Their history had begun in the early Seventies with lead singer Morty performing with a band called Good Habit. Reunited with his childhood friend Graham Williams, Good Habit became Racing Cars. In early 1976 the band decamped to London, taking advantage of the burgeoning 'pub rock' scene of the time.
The first fruits of their time in London was the debut album, which only included Morty's They Shoot Horses Don't They? at the insistence of the rest of the band. This became a bit hit single and they appeared twice on Top Of The Pops to promote it.
Between '76 and their split in 1980, Racing Cars released two more album for Chrysalis but with the crushing precedence of punk rock, they decided to call it a day.
In 1988 they reformed, touring the UK and Europe for some years without a record deal but with a large core fanbase. But 2000 saw another development with a deal with D&A Records and the new record Bolt From The Blue. Now with Angelair Records, 2006 sees the release of 76-06: 30th Anniversary Concert DVD.
The live album 76-06: 30th anniversary concert wil be out on CD on 6 April 2007, launched with a special gig at The Point in Cardiff. A studio album follows in autumn 2007.
Pass the Bottle
Racing Cars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
′Bout a friend of mine
Lives by the river
With a bottle of wine
He got no woman
He ain't got no wife
He′ll shake and shiver the rest of his life
He got nowhere to go
Him sitting, waiting
Through the rain or snow
He got nobody
He's all alone
It must be hard when you live on your own
Pass the bottle
He got no money
His clothes are cheap
His eyes are heavy
He can't get no sleep
Him, cold and hungry
He needs some bread
He′ll feel those demons dancing ′round in his head
Pass the bottle
Pass the bottle
Pass the bottle
Pass the bottle
Pass that bottle
Pass me that bottle
Pass that bottle over here
The lyrics of Racing Cars’ song Pass the Bottle paint a vivid image of a man living a lonely and difficult life by the river with nothing but a bottle of wine as his companion. The opening lines introduce the subject of the song: a friend of the singer who lives a solitary existence. The repetition of the phrase “He got no” emphasizes the emptiness of the man’s life: no woman, no wife, no hurry, no money, and no one to turn to. The lyrics suggest that he is trapped in this cycle of loneliness and addiction, shaking and shivering in his own company.
The song’s chorus, “Pass the bottle,” is a desperate plea for relief from the pain and monotony of the man’s life. The repetition of this phrase drives home the importance of the bottle to the singer’s friend. The final lines of the song, “Pass me that bottle / Pass that bottle over here,” express the singer’s empathy and understanding of the man’s situation, indicating that they too seek escape through the same means.
Overall, Pass the Bottle conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair for those caught in the cycle of addiction and loneliness. The lyrics serve as a reminder of the importance of human connections and the devastating effects of isolation on the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna tell ya
I want to share something with you
′Bout a friend of mine
About a person I know
Lives by the river
Resides close to a water source
With a bottle of wine
In possession of an alcoholic beverage
He got no woman
He is without a female companion
He ain't got no wife
He is not married
He′ll shake and shiver the rest of his life
He will tremble and quiver for the duration of his existence
He got no hurry
He is in no rush
He got nowhere to go
He has no specific destination
Him sitting, waiting
He is seated, anticipating
Through the rain or snow
Regardless of inclement weather
He got nobody
He is without company
He's all alone
He is completely by himself
It must be hard when you live on your own
Living independently is likely difficult
Pass the bottle
Hand over the alcoholic beverage
He got no money
He has a lack of finances
His clothes are cheap
His garments do not cost much
His eyes are heavy
His eyelids feel weighty
He can't get no sleep
He is unable to rest
Him, cold and hungry
He is both chilly and famished
He needs some bread
He requires sustenance
He′ll feel those demons dancing ′round in his head
His inner turmoil will worsen
Pass the bottle
Hand over the alcoholic beverage
Pass the bottle
Hand over the alcoholic beverage
Pass the bottle
Hand over the alcoholic beverage
Pass that bottle
Hand over that alcoholic beverage
Pass me that bottle
Hand over that alcoholic beverage to me
Pass that bottle over here
Hand over that alcoholic beverage in this direction
Writer(s): Gareth Mortimer, Graham Hedley Williams
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.