The Lord Knows I'm Drinking
Encyclopedia
"The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" is a 1972 single written by Bill Anderson and made famous by country music singer Cal Smith
.
's Texas Trubadors in the 1960s, released a series of minor hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It wasn't until 1972 when he hit the top 5 of the Billboard
Hot Country Singles
chart with "I've Found Someone of My Own" (a cover of the Free Movement
pop hit). Later in 1972, he released what became his first No. 1 hit, the Anderson-penned "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking."
A sharp denunciation of small-town religious self-righteousness,, "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" became his first No. 1 country hit in March, as part of a 15-week stay on in the Billboard country chart's top 40. The record was also Smith's only single to cross over to the pop chart
, where it peaked at number 64.
"The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" was one of the last country music hits for the original Decca Records
; in early 1973, the label was dropped in favor of MCA Records
, where Smith continued recording and enjoying success.
Cal Smith
Calvin Grant Shofner , known professionally as Cal Smith, is an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin."-Career:...
.
Song background
Smith, who had first gained fame performing with Ernest TubbErnest Tubb
Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music...
's Texas Trubadors in the 1960s, released a series of minor hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It wasn't until 1972 when he hit the top 5 of the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart with "I've Found Someone of My Own" (a cover of the Free Movement
Free movement
Free movement may refer to:*Freedom of movement between states*The Free Movement, an R&B group...
pop hit). Later in 1972, he released what became his first No. 1 hit, the Anderson-penned "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking."
A sharp denunciation of small-town religious self-righteousness,, "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" became his first No. 1 country hit in March, as part of a 15-week stay on in the Billboard country chart's top 40. The record was also Smith's only single to cross over to the pop chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where it peaked at number 64.
"The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" was one of the last country music hits for the original Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
; in early 1973, the label was dropped in favor of MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, where Smith continued recording and enjoying success.
Chart performance
| Chart (1972–1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 64 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |