"Knockin' Over Whiskeys" by Hayes Carll tells a story of a man who has been drinking and making a joke of himself. He feels lost and out of place, spinning around in circles like a tin can in the spokes of a bike. He left home with a smile, never expecting to end up in this place. The chorus of the song advises his lover, who he's estranged from, to run away, as he's not the man he used to be and doesn't need her anymore. He's been out for too long, and things have changed. The protagonist hopes to return to Houston to tip his hat and cry. He's left the city as a younger man, too proud to say goodbye. He knows that he needs to make amends for his past mistakes and wake up in the morning with a conscience ten feet tall. The second verse tells the story of his lover, who used to live on the border where no one else could reach her. The protagonist can no longer communicate with her without her giving a speech. Though she accuses him of not caring, he knows that he cannot do the one thing she asked of him. Overall, "Knockin' Over Whiskeys" is a poignant and introspective song about loneliness, loss, and trying to find one's way back to the path of righteousness.
