Alcoholic Blues
You're an alcoholic but not a smoker -
What else is there to say?
Your poetry is mediocre -
It's been another lousy day.
You used to think
If you had a drink
Your blues would go away -
But now you know that isn't true
So you haven't had a drink today.
Well done, old boy!
But there's no joy,
So what are you going to do?
You're dead inside, and lonely too
And bored and in despair.
Your fellow alcoholics care -
They say, 'If you choose
To turn again to booze
You've a hell of a lot to lose! '
You'd lose your peace of mind, I guess.
The answer's 'Yes,
But wouldn't it be nice
To ignore this sound advice,
To relax, chill out, and have a little happiness?
Or at least to write a decent verse,
Something pungent, moving, terse,
Transcending this alcoholic's curse! ! ! '
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
It's nice to be concise
I think it’s nice
To be concise
In everything you write
To be slightly terse
With all your verse
Is usually to write right
One should take their time
When composing rhyme
And try to keep it light
Maintain their meter
Try to make it neater
And never ever lose sight
Try not to doze
Whilst deep in prose
don’t write too late at night
Try not to swell your sonnet
Nor Try to dwell upon it
Because it could end up quite a fright
You don’t want to try to
End up with a haiku
Lord knows that wouldn’t be right…but
I just think it’s nice
To be concise…
In everything you write
poem by David Whalen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mexicali Blue
Laid back in an old saloon, with a peso in my hand,
Watchin' flies and children on the street,
And I catch a glimpse of black-eyed girls who giggle when I smile,
There's a little boy who wants to shine my feet.
And it's three days ride from Bakersfield and I don't know why I came.
I guess I came to keep from payin' dues.
So instead I've got a bottle and a girl who's just fourteen,
And a damn good case of the Mexicali Blues. Yeh!
Is there anything a man don't stand to lose,
When the devil wants to take it all away?
Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze,
Cause thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.
She said her name was Billy Jean and she was fresh in town.
I didn't know a stage line ran from Hell.
She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold,
All the french perfume you'd care to smell.
She took me up into her room and whispered in my ear,
"Go on, my friend, do anything you choose."
Now I'm payin' for those happy hours I spent there in her arms,
With a lifetime's worth of the Mexicali Blues.
Is there anything a man don't stand to lose,
When the devil wants to take it all away?
Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze
Cause thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.
And then a man rode into town, some thought he was the law.
Billy Jean was waitin' when he came.
She told me he would take her, if I didn't use my gun,
I'd have no one but myself to blame.
I went down to those dusty streets, blood was on my mind.
I guess that stranger hadn't heard the news
Cause I shot first and killed him, Lord, he didn't even draw
And he made me trade the gallows for the Mexicali Blues.
Is there anything a man don't stand to lose
When he lets a woman hold him in her hands?
He just might find himself out there on horseback in the dark
Just ridin' and runnin' across those desert sands
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Alcohol Blues Revisited
Day after day I've been flogging a dead horse,
Waking up in the morning with alcoholic remorse,
Depressed and befuddled and hungover of course,
It's a crime against nature and what makes it worse
I can't even write any decent verse,
'Cos there's no escaping this drinker's curse -
So what shall I do? Shall I pack it in?
The beer and the whisky? The vodka and gin?
Is it really so bad? Such a terrible sin?
I'm being courageous, I'll take it on the chin
While one of you's laughing and all of you grin,
Ah, give me a break, you uncharitable swine,
Have a heart, be gentle, and pour me some wine! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Hangover Blues
Day after day I've been flogging a dead horse,
Waking up in the morning with alcoholic remorse,
Depressed and befuddled and hungover of course,
It's a crime against nature, and what makes it worse
I can't even write any decent verse,
'Cos there's no escaping this drinker's curse -
So what shall I do? Shall I pack it in?
The beer and the whisky? The vodka and gin?
Is it really so bad? Such a terrible sin?
