I Drink Alone

"I Drink Alone"
Single by George Thorogood & The Destroyers
from the album Maverick
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1985
GenreBlues rock, hard rock
Length4:35
LabelEMI America
Songwriter(s)George Thorogood
Producer(s)Terry Manning
George Thorogood & The Destroyers singles chronology
"Gear Jammer"
(1985) 		"I Drink Alone"
(1985) 		"Willie and the Hand Jive"
(1985)
Music video
"I Drink Alone" on YouTube

"I Drink Alone" is a rock song by American blues rock band George Thorogood and the Destroyers, released as a single from the 1985 album Maverick by EMI America. It was written by George Thorogood.

Writing and recording

George Thorogood wrote I Drink Alone as a dedication to American film and television actor Lee Marvin.[1] According to Thorogood, "I was watching On the Waterfront with Marlon Brando talking to Eva Marie Saint. He’s saying, ‘Come on, have a drink with me. I’ve got the rest of my life to drink alone.’ I said, ‘Bingo!’"[2] He originally wrote it as a country song, and wanted George Jones to record it, but the Destroyers ended up recording it after EMI insisted they do.[3][4]

The song describes a man who, as the name of the song suggests, spends most of his time alone drinking, and it name-checks various alcoholic beverages.[4] Thorogood says that the song "is about a loner who wants to be alone.",[5] and that I Drink Alone is meant to be a comedy song.[6]

The intro pauses were influenced by J. Geils.[7]

Release and reception

"I Drink Alone" was first released as the second track on the Destroyer's sixth studio album Maverick.[8] It was then released as a single in February 1985. It debuted at No. 41,[9] and peaked at number 13 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[10][11][12] It spent 8 weeks on that chart.[13]

"I Drink Alone" is often considered to be one of Thorogood`s best songs, and is played often in live performances, and is included in many live and compilation albums.[8] AllMusic critic James Christopher Monger called "I Drink Alone" one of Thorogood's "high points".[14]

Music video

The video starts with Thorogood riding on a motorcycle with a guitar case on his back, he stops at a gas station, lights a cigarette and looks around, before picking up his guitar case and entering the bar at the gas station. When he enters the bar, he finds it empty. He sits down, and starts lip syncing the song. Thorogood then opens his guitar case, and takes out an alcoholic beverage, and glass and starts drinking. The video then cuts to Thorogood playing the solo on his guitar, after which he goes back to drinking alcohol and singing. The video ends with Thorogood taking a shot, when he notices a woman next to him. He gets up, walks to the door and mutters the words "I drink alone" before leaving. The whole video is in black and white.[15]

The music video was filmed in a desert near Los Angeles, by George Bloome.[16]

Personnel

  • George Thorogood – guitar, vocals
  • Hank Carter – saxophone
  • Billy Blough – bass
  • Jeff Simon – drums

Chart performance

Chart (1985) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[17] 13

Notes

  1. ^ Harry, Rich (November 20, 1993). "George Thorogood Still Sticking To The Game Plan". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. ^ Daly, Andrew (June 30, 2025). ""The only guitar I could ever play was the 125, but I wore them out – they were costing thousands to repair. They stopped making them around 1970; I was ready to stop playing": George Thorogood on his "mutt" amp, and talking shop with Hound Dog Taylor". Guitar World.
  3. ^ Fraley, Jason (2 August 2021). "George Thorogood ready to rock Wolf Trap with 'Bad to the Bone' hits". WTOP News.
  4. ^ a b McStea, Mark (December 16, 2022). "George Thorogood's Top Five Career-Defining Destroyers Tracks". Guitar Player.
  5. ^ Christopher, Michael (17 June 2024). "617 Q&A: George Thorogood on Boston's Combat Zone, drinking songs, and being the last of his kind". Vanyaland.
  6. ^ Baker, Chris (26 May 2015). "Guitarist George Thorogood talks blues, booze and being bad". Syracuse.
  7. ^ Wardlaw, Matt (13 April 2022). "The Story Behind George Thorogood's Slow-Developing 'Bad to the Bone'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  8. ^ a b "I Drink Alone - George Thorogood | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  9. ^ "Billboard - March 16, 1985" (PDF). Billboard. March 16, 1985. p. 20 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ "Billboard Top Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. April 6, 1985. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
  11. ^ "George Thorogood Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "George Thorogood & the Destroyers Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018.
  13. ^ "Billboard Top Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. May 4, 1985. p. 20 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Platinum Review by James Christopher Monger". AllMusic.
  15. ^ "George Thorogood & The Destroyers - I Drink Alone". Youtube. 23 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Billboard - March 9, 1985" (PDF). Billboard. March 9, 1985. p. 42 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Billboard - April 6, 1985" (PDF). Billboard. April 6, 1985. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
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