Anti-alcohol, temperance songs

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Anti-alcohol, temperance songs

28 Dec 03 - 10:46 AM (#1080920)
Subject: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: wilco

Here are my favorites.
    Wreck on the Highway - Roy Acuff
    Don't Sell Daddy Anymore Whiskey - Molly O'Day
    The Drunken Driver - Molly O'Day

28 Dec 03 - 11:38 AM (#1080947)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Bill D

Billy of Tea

28 Dec 03 - 11:44 AM (#1080951)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: SINSULL

Father Dear Father Come Home
Please Don't Sell My Daddy No More Wine

28 Dec 03 - 11:46 AM (#1080954)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: nutty

Away With Rum
Nancy Whisky

28 Dec 03 - 12:15 PM (#1080963)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

Bring Us In Good Tea by the Kipper Family

28 Dec 03 - 12:35 PM (#1080972)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Sorcha

Does Thunder Road count?

28 Dec 03 - 12:55 PM (#1080980)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: HuwG

As Nutty suggests, Away with Rum.

And More verses.

Both in the DT <g>

28 Dec 03 - 01:56 PM (#1081008)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: McGrath of Harlow

There's The Wild Rover for that matter.

28 Dec 03 - 02:18 PM (#1081024)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: kendall

Shingling the rum sellers roof.

Little Blossom

28 Dec 03 - 02:21 PM (#1081027)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: McGrath of Harlow

Strictly speaking "temperance " shouldn't be the same as "anti-alcohol" - the word implies moderation.

"Maintaining a sensible alcohol level", as a health leaflet issued by the government here once said. I always try to do that myself.

28 Dec 03 - 02:22 PM (#1081028)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: McGrath of Harlow

In fact I'm just off to top up now, because I think I might be running a bit low...

28 Dec 03 - 03:20 PM (#1081057)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Liz the Squeak

Mine needs a bit of attending to as well.... what is a sensible level>?

LTS

28 Dec 03 - 03:21 PM (#1081058)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Charley Noble

For a contemporary take on temperance there's "Jocose Drunkard":Link to Mudcat Post

This song describes the 4 critical stages of drunking in vivid detail. It could use a more stirring chorus.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

28 Dec 03 - 03:33 PM (#1081065)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: McGrath of Harlow

Happy Drunk, Sad Drunk, Fighting Drunk and Dead Drunk.

Mind, I've never been sure about thta as an unvarying sequence in that order. I think I've always tended to go straight from Happy Drunk to Sleepy Drunk.

28 Dec 03 - 04:21 PM (#1081086)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: JohnInKansas

The stages, as recited at treatment are, I'm told:

Jolicose
Amorose (Amorouse)
Belicose
Lacrimose
Comotose

They are pretty much unvarying in order, and in reverse order durig the sober-up process; although it's easy enough to slip quickly through one or more stages and on to the next. Habitual driners usually learn to obtain their prefered state quite rapidly, ignoring or avoiding the others. Often called "PBL," or "Proper Buzz Level."

These are also the same stages observed in patients under anesthesia, and in reverse order in those coming out from anesthesia. Many a "recovery room" nurse has worn a black eye to attest to the "belicose" stage in recovery from the anesthetics.

John

28 Dec 03 - 04:48 PM (#1081099)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Charley Noble

The stages in "Jocose Drunkard" are for the record:

Jocose
Morose
Belicose
Comatose

One of our friends wants to add "Vomitose" but we vetoed that as rather crude.

Charley Noble

28 Dec 03 - 06:19 PM (#1081142)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Liz the Squeak

I seem to miss out belicose and go straight for comatose.

Where does rosynose come in?

LTS

28 Dec 03 - 06:48 PM (#1081160)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Snuffy

If you're on Kipper songs, I prefer "Are You Dry"

28 Dec 03 - 06:52 PM (#1081164)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Emma B

Johnny my man/Farewell tae whiskey
A really lovely song. words in DT

28 Dec 03 - 07:29 PM (#1081173)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: kendall

One tequila two tequila three tequila floor.

28 Dec 03 - 11:09 PM (#1081247)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: mack/misophist

How about The Face on The Bar Room Floor?

28 Dec 03 - 11:10 PM (#1081248)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST

What's the matter with whiskey? Al-co-hol! by the late Rosamond Henderson of Birmingham, Alabama (best known for writing 'Watermellon Time.'

