Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Oh show me the way
To the next whiskey bar.
Oh don't ask why,
Oh don't ask why.
Show me the way
To the next whiskey bar.
Oh don't ask why,
Oh don't ask why.

For if we don't find
The next whiskey bar,
I tell you we must die.
I tell you we must die.
I tell you,
I tell you,
I tell you we must die.

Oh moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye.
We've lost our good old momma.
And must have whiskey,
Oh you know why.

Oh moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye.
We've lost our good old momma.
And must have whiskey,
Oh you know why.

Show me the way to the next little girl.
Oh don't ask why,
Oh don't ask why.
Show me the way
To the next little girl.
Oh don't ask why,
Oh don't ask why.

For if we don't find
The next little girl,
I tell you we must die.
I tell you we must die.
I tell you,
I tell you,
I tell you we must die.

Oh moon of Alabama,
We now must say goodbye.
We've lost our good old momma
And must have whiskey,
Oh you know why.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

This is a cover of a German opera song written in 1929 by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht.

It was used in a controversial 1930 German operetta called "Aufsteig Und Fall Der Stadt Mahagonny"........ 'The Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahogany'.
This is the original lyric.

Alabama song by Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill
Oh, show us the way to the next whiskey bar!
Oh don't ask why,
Oh don't ask why!
For we must find the next whiskey bar
For if we don't find the next whiskey bar,
I tell you we must die!

Oh moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mamma
And must have whiskey
Oh, you know why.

Oh show us the way to the next pretty boy!
Oh don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why!
For we must find the next pretty boy
For if we don't find the next pretty boy
I tell you we must die!

Oh moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have boys
Oh, you know why.

Oh show us the way to the next little dollar!
Oh don't ask why,
oh don't ask why!
For we must find the next little dollar
For if we don't find the next little dollar
I tell you we must die!

Oh moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have dollars
Oh, you know why.



When Jim was living with Ray and Dorothy Fujikawa she had a copy of the opera on an album and interested the two in the song which caused them to use it in their set.

Most fascinating of all was this was the song that interested Jac Holzman in the band as he reasoned that ny band that include this in their set was smart and so signed them up.
So it can be said that Dorothy was pivotal in the band getting signed to Elektra.

The bands version omitted a crucial verse from the original.
This was an insight into the mind of Morrison rather than anything else. He never placed much importance on money as the other three did.
So it was that the band did not include the reference to the 'next little dollar' or for that matter the next 'pretty boy.' which they changed to 'little girl.'
It is probably the Doors most famous cover version.

[evs81]

This is one of my favourite Doors songs, and it's not even a Doors song! Gutted!

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

I thought LMF was a cover by The Doors of Jose Feliciano because he had the big hit with it in 1968 here in the UK and The Doors version dissapeared without trace.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

Lotte Lenya sings Alabama Song