Somebody by Me a Drink - Oscar Brown, Jr.

The other night, I was on Skid Row

By a liquor store sign’s garrish glow;

I saw a fellow I used to know a long, long time ago

He stood with the lost, with the living dead

With rumpled clothes and a reeling head

Reviewing the wasted life he’d lead, and as I passed he said

«Let me tell you a story that’s sad but true

About someone who just may remind you of you

Let me tell you a tale that may help you awake a woozy head —

Somebody buy me a drink

«It begins long ago on a happy day

With a fool who was loved, but threw it all away

Who exchanged a good home for a flophouse, a bar and a plank —

Somebody buy me a drink

(Bridge:)

«Well, to see me today, when I have hit the skids

Who would think I once had a fine wife and kids?

Yes, I was that fool, after treasure and pleasure

And love was just a game played with some other dame

«Now there’s only one thing I feel certain of:

The only true treasure in life is love

Without someone to love and love you, see how low you can sink?

Somebody buy me a drink

Somebody, somebody, buy me a drink.»