A Humorous Hangover Serenade from Two Tarnished Troubadours
In the grand tradition of American folk storytelling, few artists balanced heartbreak and humor quite like John Prine and Steve Goodman. Their collaboration on How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night) stands as a charming testament to their shared gift: transforming everyday human missteps into musical gold.
While the track never stormed the charts or claimed a coveted spot on the Billboard Hot 100, it has quietly endured as a cult favorite among those who cherish clever songwriting and unpretentious authenticity. Nestled within the 1986 album German Afternoons, the song offers something far more lasting than commercial glory—it offers recognition. We’ve all been there, after all.
The Scene: Blurred Memories and Bright Humor
Imagine a dimly lit kitchen in the early morning. Sunlight sneaks through half-drawn blinds. A coffee cup sits untouched. Somewhere, a head throbs gently in rhythm with regret.
Then comes the question—half whispered, half laughed:
How much tequila did I drink last night?
It’s not an accusation. It’s not even true despair. It’s curiosity wrapped in sheepish amusement.
Prine and Goodman approach the morning-after fog not with shame, but with storytelling. The lyrics tumble out like fragments of memory—misplaced keys, questionable decisions, conversations that seem suspiciously vague. Each line feels less like a confession and more like an inside joke shared between old friends.
This is what made both men masters of their craft. They didn’t need melodrama. They needed truth—preferably served with a slice of irony.
The Chemistry of Camaraderie
One of the song’s greatest strengths is its effortless chemistry. Prine’s voice carries that familiar warmth—world-weary yet kind—while Goodman’s musical playfulness dances around him like a knowing grin.
Their friendship, forged in Chicago’s vibrant folk scene of the late 1960s and 1970s, was legendary. They traded songs, stages, and stories. They understood each other’s rhythms, not just musically but personally. When they sing together here, it feels less like a studio performance and more like two buddies recounting a blurry night over black coffee.
Goodman’s guitar work adds a jaunty bounce, ensuring the song never slips into self-pity. Instead, it sways lightly, as if to say: Yes, we may have overdone it—but wasn’t it a night?
Humor as Human Truth
What’s remarkable about How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night) is how deceptively simple it appears. On the surface, it’s a novelty tune—a playful recounting of mild overindulgence. But beneath the humor lies something deeper: the universal comfort of imperfection.
Prine was famous for this. He could write about aging, loneliness, politics, or mortality with the same understated wit. Goodman shared that gift. Together, they elevate a hangover into a meditation on memory, friendship, and the peculiar ways we measure a life.
Not every song needs to break your heart. Some simply need to remind you that you’re human.
The Album That Framed the Moment
When German Afternoons was released in 1986, it carried extra emotional weight. Steve Goodman had tragically passed away in 1984 after a long battle with leukemia. His presence on the album feels both joyful and bittersweet.
The record showcases Prine at his storytelling best—sharp, reflective, occasionally mischievous. But this particular track stands out for its levity. In an album tinged with reflection and maturity, How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night) is the sound of laughter echoing through memory.
It’s a reminder that even in life’s heavier chapters, humor persists.
A Song for Those Who’ve Lived a Little
For younger listeners, the song may sound like a playful anecdote. For those who’ve navigated decades of friendships, celebrations, and the occasional overenthusiastic toast, it resonates differently.
It brings back nights when conversations stretched until dawn. When the jukebox played one more song. When laughter drowned out the clock. And when morning arrived just a bit too soon.
But instead of regret, the song offers grace. It doesn’t scold. It smiles.
Why It Still Matters Today
In an era of hyper-produced hits and algorithm-driven playlists, there’s something refreshing about a track that feels this organic. No flashy hooks. No overwrought drama. Just two gifted songwriters sharing a relatable slice of life.
The song’s enduring appeal lies in its honesty. It acknowledges the folly without condemning it. It finds poetry in the mundane. It treats a hangover not as failure, but as narrative material.
And perhaps most importantly, it celebrates friendship—the kind built on shared stages, shared jokes, and yes, occasionally shared tequila.
A Gentle Toast to Imperfection
If music is meant to reflect who we are, then How Much Tequila (Did I Drink Last Night) reflects us at our most vulnerable and most amused. It captures that delicate balance between embarrassment and laughter, reminding us that some of life’s best stories begin with fuzzy details.
John Prine once wrote songs that could make you cry without raising his voice. Steve Goodman could make you grin with a single chord. Together, here, they do something subtler: they invite you to sit down, shake your head, and chuckle at yourself.
And maybe—just maybe—pour another cup of coffee.
Because sometimes the morning-after mystery isn’t something to regret.
It’s something to remember.