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Barrier Reef Lyrics
The Empty Bottle was half empty, tide was low, and I was thirsty.
Saw her sitting at the bar, you know how some girls are,
Always making eyes, well she wasn't making eyes.
So I sidled up beside her, settled down and shouted, "Hi there."
"My name's Stewart Ransom Miller, I'm a serial lady-killer."
She said, "I'm already dead," that's exactly what she said.
So we tripped the lights fantastic, we was both made of elastic.
Midnight came and midnight went, and I though I was the President.
She said, "Do you have a car," and I said, "Do I have a car?"
What's so great about the Barrier Reef?
What's so fine about art?
What's so good about a Good Times Van,
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man?
My heart wasn't in it, not for one single minute.
I went through the motions with her. Her on top, and me on liquor.
Didn't do no good, well I didn't think it would.
What's so great about the Barrier Reef?
What's so fine about art?
What's so good about a Good Times Van,
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man?
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man.
When you're working on a broken,
Working on a broken,
Working on a broken man.
The Empty Bottle is a rock club in Chicago. With all the double entendres, mixed meanings, and the general story line, I think the song is definitely about being drunk and confused.
The chorus just basically turns all of our assumptions around and dumps them on the ground. Nothing is really great, fine or good times when you're too drunk to understand what's happening.
Great song.
This is the first Old 97's songs I heard. These are my favorite lines:
My heart wasn't in it, not for one single minute. I went through the motions with her. Her on top, and me on liquor.
Rhett said once that this song is Rob Thomas' (from Matchbox 20) favorite.