I had the opportunity to co-write in "The Magic Room" at RCA Records in Nashville with an amazing songwriter named Wood Newton.
I've been going through a brutal divorce - songwriting has been my therapy!
Wood wanted to help me tell my story... and we did. "Hard to Trust a Man (Who Can't Trust Himself with Whiskey)" is a song for anyone who has been an abusive relationship due to a partner's vices - whiskey or other.
Let's break it down!
"Hard to Trust a Man"
Wood Newton
(Rope A Note Music, BMI) x
Ariel Jade
(Ariel Jade Music, BMI)
“The Magic Room” at RCA
Nashville, TN
February 19, 2024
VERSE 1
I hate to explain it to my friends
How could I let such a good thing end
“If y’all can’t make it no one can”
Some can’t even understand…
They may think I was wrong
But I’ll tell you what I blame it on
CHORUS
It’s hard to trust a man
who can’t trust himself with Whiskey
If you walk that line - you’re gonna find
it gets a little risky
He’ll beg for one more shot,
Try to tie your life in knots
And after that, your chances are iffy
It’s hard to trust a man
who can’t trust himself
With Whiskey
VERSE 2
Just one too many lies I can’t forgive
And that’s just not the way I choose to live
So I’ll be moving on
Maybe he’ll miss me when I’m gone
They might say I need more faith
But I couldn’t take another day
CHORUS
It’s hard to trust a man
who can’t trust himself with Whiskey
If you walk that line - you’re gonna find
it gets a little risky
He’ll beg for one more shot,
Try to tie your life in knots
And after that, your chances are iffy
It’s hard to trust a man
who can’t trust himself
With Whiskey
BRIDGE
The road can sure get rough
When he hits the harder stuff
CHORUS REPEATS
_______________________________________
The first verse has some direct quotes from my so-called "friends" when I tried to explain the dissolution of the marriage. Whiskey may not have been my ex's choice vice, but the effect on our relationship and the way he treated me was the same. When you can't trust your partner to trust themselves with substances, it becomes a whole new ballgame. The gaslighting, the forgotten aggressions, the cutting words...
The second verse reflects the reckoning that led to me finally leaving.
To anyone in an abusive relationship, especially one with any sort of substance abuse, if you've tried to get them to help themselves and they refuse... LEAVE.
Do not wait. Life is too short.
Staying to hear the twists and turns of lies and excuses does nothing but tie your life in knots, as the song says.
As the bridge states,
"The road can sure get rough
When he hits the harder stuff"
To anyone dealing with physical abuse from an inebriated partner, please document what you can and make a plan to leave ASAP - then execute said plan.
Your life is worth living - and that's not living.
800-799-7233 | Text "Begin" to 88788 for help!
This song is my healing. I hope it helps you, too.
With love,
Ariel Jade
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