I'm being courageous, I'll take it on the chin,
While one of you's laughing and all of you grin,
Ah, give me a break, you uncharitable swine,
Have a heart, be gentle, and pour me some wine! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Pop Juice
You went there until you crash here
Then woken up to wonder where the night went
Keep breathing it'll come back again
Tonight will be different
We will all be saved
My name's Jimmy, I'm an alcoholic
And I have been for 33 years or more
So kill me, I will die without it
It's like this wherever I go
So we crashed down in BB's
Keep quiet because the question is elaborate
You need a lawyer, a doctor, a drink
To keep surviving
Keep me firing
My name's Jimmy, I'm an alcoholic
And I have been for 33 years or more
So kill me, I will die without it
It's like this wherever I go
I don't feel like going out
I don't feel like going out
Feel like going out
I don't feel like going out
I don't feel like going out
Feel like going out
Feel like going out
My name's Jimmy, I'm an alcoholic
And I have been for 33 years or more
So kill me, I will die without it
It's like this wherever I go
My name's Jimmy, I'm an alcoholic
And I have been for 33 years or more
So kill me, I will die without it
It's like this wherever I go
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
Do you feel like going out?
song performed by by Gomez
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Mexicali Blues
Laid back in an old saloon, with a peso in my hand,
Watchin flies and children on the street,
And I catch a glimpse of black-eyed girls who giggle when I smile,
Theres a little boy who wants to shine my feet.
And its three days ride from bakersfield and I dont know why I came.
I guess I came to keep from payin dues.
So instead Ive got a bottle and a girl whos just fourteen,
And a damn good case of the mexicali blues. yeh!
Is there anything a man dont stand to lose,
When the devil wants to take it all away?
Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze,
Cause thinkin and drinkin are all I have today.
She said her name was billy jean and she was fresh in town.
I didnt know a stage line ran from hell.
She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold,
All the french perfume youd care to smell.
She took me up into her room and whispered in my ear,
Go on, my friend, do anything you choose.
Now Im payin for those happy hours I spent there in her arms,
With a lifetimes worth of the mexicali blues.
Is there anything a man dont stand to lose,
When the devil wants to take it all away?
Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze
Cause thinkin and drinkin are all I have today.
And then a man rode into town, some thought he was the law.
Billy jean was waitin when he came.
She told me he would take her, if I didnt use my gun,
Id have no one but myself to blame.
I went down to those dusty streets, blood was on my mind.
I guess that stranger hadnt heard the news
Cause I shot first and killed him, lord, he didnt even draw
And he made me trade the gallows for the mexicali blues.
Is there anything a man dont stand to lose
When he lets a woman hold him in her hands?
He just might find himself out there on horseback in the dark
Just ridin and runnin across those desert sands.
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
12 Steps of Bad Poets Anonymous
1. I recognize that I’ve written more trash than anything worthwhile,
And I’m therefore committed to change my ludicrous lifestyle.
2. I give my life up to the Bottle to grant me genius that I miss
And beg forgiveness of bad poets whose asses that I used to kiss.
3. For I’m powerless without it - the mighty strength of Alcohol -
That gives me boundless inspiration, while sitting in a toilet stall.
4. No matter how great the effort, I cannot write a goddamned thing
Without my daily meditation with an alcoholic drink.
5. I drink and I become awakened to all the beauty that’s within
Those sparkling ice cubes in my cognac, my vodka, whiskey, rum and gin.
6. I seek a moral higher ground within my realm of Alcohol,
That grants me peace and inner virtues, that I revere and extol.
7. Let’s drink away our shortcomings until our heads begin to spin,
Until we all become connected to our geniuses within.
8. Let our words become true hammers to dropp upon the sleeping minds,
To guide them from their lives of error, from pastures ignorant and blind.
9. Each day I make another toast to the Holy Ghost of Alcohol
And pray that it may give me guidance and peace to my tormented soul.
