McCulloch has released two albums: 1995's Shame-Based Man (praised by All Music Guide as the "most remarkable of comedy albums: one that bears [frequent] repeated listenings") and 2002's Drunk Baby Project. As with his television work, these feature a mixture of music and monologues.
McCulloch also directed the music video for The Tragically Hip's song "My Music At Work", from their 2000 album 'Music @ Work'. McCulloch has stated on his website that he is close friends with Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie. The video shares much in common with many "Kids In The Hall" sketches, including its office setting, camera angles, and some thematic elements. In it, the members of The Hip are depicted as co-workers in a stereotypical office building. Fed up with the bleakness of their work-a-day routines, they unite to form a rock band during their off-hours. The video cuts between several sketches showing the blandness and banality of corporate work, a humorous sequence showing Downie printing flyers for one of the band's shows (only to be caught by his boss playing the photocopier like a musical instrument), and the band performing on-stage (presumably at the show the flyers were being printed for).
Daddy's on the Drink
Bruce McCulloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy's on the drink again.
Daddy's doin' another rant on shame and blame and guilt again.
Had a sip at six and still hasn't swallowed it.
Daddy's on the couch again.
Slouches in that slouch again.
"You know, my dad drinks rye."
Yeah, whose dad doesn't?
"There's nothing on TV. There's nothing on TV."
Then what are you watching, dad?
He falls asleep, wakes up, dark, dry mouth. Somehow, he's in bed.
Is there a fairy? Is there a "drunk dad fairy" that tiptoes in, takes the TV-changer out of his hand, puts a blanket around his shoulders, lifts his head off his chest so his neck won't be sore tomorrow when the liquor leaves him for a time?
Is there a drunk dad fairy that pays for that Chinese food?
Daddy's on the couch again.
Drink on knee, he stares out again.
"My dad, your grandad, was a drunk. I guess it skipped a generation with me."
Really, dad?
"You know my problem? I'm a workaholic."
Really, dad?
"You don't know what I go through at work."
And what was he like at work? The same teetering, room-temperature rye and seven splashing on the merchandise, other hand pulling up pants when he rants?
"Ah, you don't what I go through at home, do you? Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!"
Daddy's on the drink again.
Harasses mom, who's at the sink again.
"What happened to the girl I married?"
Well, dad, she watched you all these years.
Mommies, don't let your babies grow up to be daddies.
These daddies, bad daddies, dead daddies or, mommies, make your babies grow up and they won't be these daddies.
Dead drunk, rant and roll, too upset to eat three hours later. "Can we just eat some Chinese food?" Daddy's on the drink again. Daddies.
"That's music. Not like that crap you listen to. Like Krupa. ?, Winnipeg Beach. I was a god damned king. Then you came along, didn't 'cha? I could use a pineapple chicken ?."
The song "Daddy's on the Drink" by Bruce McCulloch is a poignant portrayal of an alcoholic father and the impact of his addiction on his family. The first verse of the song describes the face of work as a drunk man sitting in the same chair, chewing on the same bone for thousands of nights, emphasizing the monotony and despair that comes with addiction. The second verse depicts the father's repeated rants on shame, blame, and guilt, highlighting the shame and guilt that often accompany addiction. The chorus repeats the phrase "Daddy's on the drink again" and emphasizes the father's inability to swallow the sip he took at six o'clock while depicting him slouching on the couch, pushing the cushions out with his fat, drunk bum.
The third verse paints a picture of a father who falls asleep in front of the television and wakes up with a dark, dry mouth. The singer wonders if there is a "drunk dad fairy" that takes care of him while he is passed out, putting a blanket around his shoulders and removing the TV remote from his hand. The final verse shows the father harassing his mother and asking what happened to the girl he married, while the singer reflects on the impact of the father's addiction on their family.
In summary, "Daddy's on the Drink" is a poignant and honest depiction of the impact of alcohol addiction on a family. The lyrics describe the father's repetitive behavior, his frustration, the impact on his wife, and the strain on their child's relationship with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy's on the drink again.
The father is drinking alcohol again and the behavior associated with it is expected.
Daddy's doin' another rant on shame and blame and guilt again.
The father is expressing feelings of shame, blame, and guilt due to his drinking.
Had a sip at six and still hasn't swallowed it.
The father had one drink six hours ago and is still holding the drink in his hand, indicating a high level of alcohol consumption.
Daddy's on the couch again.
The father is drunk and sitting on the couch again.
Slouches in that slouch again.
The father is slouching in a particular way that his son recognizes as characteristic of his drunken state.
His fat, drunk bum pushes the cushions out, my friend.
The father is so drunk and overweight that the cushions on the couch are pushed out by his weight.
"You know, my dad drinks rye."
The singer or someone else is trying to justify the father's behavior because it's supposedly a family trait.
"There's nothing on TV. There's nothing on TV."
Then what are you watching, dad?
The father is drunk and complaining about TV but is still watching it, indicating his lack of self-awareness.
He falls asleep, wakes up, dark, dry mouth. Somehow, he's in bed.
The father drinks himself to sleep and wakes up with a dark, dry mouth, possibly indicating withdrawal symptoms. He wakes up in his bed, but it's unclear how he got there.
Is there a fairy? Is there a "drunk dad fairy" that tiptoes in, takes the TV-changer out of his hand, puts a blanket around his shoulders, lifts his head off his chest so his neck won't be sore tomorrow when the liquor leaves him for a time?
The artist is wondering if there's a magical being who can help the father when he's drunk, but the answer is obviously no.
Is there a drunk dad fairy that pays for that Chinese food?
The singer is using humor to point out the absurdity of the father's behavior and his expectation that someone else will take care of him.
Drink on knee, he stares out again.
The father has a drink on his knee and is staring off into space.
"My dad, your grandad, was a drunk. I guess it skipped a generation with me."
Really, dad?
The father is trying to blame his drinking on genetics instead of taking responsibility for his own behavior.
"You don't know what I go through at home."
And what was he like at work? The same teetering, room-temperature rye and seven splashing on the merchandise, other hand pulling up pants when he rants?
"Ah, you don't what I go through at home, do you? Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!"
The father is defensive about his drinking and takes out his frustrations on others. He also uses a derogatory term for Chinese food and is dismissive of his family's feelings.
Harasses mom, who's at the sink again.
The father is drinking and harassing his wife while she's doing dishes.
"What happened to the girl I married?"
Well, dad, she watched you all these years.
The father is regretting the state of his marriage, but it's pointed out that his behavior is the cause of the problem.
Dead drunk, rant and roll, too upset to eat three hours later. "Can we just eat some Chinese food?" Daddy's on the drink again. Daddies.
The father is so drunk that he's unable to eat, and then he suddenly wants Chinese food. The repetition of "Daddy's on the drink again" emphasizes the father's drinking problem.
"That's music. Not like that crap you listen to. Like Krupa. ?, Winnipeg Beach. I was a god damned king. Then you came along, didn't 'cha? I could use a pineapple chicken ?."
The father is reminiscing about his past, when he was supposedly a great dancer or musician. He's blaming his family for his downfall and asking for food.
Contributed by Amelia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.