blues
Brownsville Lyrics

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Alright
I don't need no diamond rings
I don't need no Cadillac car
I just wanna drink my ripple wine
Down in the Lightnin' Bar
Well some men value fortune and fame
I don't care about none
I just wanna drink my ripple wine

I wanna have my good time fun
Have my good time fun
Oh yeah, ooh
Oh yeah when I die don't bother me
Well don't bury me at all
Just place my livin' lovin' laughin' bones
In a jar of alcohol
A jar of alcohol

Everybody now
In the Lightnin' Bar

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics to Brownsville Station's song "Lightnin' Bar Blues" suggest simplicity and a lack of materialistic desires. The singer claims he doesn't need expensive things like diamond rings or a Cadillac car, and instead just wants to drink his ripple wine down in the Lightnin' Bar. This statement is then followed by the acknowledgement that some men do value fortune and fame, but the singer is not one of them. He just wants to have fun and enjoy his life with his own definition of fun. He repeats the desire for "good time fun" before the chorus.

The second verse takes a turn towards what the singer wants to happen when he dies. He doesn't want an elaborate funeral or to be buried at all. Instead, he wants his bones to be placed in a jar of alcohol as a sort of macabre form of preservation. The song ends with a call and response to sing about these desires and send the message out to the world while drinking in the Lightnin' Bar.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't need no diamond rings
Having expensive jewelry is not important to me

I don't need no Cadillac car
I am not interested in owning a fancy car

I just wanna drink my ripple wine
All I want to do is enjoy drinking my favorite wine

Down in the Lightnin' Bar
I prefer to drink my wine in a place like Lightnin' Bar

Well some men value fortune and fame
Some people prioritize wealth and popularity

I don't care about none
I don't care about those things

I just wanna drink my ripple wine
All I want to do is enjoy drinking my favorite wine

I wanna have my good time fun
I want to have a good time and enjoy myself

Have my good time fun
I want to enjoy myself and have a good time

Oh yeah, ooh
Expressing agreement or excitement

Oh yeah when I die don't bother me
When I die, I won't care about anything anymore