There’s a tear in my beer.
Okay, not really. I’ve actually been in a really happy mood lately.
But, this morning, the song “There’s a Tear in My Beer” by Hank, Jr. came on my iPod and I started laughing and thinking about how I first learned the song.
Most everyone knows I’m from Nashville, which is also known as Music City, USA. And being from a city that celebrates country music the way Nashville does, naturally, I wanted to be a country music singer when I grew up.
Well, my Dad used to encourage this by teaching me the most redneck songs he could possibly think of. One of the first songs I remember singing with him was “Good Ol’ Boys” by Waylon Jennings. We would sing it while watching The Dukes of Hazzard. And yes, I did want a General Lee.
Anyway, back to Hank, Jr. When I was in Kindergarten, I was asked to do show-and-tell. I knew it. It was my opportunity for my “big break.” I thought of all the songs my Dad and sang together and settled on my current favorite. I marched my little body up to the front of the room and started singing from the top of my lungs “there’s a tear in my beer,cause I’m crying for you dear!”
My teacher was not ammused. Seeing how my parents sent me to a snooty private religious school, singing about beer was not encouraged. And not considered appropriate for a 5 year old audience. Phone calls were made. My Mother almost killed my Father (only because she was worried what the other mothers would say). I was NOT asked to do show-and-tell again. And my Kindergarten teacher crushed the dreams of a little girl with blue eyes and blonde hair.
The irony of the whole story? Hank Williams, Jr.’s kids WENT TO MY SCHOOL!
