One Mint Julep
Nancy And Beth Lyrics
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I met a woman, we started talking
I took her home, to get a few nips
But all I had was a mint julep
One mint julep was the cause of it all
I don't remember just how we started
But all I know is we should have parted
I didn't mean to take it further
One mint julep was the cause of it all
The lights were burning low, there in the parlor
When through the kitchen door, up popped her father
He said "I saw you when you kissed my daughter
Better wed her right now, or face a slaughter!"
I didn't know just what I was doing
I had to marry of face ruin
A mint julep, a mint julep
A mint julep, a mint julep
One mint julep was the cause of it all
I don't want to bore you with my troubles
But from now on I'll be thinking double
I'm through with flirting and drinking whiskey
I got six extra children from a-getting frisky
A mint julep, a mint julep
A mint julep, a mint julep
One mint julep was the cause of it all
The lyrics of Nancy And Beth's song "One Mint Julep" tell a story about a man who meets a woman while walking one early morning. They share a drink, a mint julep, and begin to talk. They continue to flirt and eventually share a kiss, leading to the woman's father discovering them and insisting that they marry. The singer is left with six children and regrets his actions, implying that the mint julep led to a series of consequences that he wishes he could take back.
On one level, the song is simply a cautionary tale about drinking and impulsively acting on attraction, with the mint julep symbolizing both the catalyst and the regrettable mistake. However, there are also deeper themes at play. The fact that the singer must marry the woman and bear the consequences of their actions suggests a commentary on societal expectations around sexual morality and responsibility, particularly in the context of patriarchal families. Furthermore, the line "I'm through with flirting and drinking whiskey" could be read as a sign of personal growth and self-awareness, as the singer takes responsibility for his choices.
Overall, "One Mint Julep" is a cleverly crafted narrative that touches on both personal and societal complexities around love, sex, and alcohol.
Line by Line Meaning
One early morning, as I was walking
The singer was walking one morning when the story took place.
I met a woman, we started talking
The singer met a woman and they began to converse.
I took her home, to get a few nips
The singer brought the woman to their home to have a few drinks.
But all I had was a mint julep
The only alcohol available at the time was mint julep.
One mint julep was the cause of it all
The events that followed were all caused by that one mint julep.
I don't remember just how we started
The singer cannot recall how the events of the night began.
But all I know is we should have parted
The singer realizes that they should have ended the night sooner.
I stole a kiss, and then another
The artist initiated physical contact with the woman.
I didn't mean to take it further
The artist didn't have intentions to pursue the woman sexually.
One mint julep was the cause of it all
The events of the night are still being attributed to the influence of the mint julep.
The lights were burning low, there in the parlor
The lighting in the room was dim, setting a specific mood.
When through the kitchen door, up popped her father
The woman's father suddenly appeared in the room.
He said 'I saw you when you kissed my daughter
The father confronted the singer about the physical contact made with his daughter.
Better wed her right now, or face a slaughter!'
The father gave the singer an ultimatum of marrying his daughter or facing retaliation.
I didn't know just what I was doing
The singer admits to not having clear intentions during the night.
I had to marry of face ruin
In order to avoid negative consequences, the artist was forced to marry the woman.
I don't want to bore you with my troubles
The artist acknowledges that their story may not be of interest to the listener.
But from now on I'll be thinking double
The singer will be more cautious and thoughtful in their future actions.
I'm through with flirting and drinking whiskey
The singer has decided to discontinue actions that lead to troublesome situations.
I got six extra children from a-getting frisky
As a result of their actions, the artist has six unplanned children.
A mint julep, a mint julep
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the significance of the drink in the story.
One mint julep was the cause of it all
The ending of the song returns to the initial claim that the mint julep was the root cause of the events that transpired.
Writer(s): Rudolph Toombs
Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.