[Jenna]

I decided to scan through the lyrics of the contest winners at American Songwriter to see what others are currently writing. This one won second place, but I really liked how his story unfolded throughout. There were two hooks for me in his lyrics and his repetitive use of "what whiskey is for" had as much of an impact, if not more, than the imagery of him keeping his heart in a Crown Royal bag.

2nd Place

“Crown Royal Bag (A Senior Year Story)”
Adam Cooper
Suwanee, Georgia

I was eighteen when my daddy died
His heart it stopped beating, the light left his eyes
That’s when I said, “I can’t take anymore”
And that’s when I learned what whiskey is for.

I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag
And I bust it out
Late at night when I’m sad
I drink through the good times,
I drink through the bad,
And I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag

Just three weeks later, my friend died in a crash
They went off the road, they was moving too fast
The loss of her soul, cut me to the core
And I furthered my studies, of what whiskey is for

I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag
And I bust it out
Late at night when I’m sad
I drink through the good times,
I drink through the bad,
And I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag

My love for a woman, led me astray
I was enchanted so easily by the things that she’d say
She said that she loved me, well she don’t anymore
And that right there friends is what whiskey is for

I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag
And I bust it out
Late at night when I’m sad
I drink through the good times,
I drink through the bad,
And I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag

I woke up this morning in the E.R.
My mom she said, “Son, do you know where your are?
We found you this morning, passed out on the floor.”
Cuz I know all too well, what whiskey is for

I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag
And I bust it out
Late at night when I’m sad
I drink through the good times,
I drink through the bad,
And I keep my heart
In a Crown Royal bag

I hope this isn't in violation of any copyright laws. The quote is an extra precaution, just in case.

[hardtwistmusic]

This is a REALLY good lyric.   I've done the same thing you did and looked through some of these contests for ideas and a sense of what is working for others.  This one might be the best lyric I've seen from one of these sources. 

Like several of my own songs which feature drinking/alcohol themes, this one is really about the inadequacy of male coping mechanisms in our society.  It's very well done and very subtle.  GREAT LYRIC. 

Just to be clear. . . I DO know it's not your lyric.

[Andreas]

It's a good story behind these lyrics, sad but good. I like the way the writer drag me into the song as i'm there.

[Jenna]

I would love to hear it put to music. I wonder what tune was playing in his head when he wrote it. it's sad that so many men turn to alcohol to numb the pain, but I get it. Sometimes, our coping mechanisms get overwhelmed by the sadness, but it's okay to let ourselves experience those waves and let them wash on through, as hard as it can be at times.