While it may make the top of every beach-anthem summer playlist, Kenny Chesney’s 2005 hit “Beer In Mexico” holds a deeper meaning for the country singer, despite its carefree melody.
Originally released as the fifth and final single from his tenth studio album, The Road and the Radio, the track soared to the top of the US Billboard Hot Country chart, marking Chesney’s first solo-written number one. Now, over 20 years later, the Tennessee native is opening up about how the happy-go-lucky-sounding song was actually the product of a crossroads moment in his life.
With the continuing press tour for his recently published autobiography, Heart Life Music, the country music hall of famer sat down with the Rich Eisen Show to discuss both his new endeavour as an author and, of course, his lasting career of over 30 years. Eisen dug into the conversation, asking if there were any lyrics in his career that filled Chesney with the satisfaction of being able to say, “That’s it, that’s the one.”
Chesney revealed that one of the first to come to mind was “Beer In Mexico,” noting that, “everybody thought that that song was a party song, but it wasn’t, it was a true reflection of my soul.” While Chesney may have written the song after attending a party– Sammy Hagar’s Cabo birthday bash to be exact– he noted that the event opened his eyes to a deeper brewing insecurity in his life at the time.
At the age of 36, Chesney and his band played a set for almost four hours straight at the rock legends’ birthday, which, of course, was followed by an after-party at a local bar called Squid Roe. Chesney said during the night he “felt this unfamiliar feeling inside of me and I didn’t really know what it was and I didn’t know it was a song.” He added, “I just knew I had to go start writing something down.”
Following the urge, Chesney left the celebration to go back to the house and immediately pulled out a notepad and his guitar and just reflected on this time period in his life. “I think what I was thinking about in the bar, I was looking at all my friends and people that were working with me and for me, and they all had families and they all had kids, and here I was 36, and I was, you know, I did have that stuff. I was building what I was building.”
While the overwhelming thought of feeling left behind or out of place might have put many into a midlife crisis, Chesney channeled the worries into a tune about how it was okay to not have everything figured out. He chuckled, expanding, “It’s okay enough to be playing Sammy Hagar’s birthday party.”
Sure enough, that night the song was born, and Chesney thanked the Van Halen member for playing a small part in the creation of what he describes as a truly “autobiographical song.” Looking back at the second verse of this track feels like a time capsule into Chesney’s personal experience, which is also certainly a widespread feeling that resonates with many people.
Too old to be wild and free still
Too young to be over the hill
Should I try to grow up?
But who knows where to start
Per the now RIAA platinum song’s advice, what better way to tackle your worries than a beer (preferably in Mexico)? The track also continues to be a staple on Chesney’s live show setlists with the extension of his Las Vegas residency at the Sphere in a couple of months. He’ll return to the larger-than-life concert experience for 9 dates starting June 19 throughout July 11.
Las Vegas Residency Dates:
- June 19
- June 20
- June 24
- June 26
- June 27
- July 1
- July 8
- July 10
- July 11