i ain't drinkin'

Lack of consideration for your friends can lead to a shortage of refreshment!

It was half past eight when I walked in the bar;
been workin’ all day, hadn’t got too far;
I guess it was all there to see on my face;
I pulled up a chair and sat down next to Fred;
he took one look at me, turned away and said
he couldn’t stand to see a man in pain; he said

I ain’t drinkin’ bourbon; I ain’t drinkin’ rye;
I ain’t drinkin’ nothin’ till I see you smile.

Fred’s a buddy from way back when,
and we both know we’re reasonable men,
so I figured he was likely to be right;
as I turned to Fred to tell him this,
young Lucy walked over and gave me a kiss;
said “you’re the saddest man I’ve seen tonight”; in fact

I ain’t drinkin’ bourbon; I ain’t drinkin’ rye;
I ain’t drinkin’ nothin’ till I see you smile.

Now nobody cares about you like your friends;
they’ll stick right by your side until the end;
so the least you can do is put away that frown,
and give them a smile even when you’re down.

Then Danny and Bob and Joe came in;
been at the ball game; the team didn’t win;
we grabbed them by the hand and sat them down;
said “you look such a sad and sorry sight;
we’d buy you a drink but it wouldn’t be right”;
then all the guys in the bar-room joined right in, singin’

I ain’t drinkin’ bourbon; I ain’t drinkin’ rye;
I ain’t drinkin’ nothin’ till I see you smile.
I ain’t drinkin’ bourbon; I ain’t drinkin’ rye;
I ain’t drinkin’ nothin’ till I see you smile.

(©2004 Stewart Bowman)