The band's debut album, Honeysuckle Strange, was released on Columbia Records in 1996 to critical praise. Chichester commands the lion's share of the album credits, racking up vocals, keyboards, guitars, and producer duties. Honeysuckle Strange is an eleven song album that draws from a variety of musical seasonings, and deals with a myriad of social issues, such as substance abuse, relationships, and the seedy underbelly of the music industry.
Chichester reworked the band's lineup for 2001's Hyde, but retired the band almost two years thereafter.
The soundtrack to the 1996 movie Beautiful Girls features Howlin' Maggie's "Easy to Be Stupid".
Alcohol
Howlin' Maggie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alcohol
I'm lonely and I'm hungry
And I'm tired of these four walls
Alcohol
Oh, alcohol
Oh, in between inhibitions
Oh la la la
La la la la
La la la la la la la la
Alcohol
Oh, alcohol
You're lovely like a picture girl
Who's face I can't recall
Alcohol
I hope you know
I needed more affection
'Cause your genius isn't already gone
All gone
All gone
Yeah
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, eh
Death defying alcohol really want you, you
Oh, alcohol
Alcohol
On one day your personality
Is a wonder to behold
Alcohol
Oh, my Lord
I'm gone, I'm gone, I'm in your arms
Please take me as your own
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Alcohol
Oh, bless my soul
You tempted me with laughter
Then you call me to have to crawl
Alcohol
Oh, alcohol
You left me here undead
With my head inside a stall
Oh Lord
Oh Lord
Oh Lord
Yeah
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, yeah
Death defying alcohol really want you, yeah, yeah
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, yeah
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, want you
Sleep in a bar
I'll go sleep in a bar
I'll go sleep in a bar
I'll go sleep in a bar, oh
Oh no
Oh no
Woah
The lyrics of Howlin' Maggie's song Alcohol paint a bleak picture of a person consumed by their addiction to alcohol. The repeated chorus, "Alcohol, oh alcohol" sets the tone as the singer describes feeling lonely, hungry, and tired of being confined to their surroundings. They turn to alcohol as a means of escaping inhibitions and numbing their emotions. In the line "You're lovely like a picture girl who's face I can't recall," the singer acknowledges that alcohol is a temporary distraction from their loneliness, but ultimately leaves them feeling empty and disconnected.
The verses continue to highlight the destructive nature of alcoholism. The line "You tempted me with laughter, then you call me to have to crawl" speaks to the way that alcohol lures people in with its promise of fun, only to leave them dependent and struggling. The final verse describes the singer sleeping in a bar, a stark reminder of the damage caused by addiction. The overall message of the song is a plea for help, a cry for someone to break the cycle and find a way out of their addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Alcohol
The subject of the song is introduced as a reliance on alcohol to escape emotional pain and boredom.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject of the song being alcohol.
I'm lonely and I'm hungry
The subject is experiencing a lack of emotional and physical fulfillment.
And I'm tired of these four walls
The subject is discontent with their current state and wants to escape.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
Oh, alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
Oh, in between inhibitions
The subject experiences moments of inhibition and freedom while drunk.
I can't feel anything at all
The subject is numb to their pain while drunk.
Oh la la la
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
La la la la
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
La la la la la la la la
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
You're lovely like a picture girl
The subject has a romanticized view of alcohol.
Who's face I can't recall
The subject has an unreliable relationship with alcohol.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
I hope you know
The subject expresses a desire for alcohol to understand their need for affection.
I needed more affection
The subject seeks affection and closeness in their relationships.
'Cause your genius isn't already gone
The subject sees alcohol as a source of inspiration and creativity.
All gone
Expresses the end of something, in this case, the loss of inspiration and creativity due to alcohol.
All gone
Reinforces the loss of inspiration and creativity due to alcohol.
Yeah
Exclamation of agreement, emphasis or enthusiasm.
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, eh
The subject has a dangerous addiction to alcohol that is difficult to resist.
Death defying alcohol really want you, you
Reinforces the subject's addiction to alcohol.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
On one day your personality
The subject experiences personality changes when under the influence of alcohol.
Is a wonder to behold
The subject sees the effects of alcohol on their personality as fascinating.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
Oh, my Lord
An exclamation of surprise or shock.
I'm gone, I'm gone, I'm in your arms
The subject feels a sense of acceptance and warmth from alcohol.
Please take me as your own
The subject seeks a sense of belonging and fulfillment through alcohol.
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Vocalization with no particular meaning.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
Oh, bless my soul
An expression of surprise or gratitude.
You tempted me with laughter
Alcohol serves as a source of enjoyment and entertainment for the subject.
Then you call me to have to crawl
Alcohol, despite being a source of enjoyment, ultimately leads the subject to a state of vulnerability and dependency.
Alcohol
Reinforces the subject's reliance on alcohol for escapism.
You left me here undead
The subject feels a sense of emptiness or loss without alcohol.
With my head inside a stall
The subject feels trapped or stuck without the freedom that alcohol provides.
Oh Lord
An exclamation of surprise or shock.
Oh Lord
Reinforces the exclamation of surprise or shock from the previous line.
Oh Lord
Reinforces the exclamation of surprise or shock from the previous line.
Yeah
Exclamation of agreement, emphasis or enthusiasm.
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, yeah
The subject's addiction to alcohol is dangerous and difficult to overcome.
Death defying alcohol really want you, yeah, yeah
Reinforces the subject's addiction to alcohol.
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, yeah
Reinforces the subject's dangerous addiction to alcohol.
Oh, death defying alcohol really want you, want you
Reinforces the subject's addiction to alcohol.
Sleep in a bar
The subject sees alcohol as a place of comfort and escape.
I'll go sleep in a bar
The subject seeks refuge and comfort in the environment of a bar.
I'll go sleep in a bar
Reinforces the previous line's meaning.
I'll go sleep in a bar, oh
Reinforces the subject's desire to escape and find comfort in a bar.
Oh no
An expression of dismay or disappointment.
Oh no
Reinforces the expression of dismay or disappointment from the previous line.
Woah
Exclamation of surprise or emphasis.
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@webinarprofessor
Today I'm one year sober - and able to say that this powerful song says it all. Blessings to HowlinMaggie!
@cbus
I hope you still are!
@adtonezpresentation2229
I've been looking for this song for over 17 years since I first heard it on a Real World episode and I finally found it!!
@lisbetlustylocks8549
a DTONEZ Presentation omg lol i just said the same thing almost lol!!!!!
@mykol404
Not even kidding, same here. I remember hearing it all the time as a kid on our alt rock station in the 90s, and remembered the chorus. Now in 2019, and I'm 33, I finally found it (as I am sipping some alcohol too, no doubt). Good shit.
@raymondsolisjr.1262
It Real World Hawaii when Ruthie is drunk right
@kalvin2211
Jackpot
@AstridMartin666
Did you hear it on that cd that came with a music magazine in the 90's because thats where i heard it
@buckmelanoma5473
Saw these guys in C-bus back in the day, such an underrated bad-ass little jam!
@chrissmith256
Powerful subject, and they nailed it. Love ya, Harold!!!