Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Hutzul
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:20 AM

WHISKEY ON A SUNDAY or COME DAY, GO DAY

BEER BARREL POLKA

La Traviata, Act One

Follow the Fold, from "Guys & Dolls"

Judy Henske's Salvation Army Song G-L-O-R-Y I'm S-A-V-E-D I'm so H-A-P-P-Y To be F-R-Double E F-R-Double E From the ways of S-I-N Glory, glory, hallaluya Tra la la, Amen

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: alison
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:33 AM

James/Jim, it's a version of 'seven drunken nights/ seven nights drunk etc.. I'm sure it's in the database.... and there are plenty of threads if you do a search

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: BigDaddy
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:50 AM

"Glasgow Mother's Lullaby." Definitely!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN BEHIND THE BAR^^
From: GUEST,Owlkat
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:29 AM

Hi,
I found some of this on a bartowel in a restaurant in Vancouver. I don't know the original author, and I've added liberally to the verses and added a chorus. The folk process; love it or leave it.
Cheers,
Owl.


THE MAN BEHIND THE BAR
(trad-anon, adapted by M. Waldman c97)

Now give me your attention, some quiet if you please,
There's something needing mention, so set yourselves at ease.
I've come to sing the praises of a man we all hold dear
The publican who serves to us, our whiskey, wine and beer.

CHORUS: He's the Rock of old Gibraltar, he's the road to Mandalay,
Eternally dependable, he works his life away,
Never failing in his duty, he's the best of us by far,
Good health to him, and wealth to him/ the man behind the bar.
(Raise beers to him, here's cheers to him/A pint or glass, full to the brim) For the man behind the bar

. He deserves a hero's medal for the many lives he's saved,
And upon the role of honour, his name should be engraved.
He deserves a lot of credit for the way he stands the strain
For the yarns he has to swallow would drive most of us insane.

He pays the highest license, he pays the highest rent,
He battles daily with the bank and pays their ten percent,
When it comes to paying bills he must be Johnny on the spot,
And he pays for all the drink he sells whether you pay him or not.

Though he's scorned by representatives in every parliament,
To blame for every stinking sot who ever drank the rent,
They'll gladly belly to his bar to tipple and relax,
And line their bulging pockets with his heavy liquor tax.

There's the clergy in the pulpit, and the preachers in the hall
Who assure him that the churches are against him one and all
But every time they plan to hold a ballot or bazaar
They start by selling tickets to the man behind the bar

Now when you walk into his bar, he'll greet you with a smile
Be you worker dressed in overalls or a banker dressed in style,
If you're Irish, English, Scot, or Welsh, it doesn't matter what
He'll treat you like a gentleman until you prove you're not

While pulling stout may seem to be his only lot in life,
You'd never even know he had a daughter or a wife,
But lest you get too tipsy and your flirting gets too far,
You'd better have a running start on the man behind the bar

When he retires a job well done, to await six feet of soil,
Discards his coat and apron, no more on earth to toil,
When St. Peter sees him coming, he will hold the gates ajar
For he'll know who's been through Hell on Earth, it's the man behind the bar.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Lena
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:43 AM

Oggie,thanks for reminding me about that beautiful song.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:35 AM

ALL FOR ME GROG!

And it's all for me grog, me noggin nogging grog, All for me beer and tobbaco

And so on

Ella

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 05:54 AM

"GOOD ALE"

Mind you, the drunken students round my way like to sing "The Fields of Athenry" very loudly at 3 am, so perhaps that's a contender.

The Beer Necessities of Life....

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:05 AM

THE HUMORS OF WHISKEY (Stick to the Crayture),

INTOXICATED RAT

Subject: Lyr Add: LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE^^
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 01:36 PM

LIQUOR, BEER, AND WINE
Reverend Horton Heat

The doctor says I'm livin'
On precious borrowed time,
With all the time I'm givin',
To liquor, beer, and wine.
The X-rays of my liver,
Look like molded old Swiss cheese,
My heart pumps blood and alcohol,
Through hardened arteries.

Everybody knows me,
Down at the local bar,
I drink until I can't see,
And I wonder where you are.
I guess I let my health go,
Since you quit bein' mine,
But there was nothing to replace you,
Except liquor, beer, and wine.

