The Alcoholic Blues – Billy Murray (Prohibition Song) 1919
Recorded in January of 1919. This is a song from when the prohibition era reigned supreme for a short period of time and Billy Murray expresses his feelings about the whole situation.
LYRICS:
I love my country, ‘deed I do
But oh, that war has made me blue
I like fightin’, that’s my name
But fightin’ is the least about the fightin’ game
When Mister Hoover said to cut my dinner down
I never even hesitate, I never frown
I cut my sugar, I cut my coal
But now they dug deep in my soul
I’ve got the blues, I’ve got the blues
I’ve got the alcoholic blues
No more beer, my heart to cheer
Goodbye whiskey, you used to make me frisky
So long highball, so long gin
Oh, tell me when you comin’ back again
Blues, I’ve got the blues
Since they amputated my booze
Lordy, Lordy, war is well
You know I don’t have to tell
I’ve got the alcoholic blues
Some blues, I’ve got the blues
Prohibition that’s the name
Prohibition drives me insane
I’m so thirsty, soon I’ll die
I’m simply goin’ to evaporate, I’m just that dry
I wouldn’t mind to live forever in a trench
Just if my daily thirst they only let me quench
And not with Bevo or Ginger Ale
I want the real stuff by the pail
I’ve got the blues, I’ve got the blues
I’ve got the alcoholic blues
No more beer, my heart to cheer
Goodbye whiskey, you used to make me frisky
So long highball, so long gin
Oh, tell me when you’re comin’ back again
Blues, I’ve got the blues
Since they amputated my booze
Lordy, Lordy, war is well
You know, I don’t have to tell
I’ve got the alcoholic blues
Some blues, I’ve got the blues