GIMME THAT WINE^©

Clarence Clemons' version

Well my wife got tired a' me runnin' 'round, so she tried to keep me at home
You know she bust my nose and hid my clothes, but I continued to roam
She tries finally hit my weak spot, threatened to throw my bottle out
From the basement to the rooftop, everybody could hear me shout

Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
You know I can't cut lose without my juice
Dum dum dum dum dum

Well one day when I was walkin' home staggerin' home to beb
A bandit jumped from the shadows, put a blackjack aside my head
That cat took my watch, my ring, my money and I didn't make a sound
But when he reached in for my bottle Jim, ??? hear for blocks around

Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Beat my head out of shape, but leave my grape
Dum dum dum dum dum

Well one day when I was laying down awful napping
When I woke up everything was burning with a snap, and a crackle and a pop
You know the fireman chopped up my TV set and tore my apartment apart
But when he raised his axe on my bottle, Jim, I had screamed with all my heart

Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Let me take one toast before I roast
Dum dum dum dum dum

Well one day when I was crossing the avenue, a big car knocked me down
When I was laying out tyin' up traffic, crowd came from blocks around
You know the policemen were searchin' my pockets before they took me to the funeral parlour
When he reached in for my bottle, Jim, I jumped straight up and commenced to holler

Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
You know I can't get well without Muscatell

You know you can take all them Hollywood glamour girls, Rita Haywood, Bridgette Bardot,
Lana Turner, and put 'em upside the wall
Put a gigantic book beside them, and tell me to take my choice
Well there'd be no doubt 'bout the one I chose the minute I raise my voice

Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Gimme that wine
Well them chicks look fine but I love my wine

Now some folks like money, some like to dance and dine
But I'll be happy if you give me that wine, alright
Can I have that bottle baby
Muscatell or half and half

Written by Hendricks, Lambert, and Ross. Originally performed by John Hendricks. Check also John Hendricks' original version.

Played with Clarence on lead vocals on 10 Mar 1974 at the Liberty Hall, Houston, TX, while Bruce was repairing his guitar string that he broke during the previous song. These lyrics refer to that performance.

Again, on 23 Jul 1975 at the Music Inn, Lenox, MA, Bruce broke a guitar string and when he was handed his backup guitar there was something wrong with it, and there was a momentary look of panic on Bruce's face because he obviously knew he didn't have another backup guitar ready to use. That's what caused the band to perform GIMME THAT WINE. During this song Bruce re-strung his own guitar on stage.

The song was also played on 07 Dec 1974 in Hobart & William Smith College, Geneva, NY.

Liner notes on the All Those Years 1974 bootleg booklet:

Hey, that's Clarence singing! Hard to say who this sort of rap belongs to, but really funny, anyway.
Recorded at Liberty Hall Houston, Tx. on Mar 10 1974