Carolina Drama
The Raconteurs Lyrics

I'm not sure if there's a point to this story
The singer is unsure if there is a purpose of the story.

But I'm going to tell it again
Despite the uncertainty, the singer is going to tell the story.

So many other people try to tell the tale
Many others have attempted to share this story.

Not one of them knows the end
Despite the numerous attempts, no one knows the conclusion.

It was a junk-house in South Carolina
The setting is a shabby house in South Carolina.

Held a boy the age of ten
A boy who is ten years old is living in the house.

Along with his older brother Billy
The ten year old boy has an older brother named Billy.

And a mother and her boyfriend
The boys' mother has a boyfriend who is living with them.

Who was a triple loser with some blue tattoos
The mother's boyfriend is a three-time loser with blue tattoos.

That were given to him when he was young
The boyfriend got his tattoos when he was young.

And a drunk temper that was easy to lose
The boyfriend's temper is quick to anger when he is drunk.

And thank god he didn't own a gun
It's fortunate that the boyfriend does not possess a firearm.

Billy woke up in the back of his truck
Billy wakes up inside his truck.

Took a minute to open his eyes
He takes a moment to regain his senses.

He took a peep into the back of the house
Billy peers into the back of the house.

And found himself a big surprise
What Billy sees is a shock to him.

He didn't see his brother but there was his mother
Billy does not see his brother, but he sees his mother.

With her red-headed head in her hands
His mother appears to be distressed and holding her head.

While the boyfriend had his gloves wrapped around an old priest
The boyfriend has his gloved hands wrapped around an old priest's neck.

Trying to choke the man
The boyfriend is trying to suffocate the priest.

Billy looked up from the window to the truck
Billy looks from the window to his truck.

Threw up, and had to struggle to stand
Upon seeing the event, Billy vomits and has a hard time standing.

He saw that red-necked bastard with a hammer
The boyfriend has a hammer and is described as a redneck.

Turn the priest into a shell of a man
The boyfriend brutalizes the priest, leaving him nearly lifeless.

That priest was putting up the fight of his life
The priest is fighting for his life.

But he was old and he was bound to lose
Despite his efforts, the elderly priest is expected to lose the fight.

The boyfriend hit as hard as he could
The boyfriend hits the priest with all his strength.

And knocked the priest right down to his shoes
The force of the blows from the hammer cause the priest to fall to the ground.

Well, now Billy knew but never actually met
Billy knows of but has not met the man in the story.

The preacher lying there in the room
The priest is in the same room with Billy.

He heard himself say, 'That must be my daddy'
Billy realizes that the man being attacked is his father.

Then he knew what he was gonna do
Billy fully comprehends the situation and forms a plan of action.

Billy got up enough courage, took it up
With bravery, Billy picks up an object.

And grabbed the first blunt thing he could find
The object he picks up is a blunt glass bottle of milk.

It was a cold, glass bottle of milk
The object Billy finds is a glass bottle of cold milk.

That got delivered every morning at nine
The milk is delivered daily at 9am.

Billy broke in and saw the blood on the floor, and
Billy enters the room and sees a pool of blood.

He turned around and put the lock on the door
Billy locks the door behind him.

He looked dead into the boyfriend's eye
Billy makes eye contact with the boyfriend.

His mother was a ghost, too upset to cry, then
Billy's mother is shell-shocked and unresponsive.

He took a step toward the man on the ground
Billy approaches the man on the floor.

From his mouth trickled out a little audible sound
Billy makes an indistinct noise.

He heard the boyfriend shout, 'Get out!'
The boyfriend orders Billy to leave.

And Billy said, 'Not till I know what this is all about'
Billy demands an explanation before leaving.

'Well, this preacher here was attacking your mama'
The boyfriend claims the priest attacked Billy's mother.

But Billy knew just who was starting the drama
Despite the boyfriend's claim, Billy knows that he started the altercation.

So Billy took dead aim at his face
Billy aims for the boyfriend's face with the bottle.

And smashed the bottle on the man who left his dad in disgrace, and
Billy strikes the boyfriend with the milk bottle, avenging his father.

The white milk dripped down with the blood, and the
The blood mixes with the spilled white milk.

Boyfriend fell down dead for good
The boyfriend dies from the blow to the head.

Right next to the preacher who was gasping for air
The brutalized priest is struggling to breathe.

And Billy shouted, 'Daddy, why'd you have to come back here?'
Billy questions his father's decision to return.

His mama reached behind the sugar and honey, and
Billy's mother retrieves something from a hiding spot.

Pulled out an envelope filled with money
The object she retrieved is an envelope containing money.

'Your daddy gave us this,' she collapsed in tears
Billy's mother reveals that his father had been providing for them financially.

'He's been paying all the bills for years'
The father has been financially providing for the family for a long time.

'Mama, let's put this body underneath the trees
Billy suggests moving the body to a different location.

And put Daddy in the truck and head to Tennessee'
Billy plans to leave with his father in the truck and go to Tennessee.

Just then, his little brother came in
Billy's younger brother enters the room.

Holding the milk man's hat and a bottle of gin singing
The younger brother arrives carrying the milkman's hat and a bottle of gin.

La la la la, la la la la, yeah
The brothers begin singing 'la la la la.'

Well now you heard another side to the story
The song has presented a different perspective on the story previously told.

But you wanna know how it ends?
The listener is curious about the story's conclusion.

If you must know, the truth about the tale
The listener will be given the honest truth of the story.

Go and ask the milkman
The truth can be obtained by asking the milkman.