29 Dec 03 - 12:24 AM (#1081285)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: JohnInKansas

Songs for the Loyal Temperance Legion
Copyright 1928
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Evanston, Illinois

INDEX (by OCR scan)
America Is Free
Children's Prayer
Fight the Wrong
Good Night
Hear. the Brooklet
Kindergarten Song
Little Crusaders
Loving-Kindness To All
Make the World More Brlght
March of the Loyal Legion
Never Drink Whiskey or Brandy
Our Heroes
Our Secret
Our Wonderful House
Pledge Song
Prohibition Echo Song
Ring! Bells, Ring!
Round For Boys
Temperance Pilgrim's Marching Song
The Bubbling Spring
The Children's Jubilee
The Fairy in the Well
The Flag of Stars
The Triumph of Truth
The Water-Drinkers
The Windmill
This Is My Father's World
Total Abstinence Round
Victory Bells
We'll Turn Down Our Glasses
Whoever Heard of a Poor Old Horse?
Work and Play
World Campaigners
Who Bought the Beer?

(For a historical perspective.)

John

29 Dec 03 - 04:29 AM (#1081389)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Jim McLean

http://www.rampantscotland.com/poetry/blpoems_raggit.htm

The above site has a poem called The Drunkard's Ragged Wean, which my father used to sing to the tune 'Castles in the Air'. He sang it more as a lullaby, substituting our name, e.g. 'Jim McLean' for 'ragged wean'. The author wrote it as a strictly anti drink poem for the Temperence Society of his day (although I take McGrath's point re 'Temperence').

29 Dec 03 - 06:08 AM (#1081402)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Gareth

I can,t believe that no one has put forward :-

"Cigarettes and Whisky and Wild Wild Women".

Gareth

29 Dec 03 - 07:51 AM (#1081431)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST

The move from 'temperance' to the extremist 'prohibition' seems similar to Islamic history.

As I understand it, Mohammed originally said that 'Muslims should avoid strong drink' without defining either avoid or strong. As the distillation of alcohol had only recently been invented, 'strong drink' may have been spirits, as opposed to wine and beer which had been drunk in the region for centuries. But at some stage, it has been translated into a total ban on alcohol.

29 Dec 03 - 08:08 AM (#1081434)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: kendall

The development of wine goes back at least 5000 years.

29 Dec 03 - 10:22 AM (#1081499)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: DG&D Dave

Vin Garbut's rendition of "Callum Moore" does it for me.
Also approx. half of the tracks on Strawhead's "Tiffin" album (the rest seem to be in favour of drinking, as I recall so were Greg, Mal and Chris).

Dave.

Rolling home, when we go ...

29 Dec 03 - 08:59 PM (#1081995)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Mark Clark

Friends used to do one about the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) years ago. I never heard it anywhere else so they may have written it. All I can remember after all this time is the chorus which was sung to the tune of the second half of the chorus of Wabash Cannonball.

We're against all forms of gamblin'
All sex and liquor too
And by our name we'll all be known
As the double-yew see tee yew.

If it isn't known anywhere else, maybe folks here can write new verses. Of course the song must ridicule temperance and the WCTU, not support it.

- Mark

29 Dec 03 - 09:36 PM (#1082031)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Charley Noble

Dear me, an old temperence song is surfacing in my head and there's no way to stop it. It's from an 1850's publication called SONGS FOR THE LITTLE ONES AT HOME published by the American Tract Society:

I'm a little temperence boy six years old;
I love temperance better than gold;
I'll taste not, touch not, handle not the wine,
For every little boy like me the temperance pledge should sign!

I think there are more verses but maybe one is sufficent.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

29 Dec 03 - 11:42 PM (#1082113)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,LadyJean

Steeley Span recorded a song called "The Drunkard". The tune's wonderful, but I have trouble hitting the top notes.
Mother used to sing a version of "Father dear father", with the chorus,
          "Oh the doors swing in and the doors swing out!"
          "And some pass in, while others pass out!"
          "Your father I fear, is having a beer, behind those    swinging doors"

30 Dec 03 - 11:35 AM (#1082401)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Nigel

1 Timothy 5
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Nigel

30 Dec 03 - 11:41 AM (#1082406)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST

I thyink the best one is by the beautiful south called
woman in the wall
and another by them called
old red eyes is back
both really good and I almost forgot the levellers
15years this is a q2uality track also

Dylan

22 Jan 06 - 10:53 PM (#1653933)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Artful Codger

Stephen Foster's "O Comrades, Fill No Glass for Me" is a temperance song of sorts (long before the Temperance movement, however.) Written from personal experience. Great words and the tune has the feel of both a temperance-type hymn and a drinking song--especially if you liberally slur.

