Bubba Shot the Jukebox
Mark Chesnutt · Ultimate Collection: Complete Mca Single 1990-2000 [2011]
Tellin' stories if we had one
Someone fired the old jukebox up
The song it sure was a sad one
A teardrop rolled down Bubba's nose
From the pain the song was inflictin'
And all at once he jumped to his feet
Just like somebody kicked him.
Bubba shot the jukebox last night
Said it played a sad song, it made him cry
Went to his truck and got a 45
Bubba shot the jukebox last night.
Bubba ain't never been accused
Of bein' mentally stable
So we did not draw an easy breath
'Til he laid that Colt on the table
He hung his head
'Til the cops showed up
They dragged him right outta Margies
They told him don't you play dumb with us son
You know damn well what the charge is.
Bubba shot the jukebox last night
Said it played a sad song, it made him cry
Went to his truck and got a 45
Well, he shot the jukebox last night.
When the sheriff arrived with his bathrobe on
The confrontation was a tense one
He shook his head and said Bubba boy
You was always a dense one
A reckless discharge of a gun
That's what the officers are claimin'
Bubba hollered out reckless hell
I hit just where I was aimin'.
Bubba shot the jukebox last night
Said it played a sad song, it made him cry
Went to his truck and got a 45
Well, he shot the jukebox.
Stopped it with one shot
Bubba shot the jukebox last night.
Well, he could not tell right from wrong
Through the teardrops in his eyes
Beyond a shadow of a doubt
It was a justifiable homicide.
--- Instrumental ---
Bubba shot the jukebox
Stopped it with one shot
Bubba shot the jukebox last night...
Bubba Shot the Jukebox
Mark Chesnutt's 'Bubba Shot the Jukebox' stands as a quintessential example of his honky-tonk style, blending traditional country instrumentation with a narrative that captures the gritty reality of the music business. Recorded for his 2011 compilation 'Ultimate Collection: Complete Mca Single 1990-2000', the track showcases Chesnutt's signature ability to weave storytelling into his music, a hallmark of his career spanning decades. The song reflects the broader genre's focus on the struggles and triumphs of working musicians, using the metaphor of a jukebox to symbolize the unpredictable nature of performance and recognition. Its inclusion in this comprehensive retrospective highlights its enduring appeal and solidifies its place within Chesnutt's catalog of work that celebrates the life and art of the country musician.