I Ain't Drinking Alone
Max Stalling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm about to get the business
But before you complain please let me explain
I think you'll understand my position
You've read all those books I know your looks
You think people who drink solo have problems
But I ain't drinkin' alone
I'm on the phone with my brother
Now my brother it seems is as confounded as me
By the art of the marital tradition
So we drink and we dial and shoot the breeze for a while
Heck, it's just like we were out fishin'
And it's well after nine, it don't cost us a dime
We think it's an elegant solution
We ain't drinkin' alone
We're on the phone with our brother
And the good news is I'm right here for you
As close as the garage
The kegerator and me and AT&T
And my brother if you'd like to say hello
I ain't drinkin' alone
I'm on the phone with my brother
Darling, you are my spouse and you got some rules for our house
And I sure do respect your decisions
But if you just calm down you'll see that I found
A loophole in the social condition
Well I love beer and I love you
Not necessarily in that order
I ain't drinkin' alone
I'm on the phone with my brother
And the good news is I'm right here for you
As close as the garage
The kegerator and me and AT&T
And my brother if you'd like to say hello
You wouldn't hear me complain if you did the same
Get some wine and go call your sister
I ain't drinkin' alone
I'm on the phone with my brother
The lyrics of Max Stalling's song, "I Ain't Drinking Alone," are a humorous take on a common scenario in many households. The singer is trying to explain to his wife that he's not drinking alone as she thinks but rather on the phone with his brother, discussing their marital problems. The wife is unsatisfied with his justification, but the singer insists that he has found a loophole in the social condition since he's technically not alone while drinking. He loves beer and loves his wife not necessarily in that order, and he's trying to convince her that he's not doing anything wrong.
The first verse of the song explains the singer's wife's disapproving looks as he's about to drink solo, but he wants her to hear him out first. He acknowledges that she thinks people who drink alone have problems and tries to explain his position. The second verse reveals that the singer is on the phone with his brother, and they're venting their marital problems while drinking. He likens their phone conversations to going fishing, and it doesn't cost them anything. He's convinced that they're not drinking alone as long as they're together on the phone.
The third and final verse of the song sees the singer trying to persuade his wife that he's not doing anything wrong. He tells her that he loves beer and loves her, and he's found a loophole in the social condition by drinking and talking to his brother. The singer then tells his wife that he's right there for her and that she could do the same, call her sister and get some wine. He ends the song by repeating the line, "I ain't drinkin' alone, I'm on the phone with my brother."
Line by Line Meaning
Darling I recognize that glare in your eyes
I am aware of the disapproval in your eyes
When I'm about to get the business
When you are about to criticize me
But before you complain please let me explain
Please allow me to explain myself before you express your grievances
I think you'll understand my position
I believe that you will comprehend my situation
You've read all those books I know your looks
You have studied books about addiction and your disapproving looks show it
You think people who drink solo have problems
You believe that drinking alone is a sign of a problem
But I ain't drinkin' alone
But I am not drinking by myself
I'm on the phone with my brother
I am talking to my brother on the phone while drinking
Now my brother it seems is as confounded as me
My brother is equally perplexed by the institution of marriage as I am
By the art of the marital tradition
By the customs and practices of marriage
So we drink and we dial and shoot the breeze for a while
So we drink and chat on the phone for a while to unwind
Heck, it's just like we were out fishin'
It feels as if we are out fishing together
And it's well after nine, it don't cost us a dime
It's late at night, and it is not expensive to call each other
We think it's an elegant solution
We consider it to be a sophisticated solution
We ain't drinkin' alone
We are not drinking by ourselves
We're on the phone with our brother
We are speaking with our brother on the phone
And the good news is I'm right here for you
The positive thing is that I am here for you
As close as the garage
As near as the garage where the beer fridge is located
The kegerator and me and AT&T
The kegerator (beer dispenser), my phone service provider, and I
And my brother if you'd like to say hello
And also, my brother is available to speak to you if you wish
Well I love beer and I love you
I love both beer and you
Not necessarily in that order
Not necessarily in that particular sequence
You wouldn't hear me complain if you did the same
I would not object if you did the same thing
Get some wine and go call your sister
Drink some wine and phone your sister
I ain't drinkin' alone
I'm not drinking alone
I'm on the phone with my brother
I am speaking with my brother on the phone
Writer(s): max stalling
Contributed by Cole M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.