The song "Everything From Jesus To Jack Daniels" by Tom T. Hall is a commentary on the diverse and often contradictory aspects of American culture. The lyrics describe a typical day in the life of an average American who wakes up hungover and tries to numb themselves with alcohol and medication. They then go to work where they hear news of the world and are confronted with political opinions that range from conservative to liberal. The chorus of the song suggests that in America, people try everything from religion to alcohol to cope with their problems and that they often oscillate between these extremes. The verses paint a picture of various individuals who are struggling to find meaning in their lives, such as the man who killed his family, the veteran of the Falkland Islands War, and the young religious panhandler. The song's message is about the search for balance in life and the difficulties that people face when trying to find it. The man in Tennessee who has it "figured out completely" suggests that it is possible to find a middle ground between extremes and that this is the key to happiness. The song is a critique of American culture, which is seen as obsessed with instant gratification and prone to overindulgence in everything from drugs to religion.
