Bottle In My Hand

[Verse 1]
Boots on gravel
Moon hangin’ low
Breath smellin’ cheap wine
Heart sayin’ go slow
Headlights a halo
On that busted-up sign
Wind hummin’ trouble
I thought the trouble was mine
[Chorus]
But it wasn’t the devil that put this bottle in my hand
Wasn’t some demon that dragged me where I stand
You can curse that shadow
Blame that midnight man
But it wasn’t the devil
It was love walkin’ out my hand
[Verse 2]
He stepped from the shoulder
Sharp suit
Red grin (hey)
Cigarette ember
Glowin’ under his chin
Said
“Boy
Don’t accuse me
For what you chose to do
You drink to forget her
You just use my name as an excuse”
[Chorus]
‘Cause it wasn’t the devil that put this bottle in my hand
Wasn’t some demon that dragged me where I stand
You can shout at the darkness
Swear you’re under his command
But it wasn’t the devil
It was love leavin’ your hands
[Bridge]
He said
“She slammed that door
You poured that glass
You chased that burn
You outran your past
You blame my fire
For this empty heart
But I never touched your soul
Boy
You tore it apart” (oh yeah)
[Chorus]
So it wasn’t the devil that put this bottle in my hand
Wasn’t some demon that broke up this man
You can bargain at the crossroads
Draw lines in the sand
But it wasn’t the devil
It was love
It was love
Slippin’ out my hands

Raw Chicago-meets-Delta blues band: overdriven slide guitar, walking upright bass, shuffle drums with brushes, and wailing harp fills. Male vocals, rough and intimate, verses low and smoky; chorus opens up with strained, shout-sung lines and gang shouts on key phrases. Brief guitar call-and-response under the bridge, track ending on a held vocal over a bent guitar note., delta blues