This next song was written as a musical response to the 18th Amendment and the Wartime Prohibition Act, reflecting the public's frustration with the "amputation" of their alcohol. The lyrics were written by Edward Laska in 1919 and Albert Von Tilzer wrote the music. One of the most famous recordings was by Billy Murray that same year on the Victor label. Irving Kaufman also recorded it in 1920, and Later Deford Bailey brought the song into the country-western and harmonica realm. According to a January 1920 article by Roy Burke in "Along Broadway: The Edison Musical Magazine", Von Tilzer jotted down the initial ideas for this song while sitting near a well-dressed drunk on a train. Tilzer also mentioned: quote: "A few years ago, 500,000 issues of a song was a big number to publish. That number meant a big hit. Today, we consider that the sale of a million copies of a song means that it is an average big success." So here on Public Domain Radio is our cover of the popular 1919 anti-Prohibition song "The Alcoholic Blues" also known as "Some Blues [Verse 1] I love my country, 'deed I do, But oh, that war has made me blue. I like fightin'; that's my name, But fightin' is the least about the fightin' game. When Mister Hoover said to cut my dinner down, I never even hesitate, I never frown. I cut my sugar, I cut my coal, But now they dug deep in my soul. [bridge] Lordy Lordy No, oh no Oh now they dug deep in my soul. [CHORUS] I've got the blues. I've got the blues. I've got the alcoholic blues. No more beer my heart to cheer. Goodbye, whiskey. You used to make me frisky. So long, highball. So long, gin. Oh, tell me when you comin' back agin? Blues -- I've got the blues Since they amputated my booze. Lordy, Lordy, war is well, you know, I don't have to tell. Oh, I've got the alcoholic blues, some blues. [Instrumental break] Prohibition, that's the name, Prohibition drives me insane. I'm so thirsty, soon I'll die, I'm simple goin to 'vaporate or just run dry. When Mister Hoover said to cut my dinner down I didn't hesitate and I didn't frown I cut my sugar, I cut my coal But now they've cut deep inside my soul. Oh no, Oh No, oh no Lordy they're diggin' deep in my soul. Work work woe [Chorus] I've got the blues, I've got the blues, I've got the alcoholic blues. No more beer my heart to cheer; Goodbye [instrumental bridge] I wouldn't mind to live forever in a trench, Just if my daily thirst they only let me quench; And not the Bevo or Ginger ale, I want real stuff by the pail. [Instrumental break] Prohibition, that's the name, Prohibition drives me insane. I'm so thirsty, soon I'll die, I'm simple goin to 'vaporate or just run dry. When Mister Hoover said to cut my dinner down I didn't hesitate and I didn't frown I cut my sugar, I cut my coal But now they've cut deep inside my soul. [Chorus] I've got the blues, I've got the blues, I've got the alcoholic blues. No more beer my heart to cheer; Goodbye whiskey, you used to make me frisky. So long high ball, so long gin, Oh, tell me when you comin' back agin? Blues, I've got the blues Since they amputated my booze Lordy Lordy, war is well… You know, I don't have to tell you Oh, I've got the alcoholic blues, Some blues.
