I was once out strolling
One very hot summer's day
When I thought I'd lay myself down to rest
In a big field of tall grass
I lay there in the sun
And felt it caressing my face
As I fell asleep and dreamed

I dreamed I was in a Hollywood movie
And that I was the star of the movie
This really blew my mind
The fact that me, an overfed long-haired, leaping gnome
Should be the star of a Hollywood movie

But there I was
I was taken to a place
The Hall of the Mountain King
I stood high up on a mountaintop
Naked to the world
In front of
Every kind of girl
There was long ones, tall ones, short ones, brown ones
Black ones, round ones, big ones
Crazy ones

Out of the middle
Came a lady
She whispered in my ear
Something crazy
She said

Spill the wine, dig that girl
Spill the wine, take that pearl
Spill the wine, dig that girl
Spill the wine, take that pearl

I could feel hot flames of fire roaring at my back
As she disappeared
But soon she returned
In her hand was a bottle of wine
In the other, a glass
She poured some of the wine from the bottle into the glass
And raised it to her lips
And just before she drunk it
She said

Take the wine, take that pearl
Spill the wine, take that pearl
Take the wine, take that pearl
Spill the wine, take that pearl
Take that pearl, yeah!
It's all good
Oh, you got to do it
Spill that wine, spill that wine

Spill the wine, spill the wine, spill the wine, spill the wine, spill the wine
Take that pearl


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Spill the Wine Lyrics as written by Harold Brown Charles Miller

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Spill The Wine song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

42 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    Spill the Wine, DIG that pearl: Cunnilingus. Red wine? white win? Who knows, who cares? It Pychosexual muffin lovin' trippin balls and worshippiing at the altar. Dig that pearl.

    VAwhisperon November 06, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The chorus alternates between "DIG THAT GIRL" then "TAKE THAT PEARL". the song idea concept came from literally spilling the wine on the keyboard that they used in the studio. The girl speaking Spanish was Eric Burden's g/f at the time, they set up a TENT in the studio, and when she and Eric were doing their thing in it, they recorded what she said to lay over the studio track. "DIG" is a hippie euphamism for "like" ;the "PEARL" is of course a sexual reference to a womans anatomy. The rest (leaking gnomes, green grass) comes from lyrics that Eric was already working on when the song came together. The song in toto is a celebration of the beauty of all women.

    Source"Harold Brown" drummer for War in an interview

    PieShane001on January 12, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's about how a guy fell asleep in a big field of green grass and dreamt about having oral sex with a famous actress!

    TheGraduateon December 20, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i like the song but never understood the chorus. I think mister oofus made a mistake by translating the chorus to "take that girl", I believe after some research that it should be "TAKE THAT PEARL".

    maartjeon March 02, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always thought it was "Dig that girl." I suppose "Take" makes more sense. Regardless, awesome song. War is one of the best quirky songwriting bands in the world.

    loopydateon May 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Eric Burdon Declares War is the album its from and i really reccomend it.

    ERIC BURDON IS GOD!

    orangeorangeorangeon June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    o and by the way. that women speaking in spanish in the background was Jimi Hendrix's girlfriend at the time.

    orangeorangeorangeon June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I LOVE THIS SONG, especially the flautist.. its gorgeous!

    Spill the wine... I wonder if its metaphorical for 'putting yourself OUT There, and taking a risk... grabbing that girl '

    hmm maybe its just an acid trip lol

    shockdelicaon December 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is great. But does anybody know the Song and lyrics to "Bare Back Ridin"

    Now thats a sweet song

    lisaehastingson January 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Perhaps he's describing a trip? And that he just was surrounded by women, like his ultimate dream: being surrounded by women, and drinking wine. And I agree with shockdelica: as in, that it means taking chances, even if they end up being un-doable. Because wine stains are permanent. Or maybe they just wanted a kick ass song, and the lyrics aren't what's important, just the amazing music itself...that's just my opinion.

    gabiroxon June 13, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.