The Bottle
Living in the Bottle: A Tale of Struggle, Despair, and RedemptionLyrics
See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
Observation of a scared black boy, likely facing difficulties, as his father is immersed in alcoholism.
His ol' man's in a bottle
The father is trapped in the bottle, symbolizing alcohol addiction.
He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time
The boy's father quits his regular job to drink full time, worsening his situation.
So now he's livin' in the bottle
He now lives in the bottle, indicating the destructive grip of alcohol on his life.
See that Black boy over there, runnin' scared
Repetition of the observation of another scared black boy, possibly in a similar predicament.
His ol' man got a problem
This boy's father has problems, resorting to pawning possessions, even a wedding ring, for alcohol.
Pawned off damn near everything, his ol'
Highlighting the desperation of the father's actions, sacrificing important items for a bottle.
Woman's weddin' ring for a bottle
Expressing concern about the societal crime of succumbing to alcoholism.
And don't you think it's a crime
A rhetorical question, emphasizing the negative impact of people repeatedly falling into the bottle.
When time after time, people in the bottle
Reflection on the cyclical nature of individuals being trapped in alcohol addiction over and over.
See that sista, sho wuz fine before she
Introduction of a sister who was once fine but is now affected by alcohol, possibly due to her partner's criminal actions.
Started drinkin' wine
Attributing her decline to drinking wine from the bottle.
From the bottle
Linking her situation to her partner's criminal activity and imprisonment.
Said her ol' man committed a crime
Describing her current state of being trapped in alcoholism.
And he's doin' time
Detailing her isolation and need for help while being consumed by the bottle.
So now she's in the bottle
Emphasizing her vulnerability and the detrimental impact of the bottle on her life.
She's out there on the avenue, all by herself
Depiction of her solitary struggle on the avenue, signaling a plea for assistance.
Sho' needs help from the bottle
Expressing the dire need for help, specifically from the bottle.
Preacherman tried to help her out
Mentioning a preacher attempting to assist her but facing aggression, highlighting resistance to help.
She cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle
Describing her violent reaction to the preacher's help, using a bottle as a weapon.
And don't you think it's a crime
Reiteration of the idea that succumbing to the bottle is a societal crime.
When time after time, people in the bottle
Repeating the notion of the cyclical nature and negative impact of people falling into the bottle.
See that gent in the wrinkled suit
Introduction of a gentleman in a disheveled suit, hinting at his struggle and loss of composure.
He done damn near blown his cool
Describing his near loss of control, possibly due to alcohol, and linking it to the bottle.
To the bottle
Implying his descent into the bottle and the negative impact on his demeanor.
He wuz a doctor helpin' young girls along
Revealing his past as a doctor helping young girls, emphasizing a fall from grace.
If they wuzn't too far gone to have problems
Highlighting the irony of his situation, unable to help those in need due to societal pressure.
But defenders of the dollar eagle
Depicting criticism from those prioritizing monetary gain over genuine assistance.
Said "What you doin', Doc, it ain't legal,"
Quoting critics questioning the legality of the doctor's actions, leading to his descent into the bottle.
And now he's in the bottle
Confirming the doctor's current state of being trapped in the bottle due to societal constraints.
Now we watch him everyday tryin' to
Describing the doctor's daily struggles, perhaps involving attempts to escape the bottle.
Chase the pigeons away
Illustrating his erratic behavior, chasing pigeons, possibly indicating a loss of focus or purpose.
From the bottle
Emphasizing the ongoing battle with the bottle and its impact on daily life.
And don't you think it's a crime
Reiteration of the societal crime associated with succumbing to the bottle.
When time after time, people in the bottle
Final repetition of the idea that people repeatedly fall into the bottle, emphasizing the cyclical nature of this societal issue.
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