Song title: Give me that wine
(Hendricks, Lambert, Ross) by John Hendricks (Arista), 1961
Give me that wine - 'Clarence' version
Well my wife got tired of me running around
So she tried to keep me at home
You know she bust my nose and hid my clothes
But I continued to roam
Until she finally hit my weakspot, threatened to throw my bottle out
From the basement to the rooftop everybody could hear me shout
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
You know I can't cut lose without my juice
Well one day when I was walking home to bed
A bandit jumped from the shadows, put a blackjack aside my head
That cat took my watch, my ring, my money and I did'nt make a sound
But when he reached in for my bottle Jim you could hear for blocks around
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Beat my head out of shape but leave my grape
Well one day when I was laying down awful napping
When I woke up everything was burning
With a snap, and a crackle and a pop
You know the fireman chopped up my TV set and tore my apartment apart
But when he raised his axe on my bottle Jim I screamed with all my heart
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Let me take one toast before I roast
Well one day when I was crossing the avenue
A big car knocked me down
When I was laying out down in the traffic
The crowd came from blocks around
You know the policeman were searchin' my pockets
Before they took me to the funeral parlour
When he reached in for my bottle Jim
I jumped straight up and commenced to holler
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
You know I can't get well without Muscatell
You know you can take all them Hollywood glamour girls
Rita Haywood, Bridgette Bardot, Lana Turner
Put them on a wall, put a gigantic book beside them
And tell me to take my choice
Well there be no doubt about the one I chose the minute I raise my voice
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Well them chicks look fine but I love my wine
Now some folks like money, some like to dance and dine
But I be happy if you give me that wine
Can I have that bottle baby
Muscatell or half and half Notes:
Played with Clarence on lead vocals.
Give me that wine - Original version
My wife got tired a' me runnin' 'round, so she tried to keep me home
Well she broke my nose and hid my clothes, but I continued to roam
Then she finally hit my weak spot, threatened to throw my bottle out
Well from the basement to the rooftop, everybody could hear me shout
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Cause I can't cut loose without my juice
Gotta have hot lucy when I go walkin' y'know
Well one day while crossin the avenue, a big car knocked me down
While I was stretched out tyin' up traffic and crowds came from blocks around
Now the police were searchin my pockets, before they sent me to the funeral parlor
But when one o' those cops took my bottle, Jack, I jumped straight up and commenced to hollar
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Cause I can't get well without Muskatel
I only drink for medicinal purposes anyway
Well, now, one real dark and dreary night as I was staggerin' home t'bed
Well a bandit jumped from the shadows and put a blackjack 'side my head
That cat took my watch, my ring, my money, and I didn't make a sound
But when he reached 'n got my bottle, you could hear me for blocks around
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Beat m' head outta shape, but leave my grape
Watch, ring and money ain't nothin' but don' mess with my wine, Jim
Well one day my house caught fire while I was layin' down sleepin' off a nap
An' when I woke up everything was burnin' with a pop an' a crackle an' a snap
Now the fireman chopped up my TV set and tore my apartment apart
But when he raised his axe to my bottle, I screamed with all my heart
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
So I can drink one toast before I roast.
No sense goin' out half baked, Might as well be all tore up
You can take all those Hollywood glamor girls, Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth, Bridget Bardot,
N' Lucille Ball, and all them chicks 'n line 'em upside the wall
Put a GIGANTIC jug beside 'em, n' tell me to take my choice
Well there'd be no doubt which one I chose, the minute I raised my voice
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Gimme that wine (Unhand that bottle)
Well those chicks look fine, but I love my wine
Now some folks like money, some like to dance and dine
But I'll be happy If you give me that wine Notes:
These are the lyrics of the original version.
This song has never been published on any official release.
Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
- 10/03/1974 Liberty Hall, Houston,TX ,USA during the Pre-BTR gigs
- 07/12/1974 Hobart College, Geneva,NY ,USA during the Pre-BTR gigs
- 23/07/1975 Music Inn, Lenox,MA ,USA during the Born to Run Tour
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
First known live performance: 10/03/1974 Liberty Hall, Houston,TX ,USA
Last known live performance: 23/07/1975 Music Inn, Lenox,MA ,USA
Song 'history':
Played live 2 time(s) during the gigs preceeding the official Born To Run Tour.
Keep in mind that only a small amount of the setlists of these years has surfaced, so it may have been played a lot more.
Bruce gave this song one only shot through the Born to Run tour
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database