The Bottle

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 crimeAnd 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 alongIf 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.

Songwriters

SCOTT HERON, GILPublished by

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group