I remember a fun, little Temperance song ("A Social Drink"?) which begins "I used to like a social drink (So did I! So did I!)..."

23 Jan 06 - 01:14 AM (#1653973)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz

Dorothy Parker

Two drinks I,m under the table

Three drinks I'm under the host

Ah dear Dorothy

23 Jan 06 - 11:43 AM (#1654192)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Mr Happy

Here's one I like:

ALCOHOL [Ray Davies: The Kinks]

Here is a story about a sinner,
He used to be a winner who enjoyed a life of prominence and position,
But the pressures at the office and his socialite engagements,
And his selfish wife's fanatical ambition,
It turned him to the booze,
And he got mixed up with a floozy
And she led him to a life of indecision.
The floozy made him spend his dole
She left him lying on skid row
A drunken lag in some Salvation Army mission.
It's such a shame.

Oh demon alcohol,
Sad memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would say,
Damn it all and blow it all,
Oh demon alcohol,
Memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would fall a slave to demon alcohol.

Barley wine pink gin,
He'll drink anything,
Port, Pernod or tequila,
Rum, scotch, vodka on the rocks,
As long as all his troubles disappeared.
But he messed up his life and he beat up his wife,
And the floozy쳌fs gone and found another sucker
She's gonna turn him on to drink
She's gonna lead him to the brink
And when his money's gone,
She'll leave him in the gutter,
It's such a shame.

Oh demon alcohol,
Sad memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would fall,
A slave to demon alcohol.

23 Jan 06 - 08:51 PM (#1654520)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Joe_F

"Please sell no more drink to my father"

--- Joe Fineman joe_f@verizon.net

||: Hold your nose and vote the straight Democratic ticket. :||

08 Jun 08 - 02:39 AM (#2360517)
Subject: Lyr Add: GLORIOUS NEWS
From: Jim Dixon

From
Morrison, D. H., and Myron W. Whitney. Treasury of Song Designed Expressly for the Home Circle. The Richest, Most Delightful Gems from Many Lands, Sacred, Patriotic, Comic, and Sentimental. N.p: Edgewood Pub. Co, 1892, page 245:

GLORIOUS NEWS
Luther Orlando Emerson, 1866

1. Oh, have you heard the glorious news that's round the town today?
Father has sign'd the pledge, and we are happy, light, and gay.
No more we dread his coming step, but spring to greet him home;
Mother has wip'd her tears away, and joy to us has come.

CHORUS: Oh, glorious news, glorious news, glorious news today!
Father has sign'd the pledge, and we are happy, light and gay,
Happy, happy, happy, light and gay, happy, happy, happy, light and gay.
Father has signed the pledge, and we are happy, light, and gay.

2. Many's the sorrowing time we've had, but such we'll have no more;
For father has driv'n the demon out, and lock'd, and barr'd the door.
No more we'll want for food and clothes, no more we'll mourn and sigh;
Our home shall be a home of peace, with ev'ry comfort nigh.

3. Now, thanks we raise to God on high, for this great blessing giv'n:
And earth to us henceforth shall be the entrance door to heav'n.
Sing loud and full, sing clear and free, let hill to valley call,
And bear upon the wings of wind, the glorious news to all.

08 Jun 08 - 03:00 AM (#2360522)
Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIE HAS SIGNED THE PLEDGE (McChesney)
From: Jim Dixon

From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

WILLIE HAS SIGNED THE PLEDGE
M. H. McChesney. Chicago: Lyon & Healy, 1871.

1. Oh! May, have you heard the glorious news that mother was telling today?
Our Willie has signed the temperance pledge and put his bad habits away:
No more through the night we'll watch for him home, and shudder his footsteps to hear;
But gladly rejoice to shun him no more, or meet him with trembling fear.

CHORUS: Willie has signed the pledge. Willie has signed the pledge.
Happier days will come to us now, for Willie has signed the pledge.

2. A mothers' blest son, once more Willie stands, erect as an emblem of truth
So honest and manly, we're proud of him, May, so like the gay Will of our youth;
And May, mother's eyes, so tearful and sad, now light with the olden time joy;
Her faltering voice is musical now; an idol once more is our boy.

3. And you, my dear May, your blushes betray a feeling you never would show,
But come to my heart, for Willie reclaimed, a friend will again prove to you:
And oh! Let us hope the time is not far, when all this vile traffic shall end;
And man with the stamp of God on his brow, embrace not a fiend for his friend.