(Chorus)
Liquor, beer and wine,
Is the flashing sign I see,
Every single morning I get up,
It's buzzing down at me.
I look up to the heavens,
For a ray of hope to shine,
And there it is in neon,
Liquor, beer, and wine.

Ever since you've left me,
I've lived out of my car,
Parked between the liquor store,
And Uncle Bubba's bar.
Booze helps ease the heartache,
But you're constantly in mind,
As constant as that buzzing noise,
Of Uncle Bubba's sign.

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:30 PM

WyoWoman suggested a Smothers Brothers ditty in another thread:
"CRABS WALK SIDEWAYS"

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:58 PM

I don't want to spoil your fun, but as someone who works with people who have had their lives destroyed by alcohol, I thought I should suggest clicking here to give a bit of balance.

A member

(who has had enough of posting under her own name)

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 03:01 PM

Sorry,

I mean't here

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:04 PM

I was thinking about that too, and wondered if the number of songs/tunes/posts on this thread says anything about (our? neaning musician/folkie/bloozie) lifestyle................

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 04:18 PM

sometime ago I asked about a country western song called One Drink is One Too Many; a Thousand's [100??]Not Enough" I didn't find it here or at cowpie. It would be a good song for this thread if anyone knows it. And unfortunately, for a lot of opeople the title is very true.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 06:19 PM

The Kippers do a good one, vaguely about temperance, but I'm too "tired and emotional" to get to the CD rack and find out what it is..... They also do Wassail.

Wassail, wassail, we'll tell you wassail,
That comes in bottles brown and pale
Comes in bottles so bring some here,
And we'll have a happy new year!

LTS

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: mg
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 03:56 AM

DRY CARDRONA on Ed Trickett record, Moonshine can,

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 04:30 AM

John Prime's Daddy long legs song

The one about a drunken walk home and he talks to the creatures.

Round she goes heel to the toe etc

Sorry having a blonde moment and can't remember...

Ella (not blonde at all)

REEL IN THE FLICKERING LIGHT - posted below. --JoeClone, 30-Jan-05.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: bflat
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 05:54 AM

Mary Gauthier has a song: "I Drink" on her Drag Queens and Limousines CD.

bflat

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Michael in Swansea
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 06:30 AM

JOCK STEWART,

BARLEY MOW,

I'm a rover, seldom sober.....M

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Amergin
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 06:50 AM

CARRICKFERGUS....

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: PoohBear
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 02:15 AM

I like beer... It makes me a jolly good fellow.

There's Sober Men in Plenty [RAMBLIN' ROVER]

Drive Us to Drink

Nancy Whiskey

All for Me Grog

MARTIN SAID TO HIS MAN

Subject: Lyr Add: PILGRIM (Bob Gibson)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 03:28 PM

BOB GIBSON wrote this in the 1980s--when he was recovering from various substances. It's a fine song for alcoholics:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deep in the darkness I have known,
I stumble aimless and alone,
At last too weary of the pain,
I choose to find my way again.

......I journey step by step along,
......This healing path that makes me whole,
......I am a pilgrim of my mind,
......I am a seeker of my soul.

BRIDGE: Yesterday is history--tomorrow is a mystery,
I know the past is dead--the future's blind,
By looking to this moment for the light I need to find my way,
I will make it one day at a time.

And though this journey is my own,
I need not travel it alone,
By sharing faith with broken friends,
A broken pilgrim slowly mends.

......We journey step by step along,
......This healing path that makes us whole,
......We are the pilgrims of our mind,
......We are the seekers of our soul.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: P05139
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 08:50 PM

I know I'm too young to drink but when I was 9 or 10 I used to sing The Gulls Of Invergordon and MOUNTAIN DEW!

I can't see WHISKEY IN THE JAR either!

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Judy Cook
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 10:06 PM

One of my favorites is "SHINGLING THE RUM SELLERS ROOF" that Joe Hickerson recorded for Folk Legacy.

--Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 10:21 PM

Hey, Judy, Your new CD is wonderful! I hope you're selling a bunch of 'em.

