The Bottle
Living in the Bottle: A Poignant Tale of Struggles and Escapism
Lyrics
See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
Observing a frightened African American youth whose father is trapped in alcoholism.
his ol' man's in a bottle.
The boy's father is deeply immersed in alcohol, symbolized by being "in a bottle."
He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time
The man has abandoned his regular job to drink full time, resulting in a life confined to alcohol.
so now he's livin' in the bottle.
Emphasizing the man's current existence solely within the realm of alcohol.
See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
Reiteration of another young black male facing the consequences of his father's alcoholism.
his ol' man got a problem
The second boy's father is facing issues, including pawning valuable items for alcohol.
Pawned off damn near everything, his ol'
Details the extent of the father's desperation, such as pawning his wife's wedding ring.
woman's weddin' ring for a bottle.
Stresses the impact of alcohol on relationships and the sacrifices made for it.
And don't you think it's a crime
Pondering the injustice when people repeatedly fall victim to the clutches of alcoholism.
when time after time, people in the bottle.
Expressing disapproval of the cycle of people succumbing to alcohol over and over.
See that sister, she was fine before she
Introduces a woman who was once attractive but has turned to wine, likely due to her husband's criminal actions.
started sippin' wine
Her descent into alcoholism is marked by the act of drinking directly from the bottle.
from the bottle.
Reveals the reason for her reliance on alcohol—her husband's criminal activities leading to imprisonment.
Said her ol' man committed a crime
Describes her lonely state on the street, indicating her need for assistance, possibly from alcohol.
and he's doin' time,
Continuation of her predicament, emphasizing her dependence on the bottle.
so now she's in the bottle.
Highlights the ineffectiveness of preaching or assistance, as she reacts negatively to help.
She's out there on the avenue, all by herself
Depicts her solitude on the avenue, emphasizing the desperation that drives her to the bottle.
sho' needs help from the bottle.
Introduces a preacher attempting to help her, but she responds violently with a bottle.
Preacherman tried to help her out,
Reiteration of the disapproval of the recurring cycle of people falling into the trap of alcoholism.
she cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle.
Blank line, serving as a pause or separation between verses.
And don't you think it's a crime
Shifting the focus to another individual, a well-dressed man, who is struggling with anger or frustration.
when time after time, people in the bottle.
He is on the verge of losing his composure due to his battles, possibly with life or personal issues.
See that gent in the wrinkled suit
Reference to societal pressures and criticism leading him to resort to alcohol.
he done damn near blown his cool
Describing the man's deteriorating mental state as he tries to shoo away pigeons, symbolic of his own troubles.
to the bottle
Portrays the man's continuous struggle to escape the clutches of alcoholism.
He was a doctor helpin' young girls along
Highlighting the irony of a once-helpful doctor now battling his own problems with alcohol.
if they weren't too far gone to have problems.
Reference to those defending economic interests questioning the legality of the doctor's actions.
But defenders of the dollar eagle
Outcome of the legal scrutiny, with the doctor succumbing to the bottle as a coping mechanism.
Said "What you doin', Doc, it ain't legal,"
Depiction of his daily struggle, attempting to ward off symbolic troubles represented by pigeons.
and now he's in the bottle.
Reiteration of the disapproval of the recurring cycle of people falling into the trap of alcoholism.
Now we watch him everyday tryin' to
Blank line, serving as a pause or separation between verses.
chase the pigeons away
Continuation of the man's daily battle, using a metaphor of chasing pigeons to represent his struggles.
from the bottle.
Restating the disapproval of the recurring cycle of people succumbing to alcohol and its destructive effects.
And don't you think it's a crime
Blank line, serving as a pause or separation between verses.
when time after time, people in the bottle.
Final reiteration of the disapproval of the persistent pattern of people falling into the trap of alcoholism.
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