10. I’m no Byron, no Shakespeare, no Baudelaire, nor Rimbaud,
But every drink makes me immortal and fills me with supernal awe.
11. It’s when my Atman becomes Brahman, my inner I, the God within,
And I begin to feel that oneness with the Eternal Everything.
12. With every glass of wine and brandy, with every alcoholic drink
I change into the Master Poet, like Rumi on an angel’s wing.
August 16,2010
poem by Alexander Shaumyan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Occasional Blackout Feb 8th 2011
I PASSED SOME HARD WORKING ALCOHOLICS ALONG THE WAY,
EVEN SOME WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY,
THOSE POOR PEOPLE SO INCLINED SHOULD BE HELPED OUT OF THEIR DISTRESS,
BUT IT DOESN’T WORK TOO GOOD WITH ALCOHOLICS, I GUESS.
I WAS ONCE AN ALCOHOLIC MYSELF SO I KNOW THEIR WAYS,
TRY TO ACT AND TALK SOBER IN THE MIDST OF CONSTANT MALAISE,
AND HIDE THE SECRET SICKNESS THAT SO FEW KNOW ABOUT,
PRETENDING WE WERE AS SOBER AS A UNIFORMED BOY SCOUT.
LIVING IN THE OCCASIONAL BLACKOUT VERY CLOSE TO THE BRINK,
WHAT DID I DO FOR THOSE FOUR HOURS AND HOW MUCH DID I DRINK?
HOW DID I GET FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY TO HERE?
DID MY CAR KNOW THE WAY AND SHOULD I LOOK AROUND IN FEAR?
IT WAS FEAR OF SCARY BLACKOUTS THAT CAUSED ME TO GO DRY,
I COULDN'T REMEMBER THOSE MANY HOURS, THE WHEN, THE WHERE OR WHY,
I LEFT MY MANY FRIENDS IN THE TAVERNS AND THOSE CLOSE KNIT BARS,
OTHERS, AMONG MY FRIENDS HAD TO GO BACK FOR SOME … CIGARS.
FEB 8TH,2011
poem by James Bredin
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Have A Drink On Me
Whiskey, gin and brandy
With a glass Im pretty handy
Im trying to walk a straight line
On sour mash and cheap wine
So join me for a drink boys
Were gonna make a big noise
So dont worry about tomorrow
Take it today
Forget about the cheque
Well get hell to pay
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Yeah
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
On me
Come on
Dizzy, drunk and fightin
On tequila white lightnin
My glass is getting shorter
On whiskey, ice and water
So come on and have a good time
And get blinded out of your mind
So dont worry about tomorrow
Take it today
Forget about the cheque
Well get hell to pay
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
On me
Get stoned
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Yeah
Have a drink on me
Come on
Oooh
Gonna roll around
Gonna hit the ground
Take another swing
Have another drink
Gonna drink it dry
Gonna get me high
Come on all the boys
Make a noise
Chorus
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink on me
Have a drink oooooooon me
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Curse
What if for you, I could place a curse
Upon your enemy to make his life worse
To have him suffer both in pain and woe
Wouldn't you be happy, if I would do so,
If you like it, I could cause him to lose his hair
Or I could have him believe GOD is not there
I could rip out his tongue so he could never speak
Then asking for help, he could never seek,
Wouldn't you be happy if I would curse your foe
Just nod your head and I will strike the blow
I will cause him suffering and I will give him pain
He will lose all that he has and he will go insane,
I could close his ears so he could not hear
So he couldn't hear the joy, but see only the tear
If you ask me I could even curse his arm
And the one that he had left he could do no harm,
I could even curse him to lose his leg
Wouldn't you be happy to see him crawl and beg
I could even blind him so he will not see again
Then I could make him angry and cause him to sin,
Just tell me what type of curse you'd like it to be
And happily I will place it upon your enemy
If you would like it, I could have him dead
But only if you asked me for a curse on his head.
