[1] It was also an attempt to provide a different perspective from the common country music theme of a customer telling his troubles to the bartender.

[1] The bartender feels trapped and unhappy in his job, and is looking for a "honky tonk angel" to come save him.

[1][2] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "James Taylor's impression of what life in a honky tonk must be.

Fox sees the song as capturing a classic country music metaphor of the bartender who uses his talking skills to "repair social ruptures" but in the process becomes "the very kind of fool he despises, hating his job even as he lights the cigarettes and laughs at the jokes of his customers while watching them fall down on [their] knees.

"[4] Sue Simmons-McGinity remarks on how the song applies the common country music metaphor of a "honky tonk angel" who has the potential to save her man but unlike in many country songs, in "Bartender's Blues" the angel doesn't "become wife and mother to be helpful.

[1] Allmusic critic Bill Janovitz says of Taylor's performance "Taylor sounds about as convincing in his attempt at straight-country performance as he is as a Nashville songwriter; that is, not very", although he considers it a "commendable effort at writing a genuine country song" that is "beautiful musically", particularly the melody.

[8] Record World said that "this James Taylor tune comes across well with [Jones'] convincing vocals" and that "Billy Sherrill's production work adds the finishing touch.

"[9] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls "Bartender's Blues" the strongest song on the album.