Lyrics
Sat at the bar drinking all alone, wife at the end of the telephone
Sitting alone at the bar, drinking, while his wife is upset and talking to him on the telephone.
She screams, "you're such a drunk, you better get on home."
His wife accuses him of being a drunk and insists he come home immediately.
Get on home Johnny, your wife is on her way
A reminder for Johnny to go home because his wife is on her way.
Takes a walk to the corner store
Johnny goes for a walk to the corner store.
Crawlin' on his knees, yeah I want some more
Describes Johnny crawling on his knees, perhaps struggling or desperate for more drinks.
Just another drink, why are drinking for?
Raising a question about the purpose of drinking—wondering why Johnny continues to drink.
"Gonna leave my wife then sail the shore"
Expressing a desire to leave his wife and live a carefree life by sailing the shore.
(Sad old beer drinker) But I know you wanna stay now
Despite being a sad beer drinker, he acknowledges the desire to stay in his current state.
(Sad old beer drinker) Come back another day now
An invitation for Johnny to return on another day.
(Sad old beer drinker) Now don't you run away
Encouragement for Johnny not to run away from his current situation.
Get on home Johnny, your wife is on her way
Reiteration of the need for Johnny to go home as his wife is approaching.
Drinking all the drink got me colour blind
Johnny's excessive drinking has affected his vision, metaphorically described as becoming colorblind.
Like Alex Turner said "I'm tryna change your mind."
A reference to Alex Turner's lyrics, possibly indicating Johnny's attempt to change someone's perspective.
It's 3 in the morning laying on the side
Describes a late-night moment of introspection or regret, lying on the side.
Get up now Johnny, you're on the floor outside
An urging to Johnny to get up from the floor outside.
Saturday night has come and gone
Reflects on the passing of Saturday night.
His eyes are hardly open but he carries along
Johnny's tired eyes, yet he continues with his drinking.
Just another drink until he sings the song
Drinking more until he reaches a point to sing a song.
He's a sad old beer drinker, sad old beer drinker
Reiteration that Johnny is a sad old beer drinker.
(Sad old beer drinker) But I know you wanna stay now
Despite being sad, the acknowledgment that Johnny wants to stay in this state.
(Sad old beer drinker) Come back another day now
A repeated invitation for Johnny to come back another day.
(Sad old beer drinker) Now don't you run away
Encouragement for Johnny not to escape or avoid his problems.
Get on home Johnny, your wife is on her way
Reminder for Johnny to go home as his wife is on her way.
(Sad old beer drinker) I know you wanna stay now
Despite being a sad beer drinker, he acknowledges the desire to stay in his current state.
(Sad old beer drinker) Come back another day now
A repeated invitation for Johnny to come back another day.
(Sad old beer drinker) Beer drinker
Reiteration of Johnny being a beer drinker.
At the bar drinking all alone, wife at the end of the telephone
Repeats the scene of Johnny sitting at the bar, drinking, with his wife on the telephone.
Screams, "you're such a drunk, you better get on home."
His wife again accuses him of being a drunk and insists he come home.
Get on home Johnny, your wife is on her way
Reiteration that Johnny should go home because his wife is on her way.
(Sad old beer drinker) But I know you wanna stay now
Despite being a sad beer drinker, he acknowledges the desire to stay in his current state.
(Sad old beer drinker) Come back another day now
A repeated invitation for Johnny to come back another day.
(Sad old beer drinker) Now don't you run away
Encouragement for Johnny not to escape or avoid his problems.
Get on home Johnny, your wife is on her way
Reminder for Johnny to go home as his wife is on her way.
(Sad old beer drinker) I know you wanna stay now
Despite being a sad beer drinker, he acknowledges the desire to stay in his current state.
(Sad old beer drinker) Come back another day now
A repeated invitation for Johnny to come back another day.
(Sad old beer drinker) Oh yeah
Expressing a feeling of resignation or acceptance of his current state.
Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
Repetitive vocal sounds, possibly representing a continuation of the sad and repetitive cycle of Johnny's life.
Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low bow
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low bow
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low bow
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low
-Ba ba bow, ba la ba ba low bow
Repeating sounds, possibly concluding the song with a sense of melancholy or inevitability.
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