on it. I knew we had to record it. The label thought it was a bit old school but I wanted to do it. We recorded it and I am so happy."

Comments: 2

  • Mark from Ocilla, GaTotally lost the song...I heard Buddy Brock sing it right after it was written. Leave it to Nashville to screw up a hit song...Should have left it "Old School".
  • Paul from Raleigh, NcSorry Frankie, your version just doesn't do the song justice. You made it all about the arrangement and production, not about the song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.