The song "Whiskey Kind Of Way" by Jerrod Niemann explores the complexities of love and the effect of alcohol on the emotions and memories associated with a past relationship. The lyrics depict a narrator who claims to hardly think about his former lover and confidently states that he can live without her. However, when he sits at a bar and starts drinking, his emotions and memories of her resurface. He confesses that the drink goes straight to his heart, much like a song on the jukebox, triggering the memories of their relationship. The narrator admits that when he's sober, he tries to convince himself that he has moved on and put the past behind him. He believes he is a million miles away from her memory and unaffected by her absence. However, when he's under the influence of alcohol, the truth comes out, and he realizes that he still longs for her in a "whiskey kind of way." The narrator seeks solace in talking to others, like Joe behind the counter and various people he meets, repeatedly discussing his former lover. It is evident that her departure and the reasons behind it continue to haunt him. He claims to steel his heart against anyone who tries to comfort him, except those who buy him a drink, revealing his vulnerability and reliance on alcohol to cope with his emotions. Overall, "Whiskey Kind Of Way" delves into the contradictory nature of love and the role that alcohol plays in heightening and unveiling hidden emotions. The song suggests that despite the narrator's attempts to move on, the memories of the past relationship and his unresolved feelings resurface when he's drinking, leading him to realize that he still loves her, albeit in a bittersweet and intoxicated manner.
