HOW ARE YOU GOIN' TO WET YOUR WHISTLE?

by Byrne, McIntyre & Wenrich
as sung by Billy Murray


Everybody seems to talk of prohibition
And what they'll drink when everything is dry.
How are you going to get around this new condition
And keep a happy twinkle in your eye?
It's very easy now to get a drink.
But tell me, did you ever stop and think:
How are you goin' to wet your whistle 
When the whole darn world goes dry?
What are you goin' to do in the morning
When you need a nip to open up your eye?
Now, what of the wedding and the christening
And the wake when your dear friends die?
Oh, how are you goin' to wet your whistle
When the whole darn world goes dry?

Ne'er again will any man be late for dinner.
Never will they miss the five-fifteen.
All the fleshy boys will fade and grow much thinner
And every one will be a candy fiend
If they pack the soda fountains to the doors
And turn the bars all into dry goods stores.

The poor bar-tenders will be worrying
About a ribbon counter job in July.
Oh, how are you goin' to wet your whistle
When the whole darn world goes dry?

Talk about your Bevo 
Coca-ColaŠ too
When you're good and thirsty 
Neither one of them will do.
Go and see a circus
Lemonade you buy
But you can see more animals 
If you drink a little rye.
Stein up on the table
Good song ringing clear
There will be no stein at all
When prohibition's here.
Always eat an apple
When you get a thirst
I've got an orchard ready
For January first.
We took this country from the Indians
They can have it back again in July.
Oh, how are you goin' to wet your whistle
When the whole darn world goes dry?


Note: "Bevo" was a non-alcoholic malt beverage ("near beer") manufactured by the Anheiser-Busch Brewing Company.

Copyright note

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