[Damian Marley:]
Now greetings to da world (All of you)
Voice of da one called Bruno Mars, ‘long side gong to da zilla
(Ya know I mean? I roll)
[Bruno Mars:]
Standing at this liquor store
Whiskey coming through my pores
Feeling like I run this whole block
(Oh, really?)
Lotto tickets, cheap beer
That’s why you can catch me here
Tryna scratch my way up to the top
‘Cause my job got me going nowhere
So I ain’t got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don’t care
This is me and my liquor store blues
I’ll take one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
Me and my guitar tonight
Singing to the city lights
Tryna leave with more than what I got
‘Cause sixty-eight cent just ain’t gon’ pay the rent
So I’ll be out here ’til they call the cops
‘Cause my job got me going nowhere
So I ain’t got a thing to lose
Take me to a place where I don’t care
This is me and my liquor store blues
I’ll take one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
[Damian Marley:]
Here comes Junior Gang
I’m flying high like Superman
And thinking that I run the whole block
I don’t know if it’s just because
Pineapple kush between my jaws
Has got me feeling like I’m on top
Feeling like I woulda stand up to the cops
And stand up to the bigger heads because the whole a them a saps
All the talk them a talk unemployment no job
‘Nough ghetto youth cannot escape the trap
[Bruno Mars:]
Give me this one shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
One shot for my pain
One drag for my sorrow
Get messed up today
I’ll be okay tomorrow
[Damian Marley:]
Now greetings to the world
Voice of da one called Bruno Mars, ‘long side gong to da zilla
A.K.A. Damian junior gong Marley, yes sir
Ya best believe, ha ha (now neh)
Finding Escape in the Everyday: The Meaning Behind “Liquor Store Blues”
“Liquor Store Blues” by Bruno Mars featuring Damian Marley captures the struggle of seeking relief from life’s hardships in the most familiar places. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone standing at a liquor store, relying on cheap drinks and fleeting escapes to cope with personal setbacks and a sense of stagnation. The chorus, with its repeated mantra of “one shot for my pain, one drag for my sorrow,” highlights how temporary remedies are often used to numb ongoing struggles. Damian Marley’s verse adds a layer of social commentary, touching on unemployment, the pressures facing youth in the ghetto, and the feeling of defiance that comes from wanting more out of life. The song resonates with anyone who’s ever tried to find a moment of solace amidst life’s chaos.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bruno Mars featuring Damian Marley
- Songwriters: Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Damian Marley
- Release Year: 2010
- Label: Atlantic Records