The Man Who Drank Himself

[keats]

The Man Who Drank Himself
©Neil McArthur 2015


He watered down his whiskey with some beer he’d meant to chase

Then used a dirty cuff to wipe the foam from off his face

Some stuck to the stubble and some dripped to the bar

But he ordered up another. Why not? He’d come this far

His demons were behind him, outside the bar room door

Waiting till they called last drinks to chase him home once more

To his darkly shadowed hovel where the past clung to the walls

And the Ghosts of family parted, wandered through the lonely halls


chorus

They say the booze can get ya, well the odds are that it will

For there’s many a whiskey victim lying out there on Booze Hill

Yes a man can drink his family, as quickly as his wealth

And soon a man can find that he can finally drink himself



Dean Martin didn’t make it to the Jukebox playing list

‘Little Ol’ Wine Drinking Him’ sat with a schooner near his fist

He’d not been to Chicago, and he never aimed to go

As a rasping, rapping repertoire tried hard to steal the show

And some people he half recognized sat further up the room

But just stares and then a whisper did his presence now consume

‘A Man Of Constant Sorrow’, now there’s a song he knew

As he sat and lived the lyrics as he ordered up a brew


chorus

They say the booze can get ya, well the odds are that it will

For there’s many a whiskey victim lying out there on Booze Hill

Yes a man can drink his family, as quickly as his wealth

And soon a man can find that he can finally drink himself



Soon the bar will liven, as the men drink to his name

As his casket’s getting lowered, and reputation much the same

To a lonely pauper’s farewell where the worst are even blessed

The Man Who Drank Himself is finally laid down to his rest

[Maureen K Clifford]

Nice one - are you recording it?

[alongtimegone]

That's so good Neil. Have you written a melody for it?
Wazza

[keats]

Thanks Maureen and Wazza. Yes, I have written the music and it's all set to go. Just deciding who to offer this one to.

Cheers

Neil

[Catherine Lee]

That was my question too so this is good news - great lyric Neil!

[thestoryteller]

It can take some a lot of years to see the light or rather their body gets sick of calling out and they finally listen.

Hope it goes well for you Neil.


Merv.