The Bottle (It’s Your World Version) lyrics

[Intro: Gil Scott-Heron]
So if you’ll help us out here, we’ll do “Guan Guanco”. This song is called “The Bottle.” And the rhythm is celebrating time. Brian Jackson on flute for ya, will give us a little bit of help here. Help us out a little bit, Brian. What it is

[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
You see that black boy over there, running scared. His old man
In a bottle
Said he done quit his 9 to 5. He drink full-time, and now he’s hanging
In a bottle
You see that black boy over there, running scared. His old man
Got a problem, he likes to drink too much. He done
Pawned off damn near everything
His old woman’s wedding ring
For a bottle
And don’t you think it’s a crime the way
Time after time after time, people
In the bottle?
There’s people sure ‘nough in the bottle

[Interlude 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
Said listen to me

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
See, that sister sure was fine
‘Fore she started drinking wine
From the bottle. Well, she told me
Her old man committed a crime
He’s doing time. Now she’s hanging
In the bottle. I seen her
Out there on the avenue
All by herself. Sure need
Help from the bottle, and I seen a
Preacher man tried to help her out
She cussed him out and hit him in the head
With a bottle. They turned to me, they asked me, “Gil
And don’t you think it’s a crime the way
Time after time after time
People in the bottle?” There’s people sure ‘nough in
The bottle
[Interlude 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
I got a little dirt on the doctor, I’ma start some trouble

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
You seen that gent in a wrinkled suit, now
He done damn near blown his
Cool to the bottle. Well, he was a
Doctor helping young girls along
If they wasn’t too far gone to have
Problems—I mean, complications—but
Defenders of the dollar eagle
Said, “What you’re doing, man, ain’t legal”
Now he’s in the bottle, and, yeah, said
And now we watch him every day
He’s trying to chase the pigeons away
From the bottle. Well, he turned to me and he said, “Give a hand now
Don’t you think it’s a crime the way
Time after time, friends of mine
In the bottle?” It’s sure enough fact people don’t know
How to act, it’s sure enough when they be drinking, they...

[Interlude 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
Pa-na-pum-pum. Say yeah, say yeah, say yeah, uh huh. Gotta really fight, gotta really fight, gotta really fight, uh huh

[Verse 4: Gil Scott-Heron]
So when you feel that rhythm, move it through your system
Say, “Uhuru SaSa,” mean “freedom now”
Brother Teach Somebody Man
Brother Teach, why we call you Somebody Man?
Brother Teach is Somebody Man
Brother Teach, why we call you Somebody Man? Hah
Brother, teach somebody, man. Brother, teach somebody, man
Brother, teach somebody, man. Brother, teach somebody, man
Brother, teach somebody, man. Brother, teach somebody, man
Brother, teach somebody, man. Brother, teach, brother can you help me?
[Verse 5: Gil Scott-Heron]
Guaguancó, guaguancó
Guaguancó, guaguancó
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go
Guaguancó got me, I need a doctor
Doctor, Doctor, now
Doctor
Doctor, please
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go, Doctor
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go, Doctor
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go, Doctor
Guaguancó got me, won’t let go. Sing it

[Verse 6: Gil Scott-Heron]
Doctor, Doctor said
Doctor said: don’t be afraid
Doctor, Doctor said
Doctor said: don’t be afraid
The Doctor said, “Don’t be afraid”
The Doctor said, “Don’t be afraid”
The Doctor said, “Don’t be afraid”
The Doctor said, “Don’t be afraid”
Don’t be afraid to move
Don’t be afraid to move
Don’t be afraid to move
Don’t be afraid to move
And the rhythm’ll make you move
And the rhythm’ll make you move
And the rhythm’ll make you move
And the rhythm’ll make you move
And the rhythm make, and the rhythm make
And the rhythm make, and the rhythm make
And the rhythm make, and the rhythm make
And the rhythm make, make you move
[Interlude 4: Gil Scott-Heron]
Guaguancó, help me. And I’ll tell you a little secret

[Verse 7: Gil Scott-Heron]
If you ever come looking for me
You know where I’m bound to be
In the bottle
Said turn around
Look around on any corner
If you see some brother looking like
A goner, it’s gonna be me
Sing the song

[Bridge: Gil Scott-Heron]
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na. Wana
Na na na. Wana na
Na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na

[Verse 8: Gil Scott-Heron]
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
A dollar-nine get a bottle of wine
The bottle
Said everybody needs something
Said everybody needs something
And I’ll tell you what I mean, hah

[Interlude 5: Gil Scott-Heron]
I’d like to take a second to thank you very much. The sound has been engineered this evening by our sound lady. Sister Nyala back in the booth takes care of the sound for us and is the link between us and you. And if anybody ask you what was happening around The First Minute of a New Day, tell ‘em, “It was The Midnight Band.” We do this all for you, hope to see you again very soon. The song say

[Verse 9: Gil Scott-Heron]
A brother said he’s got to have some money
His sister told me all she need is love
A brother said he’s got to have some money
His sister told me all she need is love. I replied
All I want, said-a all I want, said-a
All I want, said-a all I want-a
All I want, all I want is
Somebody hand me that bottle
There’s people living in a bottle
Now sometimes I feel like I’m in a bottle
And once you slip, you can’t get out of that bottle
Well, like, everybody needs
Everybody needs, everybody needs, everybody needs
Everybody needs, everybody needs, everybody needs
Everybody needs, everybody needs, everybody needs
Everybody needs. Brother, please, just hand me that bottle
Said everybody needs something
Now you are too kind, admit that you need something
Now I’m the first to admit that I need something
Said you are too kind, admit that you need something
I said I’m the first to admit that I need something
Well, like, everybody needs something
Everybody needs something
Everybody needs something
Everybody needs something
Yeah