Then I looked upon evils ugly face
I shook my head with pity and utter disgrace
As for your offer presented to me, it I will shun
And for enemies and foes, thank GOD I choose none.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
People are saying that I'm an alcoholic, and that's not true, because I only drink when I work, and I'm a workaholic.
When I Booze
When I booze
I cruise into a world where I never win but loose
Losing momentarily every sight of my intellectual views
As I suffer from the undesirable up and down blues
Champagne, wine, beers and spirits I abuse
O! dear - There are so many alcoholic drinks to choose
And I speak of this as if it is news
But I do give the perfect snooze
While others stand by and accuse and provide undesirable reviews
When I booze
I hope my actions will be excused
For I could be a total screw
I know that this is bodily abuse
When I see one appear as threes or twos
And I talk like flies with their sounds of ooze
Leaving all those around me feeling very amused
When I booze
I become bold in the midst of my crews
Swimming in unearthly spews and in and out of loos
Demanding regularly my next mixture of alcoholic brew
I have even awoken to find myself covered in tattoos
And I'm always soberly left dazed and confused
As I try to digest and diffuse
But when I booze in moderation
Acquired is good health and life elongation
And I smile for I know
Tomorrow my livers will face no condemnation
And I shall stand and smile knowing that yesterday
I was no fool but rather I was a charming sensation
Copyright 2012 Sylvia Lovina Chidi
poem by Sylvia Chidi
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Haven't A Clue
I haven't a clue of what to do.
Even though I know it's true.
Anxiety fills my body through.
The thought of rejection makes me blue.
Although the thought of success pushes me to.
Should I take the chance to find romance?
Or should I just pull back from this uncertain dance?
I want it bad. I'm going mad.
If you reject me I'll feel sad.
I haven't a clue of where to go.
The coming of it seems so slow.
Massive impatience inside me grows.
Despair and hoplessness greatly flow.
If it's time how will I know?
I haven't a clue of what to say.
All the answers come in shades of gray.
I can't continue in this awful play.
It seems I'm bound to lose in every way.
I haven't a clue now what I'll do.
I guess I'll sit here like a fool.
Never moving for what's cool.
I haven't the balls to claim this jewel.
Where to go and what to do?
All I can say is I haven't a clue.
poem by Michael McParland
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Alcoholic Gives in to Temptation
It's very, very nice
To give in to a vice!
I hadn't had a drink for seven weeks
And then I got pissed.
Now I knew what I'd missed!
Do I have to feel sorry,
To fret and to worry?
How very tight-arsed!
Now my terrible crime
Is captured in rhyme,
Alcoholic remorse
Imprisoned in verse!
And the whole damn thing could be a great deal worse!
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Why Do I Write Poetry?
Why do I write Poetry?
The answer is not plain to see,
As a Legal Cashier I earn my Living,
For me and my family.
Why do I write Poetry?
Thoughts come to me in rhyme and verse,
They have to be worked on continually
To make those lines seem terse.
Why do I write Poetry?
One day HE’ll answer me,
Hopefully while I’m on this Earth,
Before I reach Eternity.
Why do I write Poetry?
Why must my lines scan and rhyme?
Not only on this occasion,
But forever, and all the time.
Why do I write Poetry?
Why put them on your website?
To leave my Thoughts and Visions of Life,
To you all and posterity.
© Jonathan Goldman [JGthepoet] - 9 April 2005
poem by Jonathan Goldman a.k.a JGthepoet
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Crash Diet
Crash diet of reds'n'ludes
A shot of vitamin C and a bottle of booze
Too stupid to live with nothin' to lose
In your one track mind now
Where's that leave you?
