One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

George Thorogood

Want to tell you a story
About the house-man blues
I come home one Friday
Had to tell the landlady I'da lost my job
She said that don't confront me
Long as I get my money next Friday
Now next Friday come I didn't get the rent
And out the door I went

So I goes to the landlady
I said you let me slide?
I'll have the rent for you in a month
Next I don't know
So said let me slide it on you know people
I notice when I come home in the evening
She ain't got nothing nice to say to me
But for five year she was so nice
Loh' she was lovy-dovy
I come home one particular evening
The landlady said you got the rent money yet?
I said no, can't find no job
Therefore I ain't got no money to pay the rent
She said I don't believe you're tryin' to find no job
Said I seen you today you was standin' on a corner
Leaning up against a post
I said but I'm tired, I've been walkin' all day
She said that don't confront me
Long as I get my money next Friday
Now next Friday come I didn't have the rent
And out the door I went

So I go down the streets
Down to my good friend's house
I said look man I'm outdoors you know
Can I stay with you maybe a couple days?
He said let me go and ask my wife
He come out of the house
I could see it in his face
I know that was no
He said I don't know man ah she kinda funny, you know
I said I know, everybody funny, now you funny too
So I go back home
I tell the landlady I got a job, I'm gonna pay the rent
She said yeah, I said oh yeah
And then she was so nice
Loh' she was lovy-dovy
So I go in my room, pack up my things and I go
I slip on out the back door and down the streets I go
She a-howlin' about the front rent, she'll be lucky to get any back rent
She ain't gonna get none of it
So I stop in the local bar you know people
I go to the bar, I ring my coat, I call the bartender
Said look man, come down here, he got down there
So what you want?

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
Well I ain't seen my baby since I don't know when
I've been drinking bourbon, whiskey, scotch and gin
Gonna get high man I'm gonna get loose
Need me a triple shot of that juice
Gonna get drunk don't you have no fear
I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

But I'm sitting now at the bar
I'm getting drunk, I'm feelin' mellow
I'm drinkin' bourbon, I'm drinkin' scotch, I'm drinkin' beer
Looked down the bar
Here come the bartender
I said look man, come down here
So what you want?

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
No I ain't seen my baby since the night before last
Gotta get a drink man I'm gonna get gassed
Gonna get high man I ain't had enough
Need me a triple shot of that stuff
Gonna get drunk won't you listen right here
I want one bourbon, one shot and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer

Yeah
Scratch my back, baby
Ah
Now by this time I'm plenty high
You know when your mouth a-getting dry
You're plenty high
Looked down the bar I say to my bartender
I said look man, come down here, he got down there
So what you want this time?
I said look man, a-what time is it?
He said the clock on the wall say three o'clock
Last call for alcohol
So what you need?

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
No I ain't seen my baby since a nigh' and a week
Gotta get drunk man 'til I can't even speak
Gonna get high man listen to me
One drink ain't enough Jack you better make it three
I want to get drunk I'm gonna make it real clear
I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
One bourbon, one scotch, one beer


Lyrics submitted by oofus

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer Lyrics as written by Rudolph Toombs

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment
    First written by Rudy Toombs and recorded by Amos Milburn in 1953 One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer was first made popular by John Lee Hooker, and since recorded by numerous artists. Perhaps the most widely renowned record is that of George Thorogood and The Destroyers in 1977. Thorogood's version is a combination on One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer and the song House Rent Boogie written and recorded by John Lee Hooker. Thorogood uses the situation with the rent as a back drop to why he is drinking so heavily, while also remaining true to the original idea that loneliness was driving his drinking. The song also contains a reference to the song "Baby, Scratch My Back" recorded by Slim Harpo where Thorogood asks "Scratch my back baby" and mimics the guitar riff from Harpo's recording.
    bot610on August 05, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Ah, good ol' Thorogood. Another of my partyin' songs that I just recently discovered...so many possibilities
    babytexon January 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    If I didn't have money to pay the rent, I'd have to spend a bit a get one Jack, one Chivas, and one Heiny. Can't get hung over. What would you get?
    harrycallahanon August 23, 2019   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    love the part with the guitar solo towards the middlish beginingish part...OH yeah, lol. george rocks...
    munch_49337on June 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think.... I think it's the delivery of this song that I love so much. He sings in that cigarette-scorched, whiskey-stained voice, and almost slurs the words. His guitar playing snarls with a drunken reckless abandon. Makes you believe that he means what he sings about.
    kkhx3on June 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    He does mean what he sings about, being that he's a drunk
    gorefiston July 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    He's got a lot of great drinking songs. And I love how this song tells a story and the way he tells it. "I said I know, everybody funny, now you funny too" - one of my favorite lines
    kmk_natashaon October 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is one of the rare cases of the updated version being as good/better than the original--this is actually TWO Johnny Lee Hooker songs ('house rent blues' and 'one bourbon, one scotch, one beer) put together as one....great stuff!
    hangwire13on February 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    nice hangwire at least somebody knows where this great song came from haha john lee hooker is the man
    Heckler6on September 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    But notice how this how comments and the John Lee Hooker one does not. I looked at the lyrics of the other one, and although it is the original, I do not like sogs that do nothing but repeat the Chorus. George does not mention it ONCE until towards the end. I prefer this version much much better. kkhx3 I also love how he sings it, the whiskey strained voice adds to occassion. As I'm from the UK I don't think anyone else in school will like this song even as close to as I do >.>
    saawanjon March 07, 2008   Link

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