If two fill-ups is all it costs, I guess I’ll make the drive
Down past the Texas line, to make sure he’s not alive
They dumped him off of a river bridge in the Fall of ’84
Word got around that he climbed out of that muddy red river floor
I lost my bride to the finest man, she claims to have ever known
When she got to the parking lot, his knees were already blown
Love is such a mighty drug, a mightier disease
Bet he misses her, floatin’ past the barge with one eye and crooked teeth
One eye and crooked teeth
One eye and crooked teeth
One eye and crooked teeth
Your crooked teeth been floatin’ and my ladies resting fine
Seven miles out of Bismark, next to Bakken oil lines
I laid her down so softly, and so kindly reassured
Lovin’ ain’t for tamin’ a disease that can’t be cured
And I would ride through Colorado on a rocky stretch of road
With no one who loves me as far as telephone poles go
I wish I was a trusted man, but a trusted man is weak
The only thing worth trusting is some brass through crooked teeth
Some brass through crooked teeth
Some brass through crooked teeth
Your crooked teeth been floatin’ and my ladies resting fine
Seven miles out of Bismark, next to Bakken oil lines
I laid her down so softly, and so kindly reassured
Lovin’ ain’t for tamin’ a disease that can’t be cured
I lost my bride to the finest man, she claims to have ever known
When she got to the parking lot, his knees were already blown
Love is such a mighty drug, a mightier disease
Bet he misses her, floatin’ past the barge with one eye and crooked teeth
Haunting Tales of Betrayal and Remorse
“Crooked Teeth” by Zach Bryan is a narrative-laden ballad that weaves together the pain of lost love, betrayal, and the darkness that lingers after heartbreak. The lyrics depict a protagonist haunted by the memory of a rival and the tragic loss of his bride, set against the backdrop of rural America. Vivid imagery—such as river bridges, oil lines, and haunting references to “one eye and crooked teeth”—paints a picture of a past that refuses to stay buried. Bryan’s storytelling unfolds with a raw honesty, exploring the destructive power of love and the lengths to which jealousy and regret can drive a person. The recurring motifs of violence and regret deepen the song’s emotional impact, making it a striking exploration of broken trust and unresolved pain.
Song Credits
- Artist: Zach Bryan
- Songwriter: Zach Bryan