Origins: From the Bottle to the Needle

Subject: Origins: Searching For 'The Needle'
From:
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 06:53 PM

Does anyone know who did an old blues/folk song that I think is called, "The Needle"? I remember that the chorus went, "from the bottle, to the needle to the grave.." PLEASE, if you know who did this song, please tell me. I have been searching for over 10 years!
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Searching For 'The Needle'
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 10:02 PM

"The Needle and The Damage Done" by Neil Young?

Subject: RE: Origins: Searching For 'The Needle'
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 10:06 PM

FOUND IT

http://www.bluegrassnet.com/tgbs/T/The_needle.html

The words are there and it is called "The Needle". Didn't mention author, but now ya got a place to start.

Subject: RE: Origins: Searching For 'The Needle'
From: Peace
Date: 16 Jan 05 - 10:35 PM

Found that with a google of

bottle, needle, grave

It's the site at the very top of the page, FYI.

Subject: Lyr Add: FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE NEEDLE (Rick Sikes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 12:03 AM

Lyrics copied from http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/bluegrass-lyrics/The_needle.html

FROM THE BOTTLE TO THE NEEDLE
Rick Sikes

Many times I've seen it happen. I never dreamed I'd live to see
The time that I would pray to die, so my soul would set me free.
You see, I have the habit. To the needle, I'm a slave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Just a crazy youngster, I was looking for my fun.
That night I met the pusher is when the misery begun;
When he offered me the needle and the stuff that I now crave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Time passes so slowly. As it passes, I get worse;
And as time goes by, again I'll try my best to chase the curse;
But it seems I have no power against the needle that I crave,
From the bottle to the needle, from the needle to the grave.

Many times you've seen us on the streets down in the slum,
These men who've lost the way of life and every feeling grown numb;
But in our shame, we are all the same. To the needle, we are slaves,
From the bottle to needle, from the needle to the grave.

[Recorded by Leftover Salmon. There is a sound file at The Internet Archive, but I don't recognize the format.

[According to Rick Sikes' web site, he was convicted of bank robbery in 1971 and spent 14 years in federal prison.]