Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
“The Bottle” by Gil Scott-Heron is based upon his conversations with alcoholics outside a liquor store in Northern Virginia, near Washington D.C. “The Bottle” aims to capture the story behind one’s decline into alcoholism, as opposed to society’s usual slander of alcoholics.
[Intro]
If I just (Ha ha ha, ha ha ha)
Oh, uno dos
Uno dos tres cuatro
[Verse 1]
You see that black boy over there running scared
His old man in a bottle
He done quit his nine to five, he drink full-time
And now he’s living in a bottle
See that black boy over there running scared
His old man got a problem and it's a bad one
He done pawned off damn near everything
His old woman's wedding ring for a bottle
[Chorus]
And don't you think it's a crime
When time after time after time
People in a bottle?
There's people living in a bottle
Listen to me
[Verse 2]
See that sister sure was fine
'Fore she started drinking wine from the bottle
She told me her old man committed a crime, he's doing time
Now she’s hanging in the bottle
I seen her out there on the avenue all by herself
Sure need help from the bottle
I seen a preacher man tried to help her out
She cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle
They turned to me, they asked me "Gil now
[Chorus]
Don't you think it's a crime
Knowing time after time after time
People in the bottle?"
There’s people sure 'nough in the bottle
Give another good example
[Verse 3]
You see that gent in a wrinkled suit there
He not done damn blown his cool to the bottle
He was a doctor helping young girls along
If they wasn't too far gone to have problems
Uh but the defenders of the dollar eagle said
"What you’re doing man ain't legal"
Now he's in the bottle
And now we watch him every day
He’s trying to chase the pigeons away from the bottle
He turned to me and said "Keep ya head now"
[Chorus]
And don't you think it's a crime
The way time after time
Friends of mine in the bottle?
There's people sure 'nough in the bottle
Come on hit me the lick one time stick, huh
[Flute Solo]
Uh ah
[Verse 4]
I’ll tell you a little secret
If you ever come looking for me
You know where I'm bound to be in the bottle
Turn around look around on any corner
If you see some brother looking like a goner
It's gonna be me
Sing the song
[Outro]
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na nah na now
Eewuha na na eewuha na na
Eewuha na na eewuha na na
Na na na na na naa na na eahwa na
Na na na na na naa na na eahwa na
Na na na na na naa na na eahwa na
A dollar-nine or a bottle of wine
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
Dollar-nine get a bottle of wine the bottle
All that I'm concerned about is a bottle (Uh)
It can turn me inside-out of the bottle
Said all I want, said all I want, said all I want, said all I want
Since I'm living on the bottom of a bottle
Eh ah ah, eh ah ah, eh ah ah ah ah, eh ah
Sure 'nough, sure 'nough
Sure 'nough
Sure 'nough, sure 'nough, sure 'nough, sure 'nough
Sure 'nough
Sure 'nough, hoo
Sure 'nough
Uh ha ha on the bottle, yeah on the bottle
Now on that
Yeah
Right here
Ooh
The Bottle (Winter in America Version) was written by Gil Scott-Heron.
The Bottle (Winter in America Version) was produced by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson.