Beer Drinking Woman
Slim Memphis Lyrics

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The story's true ladies and gentlemen
All the names have been changed to
Protect the innocent
The year nineteen hundred and forty
The city, Chicago the place, Rubin's Tavern

The story goes something like this

I walked into a beer tavern
To give a girl a nice time
I had forty-five dollars when I enter
When I left I had one dime

Wasn't she a beer drinkin' woman?
Don't ya know, man don't ya know?
She was a beer-drinkin' woman
And I don't want to see her no more

Now, when I spend down to my last dime
She said, darlin' I know you're not through
I said, yes, baby doll
And the trophy belongs to you

Wasn't she a beer drinkin' woman?
Don't you know, man don't you know?
She was a beer-drinkin' woman
And I don't wanna see her no more

Now she'd often say, excuse me a minute
I've got to step around here
And every time she came back
She had room for another quart of beer

Wasn't that a beer drinkin' woman?
Don't ya know, man, don't ya know?

She was a beer drinkin' woman
And I don't want to see her no mo

Overall Meaning

"Beer Drinking Woman" by Slim Memphis is a classic blues song that tells the story of a man who falls for a woman who loves to drink beer. The story is set in Chicago in 1940 at a bar called Rubin's Tavern. The song begins by suggesting that it's based on true events. The names of the characters have been changed to protect the innocent. The singer walks into the tavern to meet a woman and have a good time. He had forty-five dollars when he entered, but when he left, he only had a dime left.

The woman he meets is a beer-drinking woman. The singer repeats the titular phrase in a manner that suggests that beer drinking is her defining characteristic. The singer seems to have had a good time with her but quickly realizes that she's not someone he wants to see again. The woman offers to pay for the drinks when he's run out of money, making him feel indebted to her. He describes her as someone who always has room for another quart of beer, implying that she has a high tolerance for alcohol.

The repeating chorus, "Wasn't she a beer-drinking woman?" provides a sense of irony. It is as though Slim Memphis is admiring the woman's ability to drink so much beer, but the singer has learned his lesson and doesn't want to see her again. The song is typical of the classic blues genre, using repetition to emphasize key phrases and create a sense of rhythm that invites the listener to move to the beat.

Line by Line Meaning

The story's true ladies and gentlemen
This story is based on true events and is meant to be shared with an audience.

All the names have been changed to Protect the innocent
To protect the identities of those involved in this story, their names have been altered.

The year nineteen hundred and forty The city, Chicago the place, Rubin's Tavern
This story takes place in 1940 at Rubin's Tavern in Chicago.

I walked into a beer tavern To give a girl a nice time I had forty-five dollars when I enter When I left I had one dime
The artist of this story went to Rubin's Tavern to take a girl out and initially had $45, but spent most of it while there and left with only 10 cents.

Wasn't she a beer drinkin' woman? Don't ya know, man don't ya know? She was a beer-drinkin' woman And I don't want to see her no more
The girl the artist took out was a heavy drinker and he doesn't want to spend any more time with her because of it.

Now, when I spend down to my last dime She said, darlin' I know you're not through I said, yes, baby doll And the trophy belongs to you
Despite the singer being short on money, the girl commented on how he wasn't finished drinking yet. In response, the singer sarcastically gave her a 'trophy' for being such a heavy beer drinker.

Now she'd often say, excuse me a minute I've got to step around here And every time she came back She had room for another quart of beer
The girl the singer took out would leave to use the bathroom, but would return with enough room in her stomach for another quart of beer.

Wasn't that a beer drinkin' woman? Don't ya know, man, don't ya know? She was a beer drinkin' woman And I don't want to see her no more
The artist continues to emphasize the girl's drinking habits and reinforces that he wants nothing more to do with her because of it.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER CHATMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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