Drink Some More
The Real McKenzies Lyrics
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An' I drag me butt tae me job.
Not a break, front to back
Kicking balls to the wall
Down a mile a hole
Moving mountains of coal
While here's to hell
It's ringing my bell
Sing a song, bang a gong
And tonight would be good to be bad.
So I take a wee dram
Just to take off the edge
Whether diggin' a ditch
Or swinging a sledge
I drink to ignore high society's crap.
Bot'tla' whiskey in me
And I ain't even whacked
Now I know how it feels for the rat
On the wheel to run for the cheese.
We drink and we drink and we drink some more
The only thing better than drinking for me
Is when I'm drinking with you
And we're drinking for free.
I feel drunk and tight
Just a wee bit tipsy tonight
It's the best that I've had
But I've puked on my kilt
Will you call me a cab
Will you call me a cab
For now I must go
To wake up at dawn
For a heave and a hoe
And tonight was good to be bad
The Real McKenzies's song Drink Some More is about the daily struggles of the working class and the need to drink away the stresses of the job. The opening lines describe the routine of "dragging" themselves to work, "kicking balls to the wall" and "moving mountains of coal". The constant grind of the job leads them to drink, "just to take off the edge" and forget the pressures of high society. The chorus celebrates the camaraderie that comes with drinking, especially when it's free, while the final lines reiterate the importance of waking up early for another day of work.
Through the lyrics, The Real McKenzies convey the idea that alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism, a way to escape the mundane and repetitive nature of the working-class existence. The song sympathizes with the plight of laborers who often have to work under harsh conditions and turns to alcohol as a way to deal with it, even if there are negative consequences, such as puking on one's kilt or waking up early in the morning after a night of drinking. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of working-class drinking culture and the camaraderie that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a squid, up at dawn
I wake up early and start my day like the squids, who are known to wake up early
An' I drag me butt tae me job.
I head off to work, even though I don't really feel like it
Not a break, front to back
I work all day without taking a break
Kicking balls to the wall
I'm giving everything I've got at work
Down a mile a hole
I'm doing hard labor all day long
Moving mountains of coal
I'm doing a physically demanding job and moving heavy loads of coal
While here's to hell
I'm toasting to the idea of working hard and facing tough challenges
It's ringing my bell
Despite the tough work, I'm feeling energized and ready for more
Sing a song, bang a gong
I'm celebrating with music and good vibes
And tonight would be good to be bad.
I'm looking forward to blowing off some steam and having some fun
So I take a wee dram
I have a small drink to help me relax
Just to take off the edge
I'm trying to reduce my stress levels with alcohol
Whether diggin' a ditch
I drink whether I'm doing manual labor or not
Or swinging a sledge
I'm drinking whether I'm doing physical work or not
I drink to ignore high society's crap.
I drink to forget about the expectations and pressures of high society
Bot'tla' whiskey in me
I've had a good amount of whiskey to drink
And I ain't even whacked
Despite drinking a lot, I'm not even that drunk yet
Now I know how it feels for the rat
I can relate to the rat who runs on a wheel constantly and never feels like they're getting anywhere
On the wheel to run for the cheese.
I feel like I'm running on a wheel trying to achieve something, just like a rat running on a wheel trying to get the cheese
We drink and we drink and we drink some more
I'm drinking a lot with my friends
The only thing better than drinking for me
Drinking with my friends is the best thing I can think of
Is when I'm drinking with you
Drinking with my friend makes it even better
And we're drinking for free.
It's even better when we don't have to pay for our drinks
I feel drunk and tight
I'm starting to feel tipsy and drunk
Just a wee bit tipsy tonight
I'm only a little bit drunk tonight
It's the best that I've had
It's the best night I've had in a while
But I've puked on my kilt
Unfortunately, I've vomited on my traditional Scottish kilt
Will you call me a cab
Can you please call me a taxi?
For now I must go
It's time for me to leave
To wake up at dawn
I need to wake up early again tomorrow morning
For a heave and a hoe
To do more physical labor and hard work
And tonight was good to be bad
Despite vomiting and getting sick, I had a great time with my friends and enjoyed being a little bit reckless
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@murphysgirlmurphy3369
@@briant6669 I was actually referring to having 50% blood From my mother (Irish) and 50% from my father (Scottish)... I'm sure you've heard the old saying about those who assume- they look like absolute rockets.
I'll never understand why people like you can't be happy that we come from a great wee country with an amazing history- and a bright future. I know we, like every other country on Earth, have our problems, but I choose to take pride in our achievements and to work at trying to improve those same problems. It's a sad, sad thing to see a self-loathing Scot, I heard it was one of the signs of Armaggedon.
The thing is, Brian, that we actually do share many, many traits with our Irish cousins, more so than with any of the other nations that make up, 'The United Kingdom'.
A chunk of that is simply because of the very close proximity of Western Scotland and Eastern Ireland which had encouraged trade, exchange of ideas, and ideals- religious and otherwise. This area of Scotland was even under Irish rule for a time within the Kingdom of Dál Riata.
We had huge influxes of people trying to flee the Irish famines who ended up settling here permanently. It hasn't only been one-way traffic either as many Scottish families have uprooted and moved to Ireland during socio-economical hard times at home.
I'd also like to point out before I go, that you are utterly, completely, and entirely wrong, petal.
Genes are amazing wee things. They're so tiny that they can't be seen by the human eye...but still manage to make you look like a fud. Technology is fantastic in this area and is used in the private, public, and medical sectors respectively, and can certainly trace the national and international lineage of an individual.
Perhaps you should check this out- https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/genealogy/genetic-mapping-ancestry-ireland-scotland#:~:text=Ireland%20and%20their%20Scottish%20cousins,clusters%E2%80%9D%20of%20genetically%20similar%20populations.
As for "you are making us all look weak" suuuure I am, petal. you should be focussing on the fact that you and the rest of your ilk are making us all look stupid.
@calisurfduuuddee8183
The scots-irish are always singing about simple life.
Hard work is our history, I swing a hammer and am proud!
@gaelicamericancraic1816
How can you not like a band with pipes?
@futureoutfit
ACDC are probably the ones who nailed it
@ambriellemason5925
So true
@catherinegreig9240
@@ambriellemason5925 Yes, it is true, as ACDC were all Scottish emigrants to Australia. And if you do ever bother to reply to this, I am 80 years of age pet, so no cursing please. It's nice to be nice, and all that.
@charliecrash3450
Slainte!
@harrisonburke1749
Lack of taste, thats the only explanation
@paddyoflaherty2519
Having a wee dram while listening to this. Cheers !!
@jpunkabillybayd.7562
I could listen to this song a hundred times maybe even infinite amount of times I don't think it'll ever get old or played out so good!
@h2oexcen953
Yeah! Specially when having some drinks with the friends... And drinking for free 😂