I don't think the "brass monkey date" phrase refers to alcholics. Here in England there is an old vernacular expression that "it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". In conversation this is generally shortened to something like "it's brass monkeys outside" to indicate that it is very cold.
So what Mark is saying in his own sweet way in the opening lines is that the weather turned bitterly cold so our heroes jumped on a freight train heading South looking for warmer weather.
Although there is no indication of the sex of the Scarecrow it would be nice to think that she is a woman and they have each other and a bottle of booze to celebrate Christmas together. Rather mirroring my other favourite Christmas song - a Fairytale of New York - of two old bums finding some peace and comfort with each other at Christmas.
I don't think the "brass monkey date" phrase refers to alcholics. Here in England there is an old vernacular expression that "it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". In conversation this is generally shortened to something like "it's brass monkeys outside" to indicate that it is very cold.
So what Mark is saying in his own sweet way in the opening lines is that the weather turned bitterly cold so our heroes jumped on a freight train heading South looking for warmer weather.
Although there is no indication of the sex of the Scarecrow it would be nice to think that she is a woman and they have each other and a bottle of booze to celebrate Christmas together. Rather mirroring my other favourite Christmas song - a Fairytale of New York - of two old bums finding some peace and comfort with each other at Christmas.
Cheers Ron