Back to the Cellar: The Simple, Perfect Comfort of Being Home
For those who cherish the rough-hewn poetry and authentic storytelling of Texas singer-songwriters, Robert Earl Keen is nothing short of a deity, and his song “Feelin’ Good Again” is a sacred hymn of contentment. It’s not a chart-topping pop smash; it’s a deep-cut anthem for the soul, a perfect slice of Americana that celebrates the simple, imperfect, and wholly satisfying act of coming home.
“Feelin’ Good Again” was released on Robert Earl Keen’s acclaimed 1994 album, “Gringo Honeymoon.” As is often the case with true Americana and Texas Country gems, this song’s success was not measured on the mainstream music charts. Robert Earl Keen belongs to a tradition where album sales and constant touring, rather than Top 40 singles, define a career. The album “Gringo Honeymoon,” however, was a significant success for Keen, solidifying his place as one of the most respected storytellers of his generation and becoming a staple in countless pickup trucks and honky-tonks across the South and Southwest. Its power lies not in a peak position, but in its permanence on every fan’s playlist.
The story behind this song, penned by Keen himself, is drawn directly from his own life in Bandera, Texas, and revolves around a real place—Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon. Keen revealed that the song was born from his habit of returning home late at night after long stretches of touring. Too wired to sleep, he’d find himself wandering to Arkey’s, a legendary, cozy beer joint set in a cellar down the street from his house. The song’s meaning is pure, unadulterated decompression and a return to the familiar. It’s the feeling of walking back into your comfort zone after a stressful journey—the simple joy of sitting with old friends, listening to the jukebox, and being exactly where you belong.
The lyrics introduce real or composite characters, like the tiny, train-whistle-imitating “Perkins,” lending the song an intimate, lived-in texture. But the most touching element is the appearance of his wife, Kathleen (who the narrator calls her own name in the song), who would occasionally wake up, notice her husband wasn’t beside her, and simply come down the stairs to join him and his friends at the bar, sometimes long after 2:00 AM. That unexpected, loving presence—that silent affirmation of connection—is the moment the narrator truly starts “Feelin’ Good Again.”
This song speaks directly to anyone who has ever felt road-weary, anyone who has found solace in the easy company of friends, or anyone who knows the deep, quiet comfort of a marriage that understands and forgives a little eccentricity. Keen’s songwriting is masterful, using specific, simple details to evoke a sweeping sense of belonging. The gentle, rolling melody, coupled with his conversational, slightly drawling vocal style, makes you feel like you’re sitting right there in that smoky cellar, a cold beer in your hand, watching the world’s worries melt away. It’s a reminder that true happiness isn’t a grand achievement; it’s just being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.