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The Bottle

Strata East records
  • The Bottle was originally recorded on the legendary Strata East label by Gil Scott-Heron in September 1973. The album in question is 'Winter In America'
  • In 1975 Joe Bataan records the track as 'La Botella' (SAL4101 'Afrofilipino') on Salsoul. It was also released by Turbo rds.

    See that black boy over there, runnin' scared
    his ol' man's in a bottle.
    He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time
    so now he's livin' in the bottle.
    See that Black boy over there, runnin' scared
    his ol' man got a problem
    Pawned off damn near everything, his ol'
    woman's weddin' ring for a bottle.
    And don't you think it's a crime
    when time after time, people in the bottle.

    See that sista, sho wuz fine before she
    started drinkin' wine
    from the bottle.
    Said her ol' man committed a crime
    and he's doin' time,
    so now she's in the bottle.
    She's out there on the avenue, all by herself
    sho' needs help from the bottle.
    Preacherman tried to help her out,
    she cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle.
    And don't you think it's a crime
    when time after time, people in the bottle.

    See that gent in the wrinkled suit
    he done damn near blown his cool
    to the bottle
    He wuz a doctor helpin' young girls along
    if they wuzn't too far gone to have problems.
    But defenders of the dollar eagle
    Said "What you doin', Doc, it ain't legal,"
    and now he's in the bottle.
    Now we watch him everyday tryin' to
    chase the pigeons away
    from the bottle.
    And don't you think it's a crime
    when time after time, people in the bottle.

    jahsonic@yahoo.com