About the song
“I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” stands as one of the most tender and understated gems in George Jones’s vast country music catalog. Released in 1978 as part of the album Bartender’s Blues, the song exemplifies Jones’s extraordinary ability to blend emotional vulnerability with classic country simplicity. Written by Bob McDill, one of Nashville’s finest songwriters, “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” is a meditation on forgiveness, patience, and devotion within a struggling relationship — a song that reflects the emotional complexity of real-life love, not the idealized version often found in pop music.
Through its quiet sincerity, heartfelt lyrics, and Jones’s soulful voice, the song captures the deep humanity that made him one of the greatest interpreters in country music history.
Background and Context
By the late 1970s, George Jones had already become a legendary figure in country music. Known for his expressive phrasing and emotionally charged performances, Jones had built a reputation as “The Possum” — a man whose songs spoke directly to the heart of working-class America. Yet his personal life at the time was filled with turmoil: alcoholism, financial problems, and a painful separation from his former wife and duet partner Tammy Wynette.
Amid this chaos, Bartender’s Blues (1978) represented a fascinating artistic moment. Produced by Billy Sherrill, the album blended Jones’s traditional honky-tonk sound with smoother, countrypolitan arrangements. It was also the period when Jones began experimenting with songs that reflected mature emotions rather than simple heartbreak or honky-tonk revelry. “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” fit perfectly within this framework — a song about restraint and understanding, rather than anger and blame.
Written by Bob McDill, who also penned hits for Don Williams, Alan Jackson, and Waylon Jennings, the song plays to Jones’s strengths as a storyteller. McDill’s lyrics provide a portrait of a man confronting disappointment and frustration in his relationship, but instead of giving in to bitterness or violence, he chooses love as his means of expression.
Lyrics and Themes
At its heart, “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” is a song about emotional maturity, patience, and compassion — themes that were relatively uncommon in country music at the time. The opening verse sets the tone immediately:
“She’s been gone about three hours,
And I’ve been drinkin’ since she left.”
These lines might lead the listener to expect a typical George Jones heartbreak story — one filled with sorrow and whiskey-soaked regret. But the song quickly turns in a different, surprising direction. Instead of anger or vengeance, the narrator chooses tenderness:
“Instead of gettin’ mean,
I’ll just take it out in love.”
This refrain becomes the emotional core of the song. It transforms what could have been a song about jealousy or domestic strife into one about forgiveness and devotion. The narrator is frustrated, lonely, and disappointed — but he channels those emotions into acts of love rather than confrontation.
The song’s message is one of quiet strength: true love isn’t about perfection or endless passion, but about endurance, kindness, and the willingness to keep caring even when things are hard.
This makes “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” both deeply romantic and profoundly realistic. It acknowledges the pain that exists in every long-term relationship while offering a hopeful alternative — that love, when chosen deliberately, can transcend anger and disappointment.
Musical Style and Performance
Musically, the song is classic late-1970s country balladry — elegant, understated, and filled with emotional warmth. Billy Sherrill’s production gives it a smooth, polished sound, with gentle piano, soft pedal steel guitar, and subtle string arrangements. The melody moves at a slow, conversational pace, allowing Jones’s voice to take center stage.
George Jones’s vocal performance is nothing short of masterful. His phrasing is effortless, yet every syllable carries emotional weight. He doesn’t over-sing or dramatize; instead, he lets the quiet pain and tenderness of the lyrics unfold naturally. His voice rises gently at the end of phrases, giving each line a touch of vulnerability — a hallmark of his artistry.
One of the reasons Jones was so revered as a singer is his ability to inhabit a song fully. In “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love,” he doesn’t sound like he’s performing; he sounds like he’s living the song. There’s a weary acceptance in his tone, but also a glimmer of hope — the belief that love, even when tested, remains worth holding onto.
Emotional and Cultural Significance
“I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” offers a striking counterpoint to many of Jones’s most famous heartbreak songs, such as “The Grand Tour” or “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” While those songs dwell on loss and tragedy, this one turns inward and seeks redemption through compassion. It’s about finding peace in the act of forgiving — not just one’s partner, but oneself.
For listeners familiar with George Jones’s tumultuous personal life, the song carries an extra layer of poignancy. It’s easy to imagine him singing it as a kind of personal confession — an acknowledgment of his own flaws and an expression of what he wished love could be: steady, gentle, and forgiving.
The song also reflects a broader evolution in country music storytelling during the late 1970s. Writers like Bob McDill were bringing emotional realism to the genre, moving beyond honky-tonk clichés toward songs that captured the quiet complexities of everyday life. “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” fits squarely within this movement, offering wisdom rather than melodrama.
Legacy and Reception
Although “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” wasn’t one of George Jones’s biggest commercial hits, it became a fan favorite and a respected deep cut among country music purists. Over the years, critics have praised it for its emotional honesty and understated beauty, often citing it as one of Jones’s most humane and mature performances.
The song also endures as an example of why George Jones remains a touchstone for singers who value emotional authenticity. Artists from Alan Jackson to Vince Gill have cited Jones as a master of conveying heartbreak and love in equal measure — and “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” is a perfect case study in that skill.
Conclusion
“I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” may not have the dramatic sweep of George Jones’s biggest hits, but it represents something even more profound: a quiet lesson in the power of love over anger, understanding over resentment. It’s a song for grown-ups — for anyone who has lived through the ups and downs of real relationships and learned that forgiveness is often the truest expression of love.
Through Bob McDill’s wise lyrics and George Jones’s unmatched voice, the song becomes a meditation on emotional grace. It reminds us that love isn’t always easy or glamorous — but it’s always worth the effort. And that’s why, decades later, “I’ll Just Take It Out in Love” continues to resonate as one of the most touching and quietly powerful songs in George Jones’s remarkable career.