Lyrics:Drivin' Nails in My Coffin [Version (a)]:
Beck: My sweetheart is gone and I'm so lonely
She said that she and I were through
So I started out drinkin' for pasttime
Drivin' nails in my coffin over you
Willie & Beck: I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Drivin' those nails over you
Willie: And now ever since the day we parted
I've been so lonely and blue
And I'm always thinkin' about you
And I just can't quit drinkin' that old booze
Willie & Beck: I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Drivin' those nails over you
Willie: Now if you turn me down, you don't want me
There is nothing now that I can lose
Beck: I'm just drivin' those nails in my coffin'
And worryin', my darlin', over you
Willie & Beck: I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Every time I drink a bottle of booze
I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin
Drivin' those nails over you
Drivin' those nails over you
The Song:This cover of an old Floyd Tillman country song was recorded for the soundtrack to
Hi-Lo Country. Considered a classic, "Drivin' Nails" has been covered by many artists. In their version, Beck and Willie Nelson share lead vocals, trading verses on what might be the purest slice of honky-tonk country music Beck has been a part of yet. The song does not appear in the film, only on the soundtrack.
Beck and Willie Nelson had a brief history together. First, Willie appeared in the video for "
Jack-ass." They then appeared together on "The Tonight Show" (September 29, 1997) performing a Jimmie Rodgers song, "
Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia." That appearance was to promote Willie's FarmAid concert, at which Beck was to play. At FarmAid, they duetted again, a performance that was released on a compilation CD.