Introduction
The legend of George Jones and the lawnmower is more than just a quirky piece of country music trivia; it is a profound illustration of the lengths to which addiction can drive a person, and the sheer, stubborn resourcefulness of a man who refused to be told “no.“
The First Ride: Beaumont, Texas
The first incident occurred in the late 1960s while Jones was married to Shirley Ann Corley. Aware of George’s escalating benders, Shirley hid the keys to every car on the property—nearly ten vehicles in total. She assumed that without a car, George would be forced to stay home and sober up.
She underestimated him. George spotted the 10-horsepower lawnmower in the shed. In his memoir, I Lived to Tell It All, Jones recalled that while a mower only topped out at about five miles per hour, it would eventually get him to the liquor store eight miles down the road. The image of one of the greatest voices in music history putt-putting down a Texas highway in a ventilated jumpsuit remains one of the most indelible images in Southern lore.
The Second Ride: The Tammy Wynette Years
The most famous iteration of this story happened during his tumultuous marriage to Tammy Wynette. History repeated itself: Tammy hid the keys, but this time, George hopped on a Lawn-Boy mower.
Tammy later recounted waking up to find George gone. She drove to the nearest liquor store and found the mower parked right out front by the curb. George was inside, casually buying a bottle as if he had arrived in a Cadillac. This moment was later immortalized in the music video for his 1996 hit “Honky Tonk Song,” where he leaned into the legend, parodying his own desperate commute.
Why the Story Endures
These stories resonate because they capture the “No Show Jones” persona in its rawest form. They highlight a tragicomedy:
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The Desperation: The physical toll of needing a drink so badly that a three-hour mower ride seems reasonable.
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The Defiance: A “rebel” spirit that turned a mundane garden tool into a vehicle of subversion.
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The Redemption: The fact that Jones eventually got sober and lived to joke about these moments gave the stories a “happy” ending that fans cherished.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
I saw those blue lights flashin’Over my left shoulderHe walked right up and said,“Get off that riding mower.”I said sir, “Let me explainBefore you put me in the tank.”She took my keys awayAnd now she won’t drive me to drink.I need a honky tonk song a cold cold beerA hardwood floor a smoky atmosphereA pocket full of change to last me all night longI gotta hear old Hank a moanin’ a honky tonk song.— Instrumental —He didn’t show me much compassionWhen I tried to walk that lineAs he put those handcuffs on meI said, “give me one more try.”He never even cracked a smileWhen he threw me in the carSo I said, “Sir, if you don’t mind,Oh, would you drop me off in a bar.”I need a honky tonk song a cold cold beerA hardwood floor a smoky atmosphereA pocket full of change to last me all night longI gotta hear old Hank a moanin’ a honky tonk song.