Whiskey Glasses

Whiskey Glasses relies on the 1990s-era 'sensitive female' progression (I-V-vi-IV), which became a staple of 21st-century country-pop. The song's character comes from the rhythmic syncopation in the vocal delivery rather than harmonic complexity. The choice of Gb Major provides a bright, resonant frequency for the bright acoustic guitars while sitting in a comfortable tenor range for the lead vocal. The harmony remains strictly diatonic, ensuring the melody is easily memorized for radio play.

Written in 2015, the song originated during a session where Ben Burgess proposed the title idea. Kevin Kadish contributed the core line regarding needing whiskey glasses to avoid seeing the truth. The narrative focuses on a protagonist who turns to alcohol to cope with a painful breakup. Burgess also incorporated a phrase his father used to say after drinking too much—'Poor Pappy... pour your Pappy a drink'—which evolved into the opening line 'Poor me, pour me another drink.'

Originally released on Wallen’s 2016 EP, this track became a massive sleeper hit after its 2018 single release, eventually reaching 13× Platinum status. Producer Joey Moi intentionally paired Ben Burgess’s melancholy lyrics about alcoholic escapism with an upbeat, radio-ready arrangement.