Folks, for those of you who don't realize it, Judy and Dennis Cook are mainstays of the Folk Society Of Greater Washington (D.C.). She does more with an al capone voice---er, I mean a-capella voice, (unaccompanied) than most any ballad singer I've ever heard. Grand variations/versions of the big ballads. If you enjoy traditional balladry, you'll find surprising gems throughout the CD.

Art Thieme
(P.S.----I forgot to mention that the name of Judy Cook's new CD is FAR FROM THE LOWLANDS. The web site is http://www.ceimd.com/folksing.htm )

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Grab
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 09:24 AM

No-one mentioned "WASN'T THAT A PARTY" by Tom Paxton, or "Out behind the Gypsy's" (although that's more a pot-head song)? Highly recommended. There's something from one of my gran's songbooks called "A SONG OF WATER" which is pretty good too (although I've got to update the lyrics slightly since they're showing their Victorian origins a bit).

More depressing - you've always got "FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK", or Beautiful South's "Woman in the wall".

Grab.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Naemanson
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 09:27 AM

How about Tanglefoot's "Drunken Dummer Survey"

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 09:42 AM

Art,

Any chance of getting a tune to the Bob Gibson song?

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Art Thieme
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 11:28 AM

Roger,

I'll be sending you a personal message.

Art

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: P05139
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 01:06 PM

Grab, had you forgotten The Beautiful South's "Liars Bar" from their "Blue Is The Colour" album?!

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,SusanGoo
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 01:33 PM

Dear Friends, While not exactly singable, don't forget to find the "commercial" for "Irish Drinking Songs" from Saturday Night Live from sometime during the 90's. Should be on one of those "best of..." videos. I taped it a couple years ago and play it every St. Patrick's day for all my ne'er do well friends. My favorite is "The Incoherent Song," which is just what you might expect.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 05:42 PM

No no no no, I don't ( ) no more
I'm tired of waking up on the floor
No no no no ...
Then it makes it hard to find the door. -- Ringo

That's THE NO-NO SONG by Hoyt Axton. Ringo Starr covered it. --JoeClone, 30-Jan-05.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,billmcgow
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 06:06 PM

Alcohol- by the kinks

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Brendy
Date: 15 Aug 00 - 07:02 PM

THE FOXY DEVIL. Written by Joe Dolan (the Galway one), and recorded by Christy Moore on 'The Iron Behind The Velvet' album (Tara 1978). The title of the album is symbolic of the morning after the night before.

Another great one is Andy Fairweather-Lowe's 'Wide Eyed and Legless.

B.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOD OF WINE (Third Eye Blind)^^
From: hesperis
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 02:28 AM

My absolute favorite Christmas carol, I've loved it since before ever I tasted ale --- Yech! Blft!

Wassail, Wassail ~ Traditional

"Wassail, wassail all over the town
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown..."

Wish I could remember the rest... Sang it in choir a few (too many) years back for a reading of A Christmas Carol.
My favorite arrangement is by Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller, very 80's but it's been the traditional Christmas album in my house for a long time now.

Aha! GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAIL
I know slightly different lyrics, I'll have to find them now. And we sang it much faster than that midi is at. This is close enough though.
Mudcat RULEZ!

Here's anither, I much prefer wine:

God of Wine ~ Third Eye Blind
(I really don't know why I like this song. It's not good. IMHO.)

Every thought that I repent
There's another chip you haven't spent
And you're cashing them all in
Where do we begin
To get clean again
Can we get clean again

I walk home alone with you
And the mood you're born into
Sometimes you let me in
And I take it on the chin
I can't get clean again
I want to know
Can we get clean again

The God of Wine comes crashing through
The headlights of a car that
Took you farther than you thought you'd ever want to go
We can't get back again
We can't get back again

She takes a drink and then she waits
The alcohol it permeates
And soon the cells give way
And cancels out the day

I can't keep it all together
I know...
I can't keep it all together

And the siren's song that is your madness
Holds a truth I can't erase
All alone on your face

Every glamorous sunrise
Throws the planets out of time
A star sign out of whack
A fraudulent zodiac

And the God of Wine is crouched down in my room
You let me down
I said it
Now I'm going down
And you're not even around
And I said no...