08 Jun 08 - 05:35 AM (#2360545)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,doc.tom

Can't say I approve of anti-alchohol songs per se, but there are some great temperance songs around. Then, of course, there's that great rarity, the anti-temperance song e.g. Poison Beer:
"Well, fancy then calling it poison,
Nasty names like poison beer.
With them I can't agree,
For I've drunk gallons and gallons of beer
And it never did poison me,
No! It never did poison me.
For I've drunk gallons and gallons of beer
And it never did poison me."
Happy drinking
Tom

08 Jun 08 - 06:02 AM (#2360553)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Jack Campin

> Stephen Foster's "O Comrades, Fill No Glass for Me" is a temperance
> song of sorts (long before the Temperance movement, however.)

The temperance movement goes back to the 1830s, though it didn't start creating its own songs until a bit later. The earliest ones I know were written by the Chartists in the 1840s; in its early days temperance was a secular movement with strong socialist links, and the church wouldn't have anything to do with it (in Scotland it depended on funding from brewers and distillers). Temperance songs didn't develop significant Christian content until the 1860s, when the church was getting on the bandwagon and trying to turn the movement to its own ends.

It would be interesting to know where Foster got the idea. I don't know anything about his politics.

08 Jun 08 - 11:11 AM (#2360660)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Uncle_DaveO

There's Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.

And I can't believe no one has cited the pig song.

Dave Oesterreich

08 Jun 08 - 11:12 AM (#2360664)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Uncle_DaveO

I'm emphatically in favor of temperance. In moderation.

Dave Oesterreich

08 Jun 08 - 12:08 PM (#2360709)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Volgadon

John Barleycorn.

08 Jun 08 - 12:21 PM (#2360718)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: topical tom

"Lips That Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine

08 Jun 08 - 12:25 PM (#2360720)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: topical tom

Sorry! Another clicky goof.The song title is at the end.

08 Jun 08 - 01:29 PM (#2360756)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: peregrina

Gillian Welch: Tear my Stillhouse Down

08 Jun 08 - 02:21 PM (#2360807)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,cStu

My favourite is Blind Willie McTell's:

God Don't Like It (and I don't either)

08 Jun 08 - 02:31 PM (#2360816)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Kara

Check out, Darling Please don't call me when I'm sober on my myspace

08 Jun 08 - 02:38 PM (#2360820)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: JohnInKansas

ttom left off the beginning "<a href=":

Lips That Touch Liquor Shall Never Touch Mine

John

09 Jun 08 - 05:13 AM (#2361230)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Artful Codger

Jack: re Stephen Foster's views:

Foster was an alcoholic. Went on the wagon a number of times, but always fell off again. His drinking was greatly responsible for his wife leaving him and his descent into poverty. I've always viewed "O Comrades, Fill No Glass for Me" as semi-autobiographical. It's a fun song to sing "in moderation", which is to say, in a slightly tipsy manner. In any case, despite the moralizing, it's clearly not a temperance song, since he's not being an asswipe about whether other people drink.

It's interesting that a great number of Temperance songs borrow their tunes from drinking songs. Sure, oftentimes it was an attempt at revisionism, but you'd think that being sober would enable them to write even better tunes--apparently, not so. Having to listen to most Temperance songs would drive one to drink!

From the title, "Sling the Flowing Bowl" sounds like it oughtta be a temperance song. Never quite understood the "slinging" bit--I have to be careful not to sing "Then fling the flowing bowl"!

09 Jun 08 - 05:25 AM (#2361236)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Artful Codger

BTW, the choral song "A Social Drink" goes:

I used to like a social drink--(So did I!) (So did I!)
'Twas very good, I used to think--(So did I!) (And I!)

(Chorus:)
Ha ha ha ha! The social drink,
'Twas very good, I used to think,
But now I laugh when asked to drink:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

I don't know any more of it.

09 Jun 08 - 07:21 AM (#2361266)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Leadfingers

Bar in mind that you can NEVER drink too much - You can only ever drink 'Just Enough' , and then you fall over .

09 Jun 08 - 09:27 AM (#2361353)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: irishenglish

"Throw Out The Lifeline"

09 Jun 08 - 10:43 AM (#2361412)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Sailor Ron

Moody& sankey have several wonderful Temperence 'songs' including "Hace corage my son to say no" and my favourite "The drunkards repentance".

09 Jun 08 - 11:19 AM (#2361453)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: topical tom

JohnInKansas: many thanks for giving me the blue clicky!

09 Jun 08 - 11:29 AM (#2361475)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: BB

There's one called 'The Deadly Cup', and there's 'Two Little Gins' by Brenda Orrell from N. Yorks.