Drink'n'drive white lightning faster baby
Takin' your last ride
Now better be so careful or you'll be dead before you time
Sorry you took mother's car now
Tears in my eyes, baby please don't go
You bet (?!) one too many, now one for the road
fresh outta detox, fresh from jail
Took your rehabilitation and you drove me to hell
Drink'n'drive white lightning faster
Takin' your last ride
Better be so careful or you'll be dead before your time
Sorry you took mohter's car now
Too soon, you thought ... ?!
Too late for the pressure and strain
Too bad for those who don't believe it
Ruby street still calls your name
[guitar solo]
Itchy trigger finger and the race to be alive
Smokin' a cig while you drink'n'drive
With no control in your life ahead
You're never gonna see if you wind up dead
Drink'n'drive white lightning faster
Takin' your last ride
Better be so careful or you'll be dead before your time
Drink'n'drive white lightning baby
It's always on your mind
Push or pull your limits baby, do it one more time
Break it down
Break it down
Somethin''s changin', somethin''s breakin'
You gotta be a brother, 'coz ?! your family
?!.... Oh make it
Sweet mystery, Ooohhhh
If you don't care about yourself
Would you please leave me alive
Oooohhhh...
You gonna
You gonna drink'n'drive
Oooohhhhh, Yeeaaah!
song performed by by Guns N' Roses
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Bet On The Blues
Bet on the blues (paxton)
Copyright 1975 accabonac music
Five hundredll buy you a stack. bet it on the red or the black and youll
Lose, bet on the blues.
You tell me youre a gambling man.
Try to beat the house if you can and you lose, bet on the blues.
If youre looking to get an inside slant,
If youre looking for something so good you cant refuse, bet on the blues.
Find a man who thinks hes over the hump,
Im here to tell you hes a kind of a chump you can use, bet on the blues, bet
On the blues.
Lucky old sun is shining today. even money says youll be paying some dues, bet
On the blues.
You say you found your lady fair.
Eight to five shes wearing her traveling shoes, bet on the blues.
Five hundredll buy you a stack. bet it on the red or the black and youll
Lose, bet on the blues.
You tell me youre a gambling man.
Try to beat the house if you can and you lose, bet on the blues.
If youre looking to get an inside slant,
If youre looking for something so good you cant refuse, bet on the blues, bet
On the blues,
Bet on the blues, bet on the blues, bet on the blues.
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Just One Drink.
He knew that if he had
just the one drink
that he'd be back
on the wagon again
back to the shut up room
and dead head
and stinking bed
and the woman off again
and the door slamming
and her voice echoing
up the from the hall
as her footsteps faded
come on
the guys said
just the one shot
but no he had to stay strong
keep the booze away
from hand and lips
and hey Joey come on
just a drink with me huh?
one lousy drink with a pal
whose lady's left him
for some other guy
no
he said
I can't have one drink
I don't do one drinks
I got to stay strong
got to look at the big picture
so his friend said
shrew you Joey
I'll find others
who'll drink with me
and off he went
and Joey sipped his lemonade
and looked at the bottles
behind the bar
looking back him
saying silently
ha ha ha.
poem by Terry Collett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Drink Poetry, Oh Ye of Small Faith
Drink poetry, oh ye of small faith:
Drink poetry from a bottle
Drink poetry from a book
Drink poetry from a fountain
Take another look.
Drink for sanctuary
Drink for inspiration
Drink for endurance
But never hesitation.
A toast to poetry
And a toast to time
A toast to us:
Live forever in rhyme.
poem by Patti Masterman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Beyond Sobriety
Here we go again
Back to a world of insanity
Question
To drink or not to drink
Return to bitterness
Another calamity
So well a gift of sobriety
For a brief blink of this alcoholics eye
How can this happen?
To a husband, father, fiend or foe
I am clueless once again
Recovery is history
One day at a time
Take it easy
Let go and let GOD
Gone
In my spiritual sense
How many times, oh LORD
Can forgiveness
Save my soul
How many times
I think not
To drink and then again
Death is at my door
As I booze
Once more
poem by Matt Mondschein
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!