Live And Let Live
Cole Porter Lyrics
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Well, I stumbled down that dusty road, with a bottle in my hand,
Drank so much last night, can't even stand.
Lost my shoes in the pouring rain, ain't got a clue,
I'm a whiskey-soaked soul, with a heart that's blue.
(Chorus)
I've been drinkin' all night, lost my way and my shoes,In this Delta town, singin' them drinkin' blues.
Bourbon on my breath, and the moonlight's my muse,
Lost in the rhythm of these whiskey-soaked shoes.
(Verse 2)
Down at the local bar, where the guitar moans,
Sippin' moonshine, no keeping up with the jones.
Lost my sense of time, in this honky-tonk haze,
I'm a ramblin' man, in a bourbon daze.
(Chorus)
I've been drinkin' all night, lost my way and my shoes,
In this Delta town, singin' them drinkin' blues.
Bourbon on my breath, and the moonlight's my muse,
Lost in the rhythm of these whiskey-soaked shoes
(Chorus)
I've been drinkin' all night, lost my way and my shoes,
In this Delta town, singin' them drinkin' blues.
Bourbon on my breath, and the moonlight's my muse,
Lost in the rhythm of these whiskey-soaked shoes
(Verse 3)
No shoes on my feet, just the mud between my toes,
Chasin' down that bottle, wherever it goes.
The devil's in the details, and he's playin' my song,
Lost in the liquor, all night long.
(Chorus)
I've been drinkin' all night, lost my way and my shoes,
In this Delta town, singin' them drinkin' blues.
Bourbon on my breath, and the moonlight's my muse,
Lost in the rhythm of these whiskey-soaked shoes
Hey Hey! Where are my shoes?
In the lyrics of Cole Porter's song "Live And Let Live," the singer narrates a tale of indulgence, self-destruction, and escapism through the imagery of alcohol consumption and the accompanying disarray it brings. In the first verse, the persona describes stumbling down a dusty road with a bottle in hand, symbolizing a journey marred by intoxication and aimlessness. The loss of shoes in the pouring rain signifies further detachment from reality and responsibility, highlighting a state of disorientation and neglect.
As the chorus unfolds, the persona acknowledges their reckless behavior, having succumbed to the allure of drinking to the point of losing their way both physically and metaphorically. The mention of "Delta town" and "drinkin' blues" evokes a sense of melancholy and resignation, as the persona finds solace albeit temporary in the intoxicating haze of bourbon and moonlight, using them as escapism from their troubles.
The second verse continues to paint a vivid picture of the persona's escapades in a local bar, where they seek refuge in moonshine and the raw, emotive sounds of a guitar. The honky-tonk setting and the reference to being a "ramblin' man in a bourbon daze" convey a sense of drifting and detachment from reality, as the persona loses track of time and surrenders to the numbing effect of alcohol as a coping mechanism.
In the final verse, the persona's descent into oblivion becomes more pronounced as they prioritize chasing the bottle over practical concerns such as their missing shoes. The metaphor of the devil playing their song alludes to the temptations and consequences of their self-destructive behavior, culminating in a state of being "lost in the liquor, all night long." The repeated chorus serves as a refrain that underscores the cyclical nature of the persona's struggles and the inescapable grip that alcohol and escapism hold over them, culminating in a humorous but poignant exclamation of "Hey Hey! Where are my shoes?" as a stark reminder of their disorientation and detachment from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I stumbled down that dusty road, with a bottle in my hand,
I walked down the dusty path, holding a bottle, feeling lost.
Drank so much last night, can't even stand.
Consumed too much alcohol, now struggling to remain standing.
Lost my shoes in the pouring rain, ain't got a clue,
Lost my shoes in the rain, feeling disoriented.
I'm a whiskey-soaked soul, with a heart that's blue.
My soul is saturated with whiskey, feeling melancholy.
Down at the local bar, where the guitar moans,
At the neighborhood bar, surrounded by sorrowful music.
Sippin' moonshine, no keeping up with the jones.
Drinking moonshine, unconcerned with societal expectations.
Lost my sense of time, in this honky-tonk haze,
Confused about time passing in this smoky bar.
I'm a ramblin' man, in a bourbon daze.
I am a wandering individual, lost in a haze of bourbon.
No shoes on my feet, just the mud between my toes,
Without shoes, feeling the mud squish between my toes.
Chasin' down that bottle, wherever it goes.
Pursuing the bottle wherever it leads me.
The devil's in the details, and he's playin' my song,
The devil is manipulating the situation to his advantage.
Lost in the liquor, all night long.
Consumed by alcohol, throughout the night.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Paul Udouj
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve F
on Experiment
The experiment of the Biblical Eve was the original sin. It was the downfall of the human race. Cole. Back to the piano and try again