Drunk As Cooter Brown
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


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He was drunk as Cooter Brown
Words fell from his tongue
With a slurring silver sound
He come this way from the other side of town

He was drunk as Cooter Brown
And his coat hung 'round his shoulders
With a gangster's tone
A stylish man no woman leaves alone

He blamed the warmth of the evening
I blamed the circle 'round the moon
We spoke as if in solitude

While the world was spinning around us
And people started to stare
But I just didn't care
I just couldn't move
I was was floating on air

I knew
We two
Were drunk as Cooter Brown
Sooo...

He blamed the warmth of the evening
I blamed the circle 'round the moon
We spoke as if in solitude

While the world was spreading around us
And people started to sing
I just didn't care
I couldn't move
We were floating on air

Yes...
I knew
I too

Was drunk as Cooter Brown
I was just one step away
From that drunk to the floor sound
A lady's grace
I claimed to hold my ground

But I was drunk as Cooter Brown
While he poured the cup of his hand
Fell my old beau just to be sure
I wouldn't fall for a man like him in June

I blamed the warmth of the evening
And he blamed the circle 'round the moon
We spoke as if in solitude

While the world was spinning around us
And people started to sing
But i just didn't care
I just couldn't move
I was floating on air

I knew
We two
Were drunk as Cooter Brown

Yes, we were drunk as Cooter Brown

Crazy!

'Cause...so warm...so warm tonight...
Drunk as cooter brown...I'm high on life...
Excuse me sir...

Humming...





Hey!

Overall Meaning

The song “Drunk As Cooter Brown” is a jazzy ballad by Cassandra Wilson about being swept away by a charming stranger who is intoxicated. The lyrics describe the stranger as being “drunk as Cooter Brown” and having a “gangster's tone”. The phrase "drunk as Cooter Brown" is a Southern expression which refers to a man who is constantly drunk and implies that it is not always apparent when he is sober. As the two strangers converse, they speak as if they are in solitude, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. The singer confesses to being as drunk as the stranger and is “floating on air”. The song has a dreamy pace that mimics the feeling of being intoxicated and about to lose your footing.


The song uses poetic language to romanticize the idea of losing oneself in the moment with a stranger, either because of the warmth of the evening or the circle around the moon. Symbolically, both are representing the emotional and physical pull between the singer and the stranger. As they continue to talk despite the world spinning around them, they don’t care about the people staring because they are so engrossed with each other. The song ends by returning to the phrase "drunk as Cooter Brown", suggesting that the singer has let go of control and given herself over to the moment.


Line by Line Meaning

He was drunk as Cooter Brown
A man was extremely intoxicated


Words fell from his tongue
He spoke carelessly and slurred his words


With a slurring silver sound
His voice was slurred and sounded metallic


He come this way from the other side of town
He came from a different part of town


And his coat hung 'round his shoulders
His coat draped over his shoulders


With a gangster's tone
He spoke in a rough tone


A stylish man no woman leaves alone
He was suave and attractive to women


He blamed the warmth of the evening
He used the heat as an excuse for his behavior


I blamed the circle 'round the moon
She used the lunar phenomenon as a reason for their behavior


We spoke as if in solitude
They spoke as if alone, ignoring their surroundings


While the world was spinning around us
The world was moving and functioning normally


And people started to stare
Onlookers began observing their odd behavior


But I just didn't care
She was unconcerned with others' opinions


I just couldn't move
She was immobile due to her drunken state


I was floating on air
She felt light and carefree despite being drunk


We were floating on air
They both felt light and carefree due to being drunk


I too
She was also drunk


Was drunk as Cooter Brown
She was extremely intoxicated


I was just one step away
She was close to falling due to her intoxication


From that drunk to the floor sound
She was close to falling to the ground


A lady's grace
She tried to maintain her dignity and poise


I claimed to hold my ground
She tried to stand firmly despite being drunk


While he poured the cup of his hand
He extended his hand as if to offer assistance


Fell my old beau just to be sure
She fell into her ex's arms to avoid falling to the ground


I wouldn't fall for a man like him in June
She didn't want to rekindle a romantic relationship with her ex


And people started to sing
Onlookers began to sing or make noise


We two
Both of them


Yes, we were drunk as Cooter Brown
They both were extremely intoxicated




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CASSANDRA WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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