Barbara

09 Jun 08 - 11:44 AM (#2361490)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Uncle_DaveO

I've read this thread in bits and pieces, so I don't remember, has anyone mentioned Father, oh father, come home with me now?

Dave Oesterreich

09 Jun 08 - 05:32 PM (#2361784)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: dick greenhaus

Or Shingling the Rum-Seller's Roof?
or Drunkard's Dream?

09 Jun 08 - 06:26 PM (#2361845)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Artful Codger

Well, I suppose you could consider this a temperance song: "Father's a Drunkard and Mother Is Dead". I haven't researched it--despite the promise of the title, it's rather a lame song--, so I don't know if temperance groups sang it to edify the misguided.

09 Jun 08 - 07:03 PM (#2361884)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: McGrath of Harlow

"The War against Drugs" doesn't seem to have produced many good songs.

10 Jun 08 - 06:13 AM (#2362142)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Bernard Quenby

Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat from Guys N Dolls

10 Jun 08 - 03:32 PM (#2362541)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Gulliver

Goodbye Booze

Goodbye booze,
I'll booze no more
All my drinking
Days are o'er
etc.

There are several versions of this song, one performed by Charlie Poole (who should have taken its advice!).

Don

10 Jun 08 - 04:20 PM (#2362573)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: BB

Forgotten about this one - from Ron Taylor & Jeff Gillett's CD 'Both Shine as One' - a song called 'Adieu, John Barleycorn'. Well worth a listen!

Barbara

10 Jun 08 - 05:39 PM (#2362631)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Rich

Níl 'na Lá (Traditional Irish)

Please Daddy, Don't get Drunk This Christmas.(John Denver)

Don't come home a-Drinkin' with Lovin' On Your Mind. (Loretta Lynn)

High Cost Of Low Living (Allman Bros.)

Rich

11 Jun 08 - 05:11 AM (#2363028)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle

Drunkard's Doom as sung by Ed McCurdy

At dawn of day, I saw a man
Stand by a grog saloon.
His eyes were sunk, his lips were parched;
Oh, that's the drunkard's doom.

His little son stood by his side,
Then to his father said,
"Father, Mother lies sick at home
And Sister cries for bread."

He rose and staggered to the bar,
As oft he'd done before,
And to the landlord, smiling, said:
"Just fill me one glass more."

The cup was filled at his command;
He drank the poisoned bowl.
He drank, while wife and children starved,
And ruined his own soul.

A year had passed, I went that way,
A hearse stood at the door.
I paused to ask, and one replied,
"The drunkard is no more."

I saw the hearse move slowly on,
Nor wife nor child was there.
They, too, had flown to Heaven's bright home,
And left a world of care.

Now, all young men, a warning take,
And shun the poisoned bowl.
'Twill lead you down to Hell's dark gate
And ruin your own soul.

15 Jan 09 - 03:28 PM (#2540645)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,guest

two more modern country songs are "nothing to die for" by tim mcgraw and "thats why Im here" by kenny chesney!

15 Jan 09 - 04:00 PM (#2540678)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego

On the old U.S. TV "Dean Martin Show," Dean's guest one evening was singer Pat Boone. Boone had a reputation as a clean-living, teetotaling sort who drank only milk. Dean's other guest was the late Phil Harris (for younger folks, the voice of Baloo in Disney's "The Jungle Book"). Phil, who had long had a reputation as a lover of booze, looked askance at Pat Boone, cocked one eye and asked, "Is it true that you really drink milk?" Given an affirmative response, he then asked, "You mean to tell me you get up in the morning KNOWING that's the best you're gonna feel all day?" I rest my case.

15 Jan 09 - 04:58 PM (#2540732)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: frogprince

"Firewater", by the great Penny Lang.

31 Jan 09 - 03:43 PM (#2553883)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST

There is a Cajun song (Louisiana-French) called Le Vieux Solard et Sa Femme, which means The Old Drunkard and His Wife. It was performed by Joe Falcon and his wife Clemo Breuax for Columbia Records in 1928.

It is a very catchy tune, which was also used by The Holy Modal Rounders for "Romping in the Swamp". The lyrics (and musical notation) are in the book "The Anthology of American Folk Music" (edited by Joshn Dunson and Ethel Raim, Oak Publications, New York, 1973, ISBN 0-8256-0133-9)which I bought many years ago, which accompanies the 3 CDs of the same name, which of course also features this song. The lyrics as sung on the CD are in French, and while these are also shown in the book there is an English translation:

Where are you going?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
I'm going to the cafe!

