Alcoholic Blues, The

DESCRIPTION: "I love my country, 'deed I do, But oh, that war has made me blue." He could get along with the food rationing for World War I, but when they cut off his alcohol, then "I've got the blues (x2), I've got the alcoholic blues." He needs his alcohol
AUTHOR: Words: Edward Laska / Music: Albert von Tilzer (source: sheet music)
EARLIEST DATE: 1919 (sheet nusic)
KEYWORDS: hardtimes drink | Prohibition
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Silverman-BalladsAndSongsOfWWI, pp. 166-168, "The Alcoholic Blues" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Billy Murray, "Alcoholic Blues" (Victor 18522 1919; Columbia A-2707)
Vernon Dalhart, "Alcoholic Blues" (Edison 50529, 1919; CYL: Edison Blue Amberol 3735)
NOTES [95 words]: The only indication I have that this is traditional is a mention of a WPA collection of something called "Alcoholc Blues." Is it this piece? I have no way of knowing. But it's here in case it is. In any case, it was recorded by Vernon Dalhart, although before he became an important performer.
Edward Foote Gardner, Popular Songs of the Twentieth Century: Volume I -- Chart Detail & Encyclopedia 1900-1949, Paragon House, 2000, p. 323, estimates that this was the #13 song in America in July 1919, although it was not one of the top songs for the year as a whole. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.1
File: SWWI166

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