Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey (Wynonie Harris)

Subject: Quiet Whiskey, a.k.a. Whiskey on the Shelf
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:51 PM

Someone who is very close to me came to the Mudcat yesterday on my recommendation looking for Blues lyrics. There is a Lyrics required Whiskey On The Shelf thread where it was determined that the song is actually called Quiet Whiskey, but nobody has come up with lyrics yet. Apparently this was done by Wynonie Harris. Mudcat Blues afficionados, let's show her what we can do here.(Unfortunately, I can't help with this one)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey, Whiskey on the Shelf
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 10:43 PM

I found CD's, bios, playlists, etc, but no lyrics. Somebody is gonna have to trascribe from an album.....sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey, Whiskey on the Shelf
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 11:44 PM

Hi Steve............Like Sorcha, I couldn't find anything written down either, but I did find an RA clip and a complete MP3 File that's of better quality at THIS SITE......scroll to #10.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey, Whiskey on the Shelf
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 09:54 AM

'Spaw,

Amy & The Hank Sinatras!!!! Where do you find this stuff??

Geez, I'm not quite over hearing Rick's guy "Sleepy La Beef".

Thanks though, the lyrics are a little more audible than the ones that she has been working with, a live Carlos Del Junco recording. She has most of them figured out, but is missing a few. This should help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey, Whiskey on the Shelf
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 10:02 AM

That's a much clearer recording than the ones I found; see also the previous thread:  Whiskey on the Shelf

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey, Whiskey on the Shelf
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:17 PM

Thanks for everybody's help. I eventually had to transcribe the lyrics from a recording, but I appreciate the background information. Thanks especially to catspaw. There was one line I managed to get from your link that I had wrong until I heard that version.

Again, thanks. I was really impressed and amazed with how quick and helpful your responses were. I didn't even know who wrote it until yesterday.

Subject: Lyr Add: QUIET WHISKEY (Wynonie Harris)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 06:41 PM

QUIET WHISKEY
As sung by Wynonie Harris on the various-artists album "Rhythm & Blues & Booze"

CHORUS: Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there by yourself.
Things were fine till they took you down,
Then opened you up and passed you around.

1. John was the first one to pull you down.
He took one drink and he started to clown,
Passed you to Hazel, Jane, and Jack.
Penelope got you and passed you right back.
The doorbell rang and what did you see?
In walked Henry, Fred, and Marie.
They hit you high, they hit you low,
They hit you fast, and they hit you slow. CHORUS

2. They killed you dead and wanted another.
They reached on the shelf and grabbed your brother.
It's a shame the way they did you in,
Then reached up and got your brother Gin.
Grandfather Wine began to tremble with fright,
Wondering if the party was going to last all night.
Grandfather Wine knew without a doubt
He was next in line if the juice ran out. CHORUS

3. Now look at everybody; they've got real tight.
Now they want to start a fight.
John never did nothing wrong in his life.
Now he's in the corner with the policeman's wife.
Frank's so drunk he can hardly see,
Tryin' to make love to Penelope.
She took a bottle, then hit him in the jaw.
That's when the neighbors called the law. CHORUS

[At the beginning of the song, the chorus is spoken, not sung; after that, it is sung.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey / Whiskey on the Shelf
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:10 PM

Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there all by yourself.
Things were fine til they took you down
opened you up and passed you around.

Well John was the first one to take you down.
Had a little drink and he started to clown.
He Passed you to Hazel, Jane, and Jack.
Penelope got you she passed you right back.
The doorbell rang and what did you see?
but in walked Henrys friend Marie.
They hit you high and they hit you low,
They hit you fast and they hit you slow. .

Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there all by yourself.
Things were fine til they took you down
opened you up and passed you around.

Well they killed you dead and they wanted another.
reached on the shelf and they got your brother.
It's a shame the way they did you in,
Then reached up and got your brother Gin.
Grandfather Wine began to tremble with fright.
Thinking that the party would last all night.
Grandfather Wine knew without a doubt
He was the next in line if the juice ran out.

Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there all by yourself.
Things were fine til they took you down
opened you up and passed you around

Now look at everybody, they got real tight.
All they wanna do is just start a fight.
John never did nothing wrong in his life.
but he's over in the corner with the policeman's wife.
Frank got so so drunk he can hardly see,
Trying to make love to Penelope.
She took a bottle and hit him in the jaw.
And that's when the neighbors called the law.

Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there all by yourself.
Things were fine til they took you down
opened you up and passed you around

Whiskey, whiskey on the shelf,
You were so quiet there all by yourself.
Things were fine til they took you down
opened you up and passed you around

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Quiet Whiskey (Wynonie Harris)
From: GUEST,Jt
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 07:26 AM

Catherine Russel sang this last night at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC. It was smoking thanks for the lyrics.