: Brice himself appears throughout the video, often in a backwards ball cap, singing with an impassioned, slightly melancholy delivery that critics suggest adds depth to the song's message of adult resilience.
The video’s narrative arc follows a diverse group of laborers—including truckers, construction workers, welders, and waitresses—from the early, dark hours of dawn through a long day of work. Lee Brice - Drinking Class (Official Music Video)
: As Brice sings about being "up when the rooster crows" and "clocking in when the whistle blows," the visuals emphasize the repetitive, physically demanding nature of their jobs. : Brice himself appears throughout the video, often
: The video effectively moves from the solitary drudgery of the workday to the loud, rowdy, and empowering atmosphere of the night, where whiskey and beer serve as symbols of earned freedom. : The video effectively moves from the solitary
: It opens with a "dark dawn" that mirrors the song's mellow start, showing workers readying themselves for the day with coffee and cigarettes.
Reviewers from Rolling Stone and Taste of Country have noted that the video avoids "Solo cups-in-the-air" clichés. Instead, it balances the "misery" of backbreaking labor with the genuine joy found in simple pleasures.
Ultimately, the video for "Drinking Class" reinforces Brice's intent to honor the people who "work hard to provide for their families". It provides a universal "love letter" to anyone—from construction workers to stay-at-home moms—who feels the need for a moment of respite after a long day of work. Drinking Class - song and lyrics by Lee Brice - Spotify