George Jones didn’t let a missing car key stop him from a liquor run. Twice. In the late ’60s, his wife hid every set of car keys to keep him from driving drunk. But George spotted his riding lawnmower under the porch light—keys in the ignition—and drove it 8 miles to the liquor store at 5 mph. Years later, married to Tammy Wynette, he pulled the same stunt. She woke at 1 a.m. to find him gone… and found him 10 miles away, mower parked outside a bar. He looked up and said, “Well fellas, here she is now. My little wife. I told you she’d come after me.” The legend lives on: Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance” nods to the story—“She might have took my car keys, but she forgot about my old John Deere.” And in the video? Vince passes George Jones… riding a lawnmower. You can’t make this stuff up and these are our true country legends!

Introduction

Recently, I clicked on Vince Gill’s official video for “One More Last Chance,” expecting a classic country ballad but instead was greeted by an infectious uptempo groove that felt like a breath of fresh air. From the first guitar riff, you can’t help but smile as Gill’s warm tenor invites you into a story of hope tinged with self-aware humor. It’s the kind of tune that makes you want to press replay and imagine yourself back on a small-town honky-tonk dancefloor.

Co-written by Gill and longtime collaborator Gary Nicholson, “One More Last Chance” balances tongue-in-cheek humor with genuine longing. Delbert McClinton’s harmonica flourishes add a playful edge, while Gill’s crisp guitar licks underscore every cheeky lyric about pleading for one more shot at love. Even as you tap your toe, the song’s core sentiment rings true—who hasn’t wished for just one more chance to make things right? It’s a standout track from his fifth studio album, I Still Believe in You, released in September 1992 and produced by Tony Brown.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker John Lloyd Miller, the video for “One More Last Chance” premiered in mid-1993 and instantly became a fan favorite. Gill arrives at the golf course riding a John Deere tractor, joined by Belmont men’s head basketball coach Rick Byrd and bandmates for a round of laughs and licks. The grand finale is a surprise cameo by country legend George Jones, lumbering into view on his riding mower—an affectionate nod to Jones’s real-life lawnmower beer runs. It’s a visual mash-up of country lore and lighthearted fun that still brings smiles.

This cheeky roadhouse romp didn’t just charm listeners—it stormed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart on October 9, 1993, marking Gill’s third career chart-topper and holding the spot for one memorable week. At the 28th TNN/Music City News Country Awards on June 6, 1994, “One More Last Chance” was crowned Single of the Year, further proving its staying power. And if you ever catch Gill at an award show—like his spirited 1993 ACM Awards set—you’ll see why audiences still leap to their feet when those opening chords ring out.

Decades later, “One More Last Chance” remains a staple in Gill’s live setlists and on country playlists, thanks to its relatable theme of craving one more opportunity at love and its rollicking arrangement . It’s hard not to grin at lines like “I’ve had one beer for treatin’ / Two beers for thinkin’,” because we all recognize that blend of optimism and self-deprecation. Whether you’re hearing it through headphones or crowd-surfing at a concert, it’s a reminder that sometimes, one last chance is all you need to set things right.

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