What are you going to do there?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
I'm gonna get drunk!

When'll you come back?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Oh tomorrow or another day!

What do you want me to cook for you?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Cook me five dozen eggs and a gallon of couscous!

What, that'll kill you!
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Well, maybe I want to die anyway!

Then where do you want me to bury you?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:

Bury me in the chimney corner, but put it out a little before or else it'll be hot

No doubt the tune fits the original French lyrics rather better

The book and the CDs (as a boxed set with accompanying background notes, etc) are well worth buying for anyone interested in old-time music. I got my copy of the book in a music shop somewhere in Northern Ireland, but had to get the CDs from www.rootsandrhytm.com in USA, a source of numerous old time music CDs, etc.

31 Jan 09 - 08:41 PM (#2554106)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Joe_F

There is such a thing as a *sad* temperance song: "Reunion" by Cyril Tawney.

31 Jan 09 - 09:44 PM (#2554128)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Michele Callaghan

What about Farewell to Whiskey?

01 Feb 09 - 02:31 PM (#2554637)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: sid

I have a A5? pocket book, some 90 pages, no date but probably late 19th C All Temperance Poems.

Sample:-

"My wife and children join with me, To raise our voice in praise,
To Him who led my wandering steps in sober, righteous ways;
And often do we bless the day I snapped the galling chain,
And listened to that Angel's voice, Abstain! Abstain! Abstain!

Teetotal movement V. strong in Victorian Lancashire, started in USA (1819?) spread to Ireland (Dr. Matthews) then to England and launched in England by Joseph Livesey of Preston on 1st September 1832. Lots of other, similar works by dozens of Dialect writers during Lancashire's Industrial Revolution.

Anyone seriously looking at this subject get in touch -SID

02 Feb 09 - 05:13 AM (#2555081)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: MaW

Karine Polwart's song 'The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill' might be considered a warning about overconsumption of whisky, as the narrator's boyfriend (or possibly husband, it's unclear, but significant male romantic partner anyway) drove off the road while 'full of whisky and irony' and died, and then the narrator plunged into a dark place of whisky and pills, which at the point where the song is written she's just pulling out of it.

03 Feb 09 - 05:03 AM (#2555923)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Artful Codger

Here's the Cajun French for "Le Vieux Soulard":

Le Vieux Soulard et Sa Femme

You'c'que t'es parti? / Dis mon bon vieux mari,
Et you que t'es parti? / Toi qui veux faire ma mort
Et you que t'es parti / Dis mon bon vieux mari
Qu'il est l'meilleur buveur du pays?
[Spoken] J'suis parti au cafe!

Quoi t'es parti faire? / Dis mon bon vieux mari,
Et quoi t'es parti faire? / Toi qui veux faire ma mort
Et quoi t'es parti faire? / Dis mon bon vieux mari,
Qu'il est l'meilleur buveur du pays?
[Spoken] J'suis parti m'saouler!

Et quand tu t'en reviens &c.?
[Spoken] Oh d'main ou aut' jour!

Quoi to veux j'fais cuire &c.?
[Spoken] Cuis moi cinq douzaines d'oeufs, puis un gallon d'couscous!

Ca, ca va te tuer &c.
[Spoken] Oh, c'est pas qu'j'veux mourir quand meme.

Et you qu'tu veux qu'j'enterre &c.
[Spoken] Enterr' moi dans l'coin d'la ch'minee;
tu l'eteins un peu avant, autrement, elle va et'chaude!

03 Feb 09 - 05:33 AM (#2555943)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: pavane

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie perhaps?

03 Feb 09 - 07:29 AM (#2556017)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: cetmst

MARCHING SONGS FOR YOUNG CRUSADERS, No. 1, Anna A Gordon, Published by National WCTU, 1904 edition

All United 39
A Wildwood Lesson 6
Bobolink Temperance Song 16
Breave and True 29
Childhood's Temperance May Queen 56
Children's Prayer 5
Cold Water Army Song 42
Cold Water Song 18
Do Something43
Ever Be Earnest 43
Exercise Song 32
God the Father 28
Happy Children 27
Kindergarten Song 49
Kitchen-Garden Song 54
Little Crusaders 4
Making a Chain 44
March of the Loyal Legion 3
My Birthday Cup 14
Never, Never Let Us Cruel Be 37
Now's the Time for You 10
O, Temperance Gives Us 53
Onward We Are Marching 38
Our Coming Army 22
Our Father in Heaven 25
Our Glasses Upside Down 20
Our Wonderful House 11
Raise You Hands 48
Rallying Song 36
Rally the Clans 37
Right Is Might 34
Ring the Temperance Bells 24
Rock-a-bye Birdie 40
See My Little Birdie's Nest 15
Soldiers of the King 19
Speak Kindly 33
Sunday 8
Temperance Boys and Girls

