Country crooner T. Graham Brown talks about the song that changed the course of his career.
25 years after “Wine Into Water” was released, country legend T. Graham Brown sits down to chat about the song’s impact, his upcoming autobiography, and more.
C&I: You recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of “Wine Into Water” — a deeply personal song for you that has continued to have a profound effect on people for more than a quarter-century.
T. Graham Brown: It never was a big hit, but it has turned into this thing, this recovery song, and it’s used all over the world. Somebody posted a video of when I sang it at the Ryman Auditorium — and it’s had nearly 6 million views on YouTube. Like I say, it’s turned into this recovery thing worldwide. Just click on the comments and read a few of them. They’re like, “This song saved my life.” Or, “This song kept me from committing suicide.” Or, “This song saved my mother’s life.” It’s like, dang, on and on and on and on.
C&I: The song is specifically about someone with a drinking problem praying to God for help. But it’s been embraced by lots of people who are battling other demons as well.
T. Graham: God is using this song in mighty ways. It’s unbelievable. When we wrote it, we had no idea this might happen. No idea. I remember one lady posted: “My husband beat me up again. So I pulled out on a road one night out in the country, and I had a pistol. I was fixing to kill myself, and I turned on the radio. And bam! “Wine Into Water” came on right that second, and I changed my mind.” Even now, I end every show with “Wine Into Water.” And I always give my testimony about my journey through drugs and alcohol and all that, because I want people to leave the show with that on their mind.
C&I: How bad did things get for you in the old days?
T. Graham: Well, you know, I did put my wife, Sheila, through some changes. We’ve been together 44 years. So, she’s been there through all this craziness. I mean, I’d get on the horse a while and fall off. Get on the horse a while and fall off. I just never could stay sober. I didn’t want to go to rehab. Sheila made me go. And it didn’t help. I think if I’d have gone in the right frame of mind, really wanting to get sober, it might’ve helped. But see, ever since I was in high school, I never could have one or two. I always drank to get drunk. I never could have a social drink. Never. I was always the guy that was ordering double martinis and a bottle and all that. I got to the point where I was always thinking, When am I going to get my next buzz? Like, I’m out of pot today. I need to go buy a bag of pot. My Valiums are running out. I’m going to need to go see the doctor. I’d be in the back of the bus, and I’d drink one of those big old cheap bottles of wine. I’d drink all night long, pass out, sleep all day, get up, do the show, drink all night, pass out, sleep all day, and get up. That was my life on the road.
C&I: How did you change?
T. Graham: This is a cliché of a story, but it happened. Woke up one morning, man, hung over bad. And I was just sick and tired of being tired and sick. This is so corny, but it’s real. I actually looked in the mirror and I said out loud, “Man, what are you doing? You’re about to blow everything. You’re smarter than this. You got to do something about this.” And I asked God to help me. From that second, I have not had one drink. I mean, I went from 24/7 to never thinking about it. Ain’t that crazy, man? So “Wine Into Water” and recovering and all that — it’s kind of my thing now.
C&I: And now you’re writing an autobiography?
T. Graham: [Laughs.] Yeah, but it’s taking a while because Sheila keeps adding stuff. Seriously. I mean, while we were driving over here, there was something she said, and then she followed that with, “Golly, we need to put that in the book.” I also host my LIVE WIRE show for SiriusXM radio. And I just cut a soul music record that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. I grew up in the ’60s, so really, I’m a soul man anyway. So I cut it at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. And I’ve had friends like Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton join me on it. And soul artists like Sam Moore of Sam & Dave and Little Anthony of Little Anthony and the Imperials. I even do a duet with Eddie Floyd, singing his big hit “Knock on Wood.” The album is due out next year — and I hope you enjoy it.
Illustration by Raul Arias
Keep up with T. Graham Brown and his music at tgrahambrown.com.
From our May/June 2024 issue.
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