‘Bible, Bottle, Gun’ by The Rural Lonely review
- Gary @ BootsofUK
- 9. juni
- 3 min lesing
The Rural Lonely (Ryan) is from Glasgow, Scotland and is an upcoming Country artist, joining the likes of Rosemil Kix, Robyn Red, Lucy Tay and Erin Ponsonby to name but a few.
His debut album ‘One Door Closes’ is being released in 2 parts, with the first 7 tracks available from 24th April 2026, with equal strokes of melancholy, positivity, honesty and vulnerability, through familiar country sounds and a scottish take on the traditional texas tone. The second half being available from 25th September 2026.
“It was late in the summer,
when the men first called
To say they'd just got word
That the storm took my father,
and they'd done all they could
And they asked what I'd prefer
So I went down to the coast
And I gathered what I loved most”
The first verse eludes to a deep and personal moment in one’s life. Reference to ‘the storm’ could be both literal, or metaphorical given mention to ‘Bottle’ and ‘Gun’ in the title. It also refers to the support provided at that difficult one both for end of life but also bereavement care. ‘They’d done all they could and they asked what I’d prefer’ captures the very humanising and rewarding side of caring for the needs of others.
“The Bible, the bottle, and the gun
My daddy's boots and his tobacco
and the bullets that he loved
The Bible, the bottle, and the gun
The fishin' hooks and his tobacco
and the bullets that he loved.”
The chorus speaks of the essentials loosely speaking. The Bible, because we all have our faiths or non; the bottle, because we need to keep hydrated (as much as enjoying our favourite tipple), and the gun represents our ability to protect ourselves. Often when we speak we can be like a gun, shooting off words without consideration for the consequences, or perhaps we misfire, where we stop ourselves deliberately or otherwise.
The chorus also references fishing hooks, somewhat ironic if we are talking about drink addiction. Yet the bullets could be metaphorical for all the hatred they’ve received, a reminder to how damaging our words can be.
“I've been talkin' to the preacher,
who said my daddy's gone
To a place I can't go yet
But the whiskey is keepin' me
from wantin' to be strong
When the pain won't let me rest
So I laid out on the coast
And I gathered what I loved most.”
This verse references how many turn to a preacher, or faith leader to provide comfort and reassurance following bereavement. “A place I can’t go yet” is perhaps referring to heaven as it’s not our time to go yet. Also referenced in this verse is the affects alcohol have on our body “the whiskey is keepin’ me from wanting to be strong.” Whilst we all may require a stiff drink when learning of a loved one’s passing, often this can be the start of a viscous cycle. There’s also a beautiful continuing reference to the sea or coast which helps serves as connection to the recently deceased.
The song ‘Bible, Bottle Gun’ is out now (available from 24th April 2026) as the first half of The Rural Lonely’s debut album ‘One Door Closes’. Make sure to follow him online and on your chosen music platform, or check in on his website https://therurallonely.co.uk/ for details of new releases, performances and festivals.
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