03 Feb 09 - 07:43 AM (#2556032)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: cetmst

Marching Songs for Young Crusaders, continued

The Children's Sabbath 55
The Coming Strike 12
The Crusade Psalm 62
The Pledge 60
The Washingtonian Pledge 26
The Welcome Sparrow 58
The Windmill 21
We Are Coming 9
We Are Temperance Children 44
We'll Never Touch the Wine 45
Welcome Song 17
We'll Rally Round the Callot Box 30
We Mean to Live All Right 46

03 Feb 09 - 08:13 AM (#2556055)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: cetmst

THE TEMPERANCE SONGBOOK, Emmet T. Coleman, ed., 1907, reprint 1971 by American Heritage Press, David Hoffman

Breaking Mother's Heart 27
Broad Is the Road 42
Crape on the Door of the Licensed Saloon 63
Dead March, The 26
District of Columbia W.C.T.U. Song 15
Down in the Licensed Saloon 35
Dreaming Tonight 54
Drive Him Out! 40
Drunkard's Lament, The 38
Drunkard's March, The 38
Father, Dear Father, Come Home 68
Foe in the Land, A 25
For God and Home and Native Land 46
Grandpa's Advice to the Boys 43
Great Judgment Morning, The 50
How My Boy Went Down 74
I'll Be There to Vote 24
Keep the Ball A-Rolling! 76
Lead, Kindly Light 77
Little Armor Bearers 7
Loyal Temperance Legion, The 10
Marching Beneath the Banner 32
Marching Onward 70
My Soul Be On Thy Guard 45
No Hope for the Drunkard 21
Oh Johnny Come Back to the Farm 12
Onward Christian Soldiers 48
Orphan Girl, The 30
Our Motto Song 13
Prodigal Girl, The 8
Rally Voters 17
Save Our Country 58
Sisters, Be to Jesus True 49
Somebody's Boy 52
Sparkling Water 65
Speed Our Cause We Pray 51
Stand for the Right 56
Stand Up for Jesus 62
Temperance Call, The 78
Temperance Doxology 79
Temperance Train, The 18
That Ribbon White 60
'Tis Life for a Look 22
Tolling Bells, The 66
Under the Curse 11
We're a Band of Soldiers 31
Well Take the World 29
When I Lie on My Pillow Tonight 57
Whiskey Shops Must Go, The 34
Who Will Volunteer? 37
Won't You Sign the Pledge? 14

03 Feb 09 - 11:42 AM (#2556224)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: meself

No one's mentioned Drunken Sailor? Seems to stress the inadvisability of showing up for work under the influence.

14 Feb 09 - 09:09 AM (#2566694)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROB A POOR MAN OF HIS BEER
From: Jim Dixon

I was searching for a certain song that contained the phrase "rob a poor man of his beer." This isn't the right song, but it's so interesting I decided to collect it. By the way, I found so many instances of "rob a poor man of his beer" that I conclude it must have been a popular catch-phrase in the late 19th century.

From Life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the World's Great Preacher by Russell Herman Conwell (Philadelphia: A. T. Hubbard, 1892):

17 Dec 09 - 12:13 AM (#2790093)
Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T GO OUT TO-NIGHT, DEAR FATHER
From: Jim Dixon

There's a version of this in the DT: DON'T GO OUT TONIGHT, DEAR FATHER, also in the thread called 'Mother Songs' of the tear-jerker variety.

This is a more exact copy of the sheet music at The Library of Congress:

DON'T GO OUT TO-NIGHT, DEAR FATHER
Words, M. E. Golding. Music, Will L. Thompson.
East Liverpool, Ohio: W. L. Thompson & Co., 1877.

1. Don't go out to-night, dear father,
Don't refuse this once, I pray!
Tell your comrades mama's dying,
Soon her soul will pass away;
Tell them too, of darling Willie,
Him we all so much do love,
How his little form is drooping
Soon to bloom again above.

CHORUS: Don't go out to-night, dear father,
Think, oh think, how sad 'twill be,
When the angels come to take her,
Papa won't be here to see.

