I'm counting back
The number of the steps
It took for me to get
Back on the wagon of the weekend

I'll use the autotimer to prove that
I got home with my imagination
If they find the body in the basement
"In the very house that she was raised in!"

I'm taking down
The number of the Times
So when we get the sign
From god I'll be the first to call them

I'm taking back the number of the beast
Cause 6 is not a pretty number
8 or 3 are definitely better
A is for the address on the letter
To my alcoholic friends

I'm trying hard
Not to be ashamed
Not to know the name
Of who is waking up beside me
Or the date, the season or the city
But at least the ceilings very pretty
And if you are holding it against me

I'll be on my best behavior
Taking shots for mother nature
Once my fist is in the cupboard
Love is never falling over

Should I choose a noble occupation
If I did I'd only show up late and
Sick and they would stare at me with hatred
Plus my only natural talent's wasted on my alcoholic friends
My alcoholic friends



Lyrics submitted by Airyca

Track duration: 02:48

"My Alcoholic Friends" as written by Amanda Palmer

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


My Alcoholic Friends song meanings
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46 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:The ceiling's very pretty part I think is Amanda's terribly eloquent expression of denial. Oscar Wilde said "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars". As a stereotypical drunk, the character would spend a lot of time in the gutter, but is looking up at the "pretty ceiling", or the stars, and thinking they can do better, and it isn't a problem. Alternatively she spends lots of time in bed and gets to look at a nice blank ceiling rather than the mess that is her life.
    Flag lizawithazon November 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:maybe it's someone trying to get drunk to fit in?
    "i'm trying hard, not to be ashamed, not to know the name, of who is waking up beside me..."
    She's trying to accept that this lifestyle is okay, and it is nothing to be ashamed of.
    Flag teh Qon October 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I looove this song.

    I think it's basically what it says on the cover: It's about people who drink a lot of alcahol.
    Even though she seems in with the group though, it seems like she's distanced, so SHE'S not the alcaholic, THEY are.

    i love the song ^^
    Flag Doyoudreamforlongon July 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I looove this song.

    I think it's basically what it says on the cover: It's about people who drink a lot of alcahol.
    Even though she seems in with the group though, it seems like she's distanced, so SHE'S not the alcaholic, THEY are.

    i love the song ^^
    Flag Doyoudreamforlongon July 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Judging by the lyrics and music, I think this is a more playful song about drinking and the first two lines are indicative of that. "I'm taking back the number of the beast" I think is a play on the old joke, "did you catch the number of the bus that hit me," that people would say when they woke up hung over. Most of the verses are pretty straight-forward, one talks about the shame of waking up next to a stranger, forgetting the day, etc all resulting from a night of drunken debauchery. And the last verse is really a statement on the author's lifestyle and the occupation that affords it. The second to last verse is the only one that troubles me, I think she is saying if you are going to judge me then I am just going to keep drinking ("taking shots"). As soon as most serious drinkers start drinking, or "get their hand in the cupboard," they have to keep drinking. And I think the last line is just a play on the whole "love is never saying sorry."
    Flag IcemanComethon July 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first two lines instantly make me think she was a recovering alcoholic and went back to drinking.

    To me this song is all about alcohlism, what it does to them and why they do it. "If they find body in the basement, the very house that she was raised in.". To me says something about a traumatic experience as a child.

    Shes taking back the number of the beast because its not a pretty number? She is obviously very down about herself, and then relating it to alcohol again at the end of the stanza is obvious. To me the alcoholic friends are the bottles of alcohol (duhh lol)

    The lines... "I'm trying hard not to be ashamed
    Not to know the name of who is waking up beside me
    Or the date, the season, or the city
    But at least the ceiling's very pretty
    And if you are holding it against me"

    Im not sure if shes actually in a relationship with person next to her or if its a one night stand sort of thing. Seems like the first one to me.

    "Once my fist is in the cupboard
    Love is never falling over"
    I think shes saying that drinking makes everything better for her.

    Yadda yadda, the last lines are all about the hangover and impacting her work. A "Noble occupation" makes me think a proper job like in an office or something starting work at early hours.

    Its an awesome song. :P
    Flag retchedmonkeyon July 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Speaking of ads...there's a particularly hilarious one..".Real Blood is for
    Suckers. Synthetic Blood Nourishment Beverage.
    trubeverage.com"
    Okay sorry, anyways....the problem with many Dresden Dolls songs, is that she [amanda] is very unclear about the meanings, and she doesn't reveal them either, because that "takes the fun out of it".
    So yea.
    Flag ramshackledayparadeon July 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Speaking of ads...there's a particularly hilarious one..".Real Blood is for
    Suckers. Synthetic Blood Nourishment Beverage.
    trubeverage.com"
    Okay sorry, anyways....the problem with many Dresden Dolls songs, is that she [amanda] is very unclear about the meanings, and she doesn't reveal them either, because that "takes the fun out of it".
    So yea.
    Flag ramshackledayparadeon July 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Okay, so it's obviously about alcoholism.
    The "I'm trying hard not to be ashamed, not to know the name of who is waking up beside me." Is about getting drunk and sleeping with some random person, so now she woke up in that guy's bed the next day.

    What I want to know is what "Once my fist is in the cupboard, love is never falling over." is about.
    Flag 13ubbleson July 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Love is never falling over"
    Perhaps this means its an achievement to not fall over in her drunken state? She loves not falling over...well, who does love falling over when drunk i spose...
    Flag Maidenizzyon May 27, 2008   Link

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