In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
With Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
(chorus) [the drunks] The rest are solos.
Booze, Mister Booze (Mister Booze), Mister Booze
Mister be double O, Z Eeee, (that sure spells booze),
You will wind up wearing tattered shoes if you mess with Mister Booze,
(Don't mess with Mister Booze, don't mess with Mister Booze.)
Don't mess with be , double o, Z, E, if you've been so simply occupied.
You'll feel better once you testify, (testify, testify)
[I want to testify, I want to testify]
Well, then cleanse yourself, my child, cleanse yourself.
Brothers and sisters, I happen to know this poor unfortunate soul,
And the fight she is waging against sin,
That old devil Booze has changed her
Into the unsightly person you see before you.
Give us your testimony, my child.
[Well, it all began with Johnny] (Yeah?)
[He said drink helped him stay alive] (Yeah?)
[Do you know how old he was when he died?] (No)
[He was twenty-five] (No. no)
[That's why I gotta come clean] (why?)
[Because I'm already seventeen]
Who's to blame? (Who's to blame?) What his name?
(We know his name, his name is.)
Mister Booze, Mister Booze, Mister be , double O, Z, E,
Don't ever choose, any game you play with him, you lose,
If your head feels like it's two miles wide,
You'll feel better once you testify (testify, testify, testify)
[I want to testify, I want to testify]
Well, come forward, dear brother, come forward.
You see here, ladies and gentlemen, a man who just last year
Was the United States Olympic heavyweight wrestling champion,
Here he is, just a shadow of his former self, wasted in health, ravaged by sin.
Oh give us your testimony, dear brother.
[I was cruel an
(chorus) [the drunks] The rest are solos.
Booze, Mister Booze (Mister Booze), Mister Booze
Mister be double O, Z Eeee, (that sure spells booze),
You will wind up wearing tattered shoes if you mess with Mister Booze,
(Don't mess with Mister Booze, don't mess with Mister Booze.)
Don't mess with be , double o, Z, E, if you've been so simply occupied.
You'll feel better once you testify, (testify, testify)
[I want to testify, I want to testify]
Well, then cleanse yourself, my child, cleanse yourself.
Brothers and sisters, I happen to know this poor unfortunate soul,
And the fight she is waging against sin,
That old devil Booze has changed her
Into the unsightly person you see before you.
Give us your testimony, my child.
[Well, it all began with Johnny] (Yeah?)
[He said drink helped him stay alive] (Yeah?)
[Do you know how old he was when he died?] (No)
[He was twenty-five] (No. no)
[That's why I gotta come clean] (why?)
[Because I'm already seventeen]
Who's to blame? (Who's to blame?) What his name?
(We know his name, his name is.)
Mister Booze, Mister Booze, Mister be , double O, Z, E,
Don't ever choose, any game you play with him, you lose,
If your head feels like it's two miles wide,
You'll feel better once you testify (testify, testify, testify)
[I want to testify, I want to testify]
Well, come forward, dear brother, come forward.
You see here, ladies and gentlemen, a man who just last year
Was the United States Olympic heavyweight wrestling champion,
Here he is, just a shadow of his former self, wasted in health, ravaged by sin.
Oh give us your testimony, dear brother.
[I was cruel an
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Mister Booze Lyrics as written by Jimmy Van Heusen Sammy Cahn
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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