Led by Clare Fader on vocals, the Vaudevillains - Aaron Bachelder (percussion), Brad Cokendolpher (guitar), Mary K. Elinks (cello), and Andy Mabe (bass and backing vocals) - released the album Seventh and Trade in 2003 on the Raconteur Records label, "The Southeast's Most Independent Label" founded by Fader herself.
Prior to Seventh and Trade, Fader released a "solo" album entitled The Elephant's Baby in December, 2000, to which Dirty Linen said, "One of the more unique American recordings I have heard in recent years."
Clare Fader's music has been used in episodes of MTV's The Real World, as well as in Ramin Bahrani's film Man Push Cart. She's also been featured on a "Biddycast," which is a Podcast program started by her friends the Lascivious Biddies.
The Wine
Clare Fader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've had too many bottles of wine
Maybe I'll sit here and rest for a while
And then I'll be fine for my climb
The wine, the wine
Don't blame the wine
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
Tonight I will sleep on the beach
'Cause I've had too many bottles of rum
Maybe I'll sit here and rest for a while
And wait for the dawn of the sun
The rum, the rum
Don't blame the rum
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
My whole life's been a torid affair
'Cause I've had too many bottles of gin
Marriage and babies were never for me
But neither is living in sin
The gin, the gin
Don't blame the gin
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
In Clare Fader's song "The Wine", the lyrics describe the singer's struggle with alcohol and relationships. The opening lines reveal that the singer is faced with a daunting task of climbing 300 steps to their bed after having too many bottles of wine. The following lines of the chorus, "Don't blame the wine, blame the man who sleeps in my bed" suggest that the singer is blaming their problems on the person they are in a relationship with. This theme is repeated in the subsequent verses where the singer alternates between blaming the man who sleeps in their bed for their drunken state and avoiding the reality of their situation by sleeping on the beach.
The lyrics suggest a sense of regret, about choosing a lifestyle of drinking and not settling down in marriage and children. The use of different drinks - wine, rum, and gin - indicates a progression of addiction and a search for temporary escape from problems in the singer's life. The repetition of the line "don't blame the [drink], blame the man who sleeps in my bed" highlights the singer's continuous cycle of dependence on substances and relationships.
Overall, the song portrays the struggle of someone dealing with the consequences of addiction and a lack of stable relationships in their life. The lyrics are insightful in their portrayal of the complex and often self-destructive behavior associated with these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
There are 300 steps to my bed
I am exhausted from the distance and all the effort it takes to get to my bed.
And I've had too many bottles of wine
I have consumed several bottles of wine, which have made me feel unwell.
Maybe I'll sit here and rest for a while
I need to take a break and stop moving for some time.
And then I'll be fine for my climb
After some rest, I will be capable of making the climb to my bed.
The wine, the wine
Alcohol has always been my companion.
Don't blame the wine
Do not hold wine responsible for my condition.
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
I hold the man who shares the bed with me accountable for my current state.
Tonight I will sleep on the beach
As a result of excessive rum intake, I am unable to make it home and have to sleep on the beach.
'Cause I've had too many bottles of rum
Drinking smaller volumes would have spared me a harsher experience.
And wait for the dawn of the sun
I will spend the whole night here and wait for the sun to rise.
The rum, the rum
Alcohol has never failed me before.
Don't blame the rum
I refuse to shift the blame on rum for my current predicament.
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
I attribute the leading cause of my problems to the man who shares the bed with me.
My whole life's been a torrid affair
My life has been tumultuous and unpleasant, marked by hardships and adversity.
'Cause I've had too many bottles of gin
I believe gin drinking is the leading cause of my problems.
Marriage and babies were never for me
I have rejected traditional ideas of marriage and bearing children.
But neither is living in sin
Living a life with someone outside of marriage is equally unacceptable.
The gin, the gin
Drinking gin has infused my life with hardships and turmoil.
Don't blame the gin
Gin cannot be held accountable for my decisions and actions.
Blame the man who sleeps in my bed
I have lost the ability to hold myself responsible for my life circumstances and conditions.
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D. Carmona
on Alice
Aurora's boring Alice
Alice is not as fascinating or exciting as her friend Aurora
Aurora refers to the city in Canada, not a person's name.
D. Carmona
on Johnny
CORRECTION: "capital" is correct. (my bad!)
But Aurora refers to a city in Canada, not a person.
D. Carmona
on Alice
The location is ostensibly very interesting, potentially comparing it to Wonderland in 'Alice in Wonderland'
Capitol (not capital) - a reference to Aurora which is located in Ontario as is Canada's capitol city, of Ottawa.
D. Carmona
on Alice
To the girls with googly eyes
D. Carmona
on Alice
It's a capital wonderland
It's a capitol wonderland
For Alice
For Alice
D. Carmona
on Alice
I saw her snoring
Aurora's boring Alice
Alice I saw her snoring
D. Carmona
on Queen
Sitting in the coffee shop
Sitting in a coffee shop
D. Carmona
on Queen
And kiss the world goodbye?
To cash in on a lifelong debt
And kiss this world goodbye?
D. Carmona
on Queen
I wonder is she ready yet
D. Carmona
on Queen
And wonders why she left her bed