I can't keep it all together
I know...
I can't keep it all together

And there's a memory of a window
Looking through I see you
Searching for something
I could never give you

And there's someone who understands you
More than I do
A sadness I can't erase
All alone on your face


It's a good song for just chillin' to, though.

*How* did it get to be 2:31 AM?!
Ye Gads!
Goodnight!

~*sirepseh*~

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhran.......)
Date: 16 Aug 00 - 11:55 AM

PLEASE, DADDY (DON'T GET DRUNK THIS CHRISTMAS).
by John Denver

Rich

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From:
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 03:36 PM

Words wanted to "please don't sell my daddy no more wine,no more wine,momma dont want him drinkin' all the time,all the time".

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 06:51 PM

Mama don't want no rice, no peas, no kerosene oil,
All she wants is whisky, whisky all the time.

"PLEASE SELL NO MORE DRINK TO MY FATHER"
"Landlord, Fill the Flowing Bowl"

and, of course, the enormous repertoire of German beer & wine songs.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Amos
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 06:59 PM

BLUES IN THE BOTTLE
Blues in the bottle
Where do you think you're at?
You went and kicked my dog,
And now you drowned my cat!!

Mark, the song you mention is called "THE SONG OF THE TEMPERANCE UNION", and it should be in the DT. It starts out,

"We're coming, we're coming, our brave little band!
On the right side of temperance we now take out stand!!"

A

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Amos
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 07:01 PM

Ah, yes ... here it is, Mark!.

Regards,

A.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,oulmole
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 09:33 PM

1. Thanks to member/Guest (who said she's had enough of posting under own name)for posting a link to a serious Alcoholism thread. She's right, y'know. (Yeah. We know. We KNOW!)

2. "That said", as They say (whoever the hell THEY are)(now THERE's a thread!) : those who already nominated "All For Me Grog" and "Carrickfergus" beat me to the punch. So to speak. (Hey! "Jug of Punch". There ye go.) Terrific down-and-out-alkie songs, those 2. But on the more-popular irresponsible lighter note (*higher* plane?), may I add "Roisin the Bow" [Would that be ROSIN THE BEAU? --JoeClone, 30-Jan-05.], "DRINK UP THE CIDER", and "CRUISCÍN LÁN"./ (Why do we make light of this? No, nevermind. Don't answer that. We know...) -- Joe in Connecticut

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Mark Clark
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 12:18 AM

Thanks, Amos. There are more verses there than I remember hearing. I'll have to get busy.

Now if I could just get a line on that one about the WCTU. It's possible it was written by an old friend of mine and never published anywhere. I'll have to look him up and see if he remembers it.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,madwaff
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 04:30 AM

How 'bout Maddy Prior's Happy Hour Highball? (I'm never going to touch another dirnk..) think it's on the 'Changing Winds' album
madwaff

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Hilary - not logged in
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 07:31 AM

I only know the chorus to this one :

Fancy them calling it Poison,
Nasty name like POISON BEER,
Well I've drunk barrels & barrels of beer,
And it never did poison me.

Or

PREAB SAN ÓL, which tranlates to something like Drinking With Spirit or Jump into Drinking

Hilary

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:39 AM

Unbelievable! 94 posts and nobody mentioned the Allan Sherman song, "The Drinking Man's Diet"!!!

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 02:08 PM

I prefer The Bottle Is Almost Empty by Simani.

Excerpts:

But now I'm finally sober
My life's better than before

The bottle's finally empty
I think I've won the battle, Lord.
What did you do for this poor fool
Cause my cup keeps running o'er.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 02:12 PM

Then again, I guess I could put my name to that one. I always forget.

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 02:22 PM

Cockersdale's "DOIN' THE MANCH"

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: JeZeBeL
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 07:22 PM

Just the one, by the levellers. I'll get you the words and post them on the thread. this involves the long task of listening to the song and writing it down!! Back in a couple of weeks!!

Jez xxx

Subject: RE: Wanted: Songs for alcoholics!
From: Desdemona
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 08:30 PM

"Trudge away quickly and fill the black bowl..." by Thomas Ravenscroft, circa early 17th c. The refrain is, "for still methinks one tooth is dry!"