One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer
George Thorogood Lyrics

Want to tell you a story
I have a story to share

About the house-man blues
It's about the problems faced by tenants with their landlords

I come home one Friday
The singer returns home on a Friday

Had to tell the landlady I'da lost my job
The artist lost his job and had to inform the landlady

She said that don't confront me
The landlady isn't bothered as long as she gets her money next Friday

Long as I get my money next Friday
The landlady is only concerned about receiving the rent on the due date

Now next Friday come I didn't get the rent
The singer couldn't pay the rent on the next Friday

And out the door I went
The artist is kicked out of the house

So I goes to the landlady
The artist visits the landlady

I said you let me slide?
The artist requests a delay in paying the rent

I'll have the rent for you in a month
Assures the landlady that he'll pay the rent in a month

Next I don't know
The artist isn't sure when he'll pay the rent

So said let me slide it on you know people
The singer tries to convince the landlady for a delay

I notice when I come home in the evening
The singer says that his landlady has become hostile towards him

She ain't got nothing nice to say to me
The landlady is rude to the singer

But for five year she was so nice
For first five years, the landlady was nice to him

Loh' she was lovy-dovy
She was very affectionate towards him

I come home one particular evening
On a particular evening, the singer returns home

The landlady said you got the rent money yet?
The landlady questions him about the rent

I said no, can't find no job
The artist explains that he still has no job

Therefore I ain't got no money to pay the rent
The artist says that he has no money to pay the rent

She said I don't believe you're tryin' to find no job
The landlady doesn't believe him

Said I seen you today you was standin' on a corner
The landlady saw him on the street corner

Leaning up against a post
The artist was leaning against a post when the landlady saw him

I said but I'm tired, I've been walkin' all day
The singer explains why he was resting on the post

Now next Friday come I didn't have the rent
The singer still couldn't pay the rent

So I go down the streets
The singer starts walking down the street

Down to my good friend's house
The artist goes to his friend's house

I said look man I'm outdoors you know
The artist tells his friend that he's homeless

Can I stay with you maybe a couple days?
The singer requests his friend if he can stay with him for a few days

He said let me go and ask my wife
The friend needs to ask his wife before he can say yes

He come out of the house
The friend comes out of the house

I could see it in his face
The artist could tell by his face that the answer was no

I know that was no
The artist knows that his friend said no

He said I don't know man ah she kinda funny, you know
The friend explains why he had to decline the request

I said I know, everybody funny, now you funny too
The artist acknowledges the difficult situation

I tell the landlady I got a job, I'm gonna pay the rent
The singer lies to the landlady that he found a job and is going to pay the rent

And then she was so nice
The landlady becomes friendly after hearing the lie

So I go in my room, pack up my things and I go
The singer packs his stuff and leaves the house

I slip on out the back door and down the streets I go
The artist leaves through the back door and walks down the street

She a-howlin' about the front rent, she'll be lucky to get any back rent
The landlady is furious but won't get any back rent

She ain't gonna get none of it
The singer thinks that the landlady won't get the rent

So I stop in the local bar you know people
The singer enters a nearby bar

I go to the bar, I ring my coat, I call the bartender
The artist reaches the bar counter and calls the bartender

Said look man, come down here, he got down there
The artist requests the bartender to come close to him

So what you want?
The bartender asks for the order

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
The singer orders for the drinks

Well I ain't seen my baby since I don't know when
The artist hasn't seen his lover for a long time

I've been drinking bourbon, whiskey, scotch and gin
The singer has been drinking various types of alcohol

Gonna get high man I'm gonna get loose
The singer plans to get high and loosen up

Need me a triple shot of that juice
The singer demands a triple shot of the drink

Gonna get drunk don't you have no fear
The artist assures everyone that he is going to get drunk

I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
The artist specifies the drinks he wants

But I'm sitting now at the bar
The singer is sitting at the bar now

I'm getting drunk, I'm feelin' mellow
The singer is getting drunk and feeling relaxed

Looked down the bar
The artist looks down the bar counter

Here come the bartender
The bartender is approaching the artist

No I ain't seen my baby since the night before last
The artist still hasn't met his lover for two nights

Gotta get a drink man I'm gonna get gassed
The singer needs a drink and getting drunk

Gonna get high man I ain't had enough
The artist wants to get high and hasn't had enough yet

Need me a triple shot of that stuff
The singer asks for a triple shot of the drink

Gonna get drunk won't you listen right here
The singer clarifies that he is going to get drunk

I want one bourbon, one shot and one beer
The singer reiterates his order

Yeah
Expression to signify agreement or emphasize a point

Scratch my back, baby
A flirtatious call to his lover to caress his back

Ah
Expression of joy or relief

Now by this time I'm plenty high
The singer is significantly intoxicated by now

You know when your mouth a-getting dry
The artist is thirsty due to the high alcohol consumption

You're plenty high
The artist is very intoxicated

So what you want this time?
The bartender asks him for another order

I said look man, a-what time is it?
The singer asks the bartender for the time

He said the clock on the wall say three o'clock
The bartender informs that the time is three in the morning

Last call for alcohol
The last call for serving alcohol is announced

No I ain't seen my baby since a nigh' and a week
The singer hasn't met his lover for more than one week

Gotta get drunk man 'til I can't even speak
The singer wants to get so drunk that he becomes speechless

Gonna get high man listen to me
The artist plans on getting high

One drink ain't enough Jack you better make it three
The artist demands three drinks instead of one

I want to get drunk I'm gonna make it real clear
Narrator emphasizes that he wants to get drunk

I want one bourbon, one scotch and one beer
The singer repeats his demand for the specific drinks

One bourbon, one scotch, one beer
Final repetition of the specific drinks the artist wants