Breaking The Bottle
Big D And The Kids Table Lyrics


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Start the day!
Drink...
Oh! A bottle of wine down.

Mid-day!
Drink...
Oh! A bottle of whiskey down.
It makes no sense,
You be telling us lies.
You be telling us lies.
You told us you're going straight.
Now on the concrete with a busted face.

Todd, please put down that whiskey bottle.
Todd, put the lousy bottle down.

Yes!

Too many nights, crashing your car.
Your face looks like it's thirty-five.
Rise up from the bug infested couch.
You lose your girlfriend while you're killing yourself.

You start fights that you can't win.
You have a new developed sense of sin.
I tell you, man, you have got to stop.
All of your friends have left you now to rot.

Don't be telling us lies. (No!)
I think he's telling you lies. (Nuh-uh!)
See, wait, no, I saw him just last week.
He left the city on his own to get clean.

Todd, he's out back, he's breaking bottles.
Todd's tossing lousy bottles down.
Todd's finally breaking the bottle.
Dirt, glass, and whiskey on the ground.

Yes!





He's my friend!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Breaking The Bottle" by Big D And The Kids Table express concern for a friend named Todd, who struggles with addiction to alcohol. The song describes Todd's pattern of drinking throughout the day, starting with wine in the morning and progressing to whiskey mid-day. The singer notes that Todd's behavior makes no sense and accuses him of telling lies, including an apparent attempt to convince others that he is getting sober. In reality, Todd's addiction leads him to suffer physical harm, damage his relationships, and engage in self-destructive behavior. However, the song ends on a note of hope, as the singer observes that Todd has taken a positive step by breaking a bottle and potentially committing to recovery.


The lyrics to "Breaking The Bottle" can be seen as a commentary on the destructiveness of addiction and the challenges of recovery. Todd's struggles are depicted as a cycle of self-harm and broken promises, but the song also suggests that there is always the possibility of redemption and change. The singer's plea for Todd to put down the bottle and his final declaration that Todd is his friend reinforce the idea that addiction should be approached with compassion and a willingness to help others.


Line by Line Meaning

Start the day!
Wake up and begin the day.


Drink...
Consume alcohol to start the day.


Oh! A bottle of wine down.
Drink an entire bottle of wine quickly.


Mid-day!
Time of day when alcohol is consumed again.


Drink...
Consume alcohol once again during mid-day.


Oh! A bottle of whiskey down.
Drink an entire bottle of whiskey quickly.


It makes no sense,
Alcohol consumption is irrational and damaging.


You be telling us lies.
Denial of addiction issues and consequences.


You told us you're going straight.
Promises of rehabilitation that are not being kept.


Now on the concrete with a busted face.
The harmful consequences of drug and alcohol abuse are showing.


Todd, please put down that whiskey bottle.
An appeal to a friend to stop drinking for his own good.


Todd, put the lousy bottle down.
Requesting the same as the previous line in a more direct way.


Too many nights, crashing your car.
Repeated dangerous behavior that has resulted in vehicle accidents.


Your face looks like it's thirty-five.
Physical symptoms of addiction and substance abuse.


Rise up from the bug-infested couch.
Encouraging positive change and action.


You lose your girlfriend while you're killing yourself.
The destructive impact of addiction on relationships.


You start fights that you can't win.
Alcohol abuse leads to poor decision-making and conflict.


You have a new developed sense of sin.
The guilt and shame that come with harmful behavior.


I tell you, man, you have got to stop.
A direct appeal to end damaging behavior for one's own health and wellbeing.


All of your friends have left you now to rot.
The isolating and alienating effect of substance abuse.


Don't be telling us lies. (No!)
Refusal to accept lies or denial of the severity of the addiction problem.


I think he's telling you lies. (Nuh-uh!)
Another person calling out the false promises and excuses of addiction.


See, wait, no, I saw him just last week.
A glimmer of hope that change may be possible.


He left the city on his own to get clean.
A positive action taken toward rehabilitation.


Todd, he's out back, he's breaking bottles.
A symbolic and cathartic release of addiction and destructive behavior.


Todd's tossing lousy bottles down.
Continuing to let go of the harmful behavior through action.


Todd's finally breaking the bottle. Dirt, glass, and whiskey on the ground.
Breaking free from addiction and leaving it behind in a messy and difficult process.


He's my friend!
Despite the harsh confrontation of addiction, the artist still cares for and supports their friend's recovery.




Contributed by Sophia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

David Ruiz

Such a good song. I have a bro who was a real alcoholic, self destructive personality. Now a loving man to his girl and his baby girl. Good song

ThexInsidexMan

one of my favorite ska albums of all time. I used to just start with Strictly Rude, and then wind down into Searching for a Melody by Westbound Train and straight vibeeee

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