2. Tell me that you love dear mama,
Lying in that cold, cold room;
And not you love your comrades better,
Cursing there in that saloon,
Oh dear father, do not leave us,
Think, oh think how sad 'twill be,
When the angels come to take her,
You will not be here to see.

3. Morning found the little pleader
Cold and helpless on the floor;
Lying where he madly struck her,
On that chilly night before;
Lying there with hands uplifted,
Feebly utt'ring words of prayer,
Heav'nly Father, please forgive him,
Reunite us all up there.

17 Dec 09 - 10:58 AM (#2790351)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band

Here`s a song/chorus that found much application during pub crawls in London yonks ago. (Couldn`t do it now. No one would understand the language.!)

"And when I die.
Don`t bury me at all.
Just pickle my bones ,
In alcolhol.
Put a bottle of booze.
At my head and my feet
And then I`ll know.
My bones will keep".

Lead singer sings a line, assembled companions repeat it.

17 Dec 09 - 02:31 PM (#2790574)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego

Did I see (I don't recall) the Salvation Army Song?

CH:
Away, away with rum, by gum,
With Rum, by gum, with rum, by gum.
Away, away with rum, by gum,
The song of the Salvation Army.

We never eat fruitcake because it has rum.
And one little bite turns a man to a bum.
Oh, can you imagine a sorrier sight,
Than a man eating fruitcake until he gets tight.

We never eat cookies because they have yeast.
And one little bite turns a man to a beast.
Oh, can you imagine a sadder disgrace,
Than a man in the gutter with crumbs on his face.

I always used "The Pig and the Inebriate" as a cautionary tale (with tongue firmly in cheek.

It was early last November,
As near as I remember,
I was walkin' down the street in tipsy pride.
No one was I disturbin',
As I lay down by the curbin',
When a pig came up and lay down by my side.

As I lay there in the gutter,
Thinkin' thoughts I dare not utter,
A lady passing by was heard to say:
"You can tell a man who boozes,
By the company he chooses!"
And - the pig got up and slowly walked away....

20 Apr 10 - 08:33 PM (#2891011)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,mike

Does anyone know lyrics to "O Rum-selller" sung to the melody of "Oh! Susannah by Stephen Foster?

02 Jun 16 - 08:44 PM (#3793489)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: GUEST,Susan Kirsch

Does anyone have the lyrics to 2 Temperance songs, one set to the tune of "Scotland's Burning", the other to the tune of "Rally Round the Flag (Battle Cry of Freedom")?

03 Jun 16 - 02:37 AM (#3793522)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: Long Firm Freddie

A song that lists addiction, debt, fighting, domestic violence and isolation from friends amongst the perils of strong drink, is "Oh Good Ale".

LFF

03 Jun 16 - 08:41 PM (#3793649)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: PHJim

Well, good-bye Booze, forever more
My boozing days will soon be o'er.
Yes we had a good time but we couldn't agree.
You see what Booze has done to me.

-to the same tune as Creole Belle or Richland Woman, a tune that I learned from Charlie Poole

13 Jun 16 - 04:17 AM (#3795222)
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
From: FreddyHeadey

STITCH IN TIME
"...For her husband he was a hunk of a man
A chunk of a man and a drunk of a man,
He was a hunk of a drunk and a skunk of a man
Such a boozing, bruising husband...."

@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5557

(Mike Waterson; tune by Martin Carthy)

13 Jun 16 - 01:23 PM (#3795364)
Subject: Lyr Add: I SAW A MAN AT THE CLOSE OF DAY (D Watson
From: Mottsnave

There's "I Saw a Man at the Close of Day" I only know the Doc Watson version:

I SAW A MAN AT THE CLOSE OF DAY
As recorded by Doc Watson on "Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960-1965" (1994)

I saw a man at the close of day
Standing by a grocery door.
His eyes were sunken; [or "sunk an'"?] his lips were parched
And I viewed him o'er and o'er.

His little son stood by his side
And unto him, he said:
"Dear Father, Mother is sick at home
And sister cries for bread."

In about a year I passed thereby
And the crowd stood 'round the door.
When I asked the reason, one's reply
Was: "The drunkard is no more."

Just then a hearse moved slow-lye by,
No wife, no children near.
They had gone before this foul murder
And left this world of care.

Come, all you jolly dram drinkers;
By this, a warning take,
And quit the overflowing bowl
Before it is too late.

[Another album, "Old Timey Concert" (1991) has the following additional verse after verse 2 above:]

He turned around, walked through the door,
Staggered up to the bar,
And unto the landlord said:
"Just give me one glass more."