Delirium Tremens
More actions
"Delirium Tremens" is a song originally written by Irish folk musician Christy Moore and first released on his 1985 album Ordinary Man. The Longest Johns released a cover version with partially re-written lyrics on YouTube on 19 June 2024. Moore's version is heavily satirical, mentioning several Irish political figures of the time, but the TLJ version omits several of these references and instead includes an original verse mentioning various people, places, and things connected to the band.
Factoids
Delirium tremens is a condition caused by severe alcohol withdrawal. Real life symptoms include confusion, tremors, loss of balance and motor skills, and sometimes horrifying hallucinations, sometimes progressing to seizures and death,[1] though this song presents a more comical take on the topic.
Child of Prague: A statue of the infant Jesus commonly found in Irish Catholic households; several folk beliefs involve placing it in certain locations to bring good weather or good luck, particularly for a wedding.[2]
Stag: a brand of Irish cider popular in the 1980s.
Schmiddick: Smithwick's, a popular Irish beer.
Harpic: A reference to Harp, another Irish beer, but also intentionally invoking Harpic, a brand of toilet cleaner; possibly a reference to an urban legend involving mass-market beers being doctored with toxic chemicals.
Guinness: Another popular Irish beer; the "surfboard" line is a reference to this ad.
George Seawright: A controversial unionist politician in Northern Ireland in the 1980s. The mention of him saying the rosary is ironic, as he was a Protestant who had made widely-publicized anti-Catholic remarks. He was assassinated two years after this song was written.
SPUC: Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, a UK-based anti-abortion lobbying organization. SPUC being "on the pill" is another ironic reference, as they have also historically opposed contraceptives.
Frank Patterson: A renowned classical singer, known as "Ireland's Golden Tenor".
Spancil Hill: A traditional Irish folk ballad about an emigrant longing for his home and loved ones in Spancill Hill, County Clare.
Excelsior: A historic fishing smack built in 1921, which has been restored and now offers sailing excursions and event rentals.[3]
Skinny Lister: British shanty punk group and friends of the band. The Johns were featured in their song Damn the Amsterdam and supported them on their UK tour in autumn 2021.
Kimber's Men: another British shanty group and friends of the band, referred to on at least one occasion as the Johns' "shanty dads".
The Llandoger: Llandoger Trow, a famous historic pub in Bristol. They've got a whole 'nother song about it.
Old Duke: another historic pub, located across the street from the Llandoger Trow, known for live jazz and blues music.
Lyrics
As performed in the video
I dreamed a dream the other night, I couldn't sleep a wink
The rats were trying to count the sheep and I was off the drink
There were footsteps in the parlor and voices on the stairs
I was climbing up the walls and moving round the chairs
I looked out from under the blanket up at the fireplace
The Pope and John F. Kennedy were staring me in the face
And suddenly it dawned at me, I was getting the old DTs
When the Child of Prague began to dance around the mantlepiece
{Chorus}
Goodbye to the port and the brandy, to the vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat looking up the Guinness ad, I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after fourteen pints of stout
Well, I swore upon the Bible I'd never touch a drop
My heart was palpitatin', I was sure 'twas going to stop
Thinking I was dying, I gave my soul to God to keep
And a tenner to St. Anthony to help me get some sleep
I fell in an awful nightmare, I got a dreadful shock
When I dreamt there was no duty-free at the airport down in Knock
George Seawright was saying the rosary and the SPUC was on the pill
Frank Patterson was gargled, and he's singin' Spancil Hill
{Chorus}
I dreamt that Skinny Lister had called it all a day
Excelsior had struck a rock and gone down in the waves
Our Discord got deleted, the servers just went black
And Kimber's Men went off to Greece and never made it back
The Llandoger collapsed and took the Old Duke in the fall
The publishers for Christy Moore were trying to sue us all
And then I saw that Taylor Swift was covering Wellerman
'Twas then I knew I'd never ever ever drink again
{Chorus}
{Final Chorus}
Well, goodbye to the port and the brandy, to the vodka and the Stag
To the Schmiddick and the Harpic, the bottled draught and keg
As I sat lookin' up the Guinness ad, I could never figure out
How your man stayed up on the surfboard after fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one...et cetera et cetera...pints of stout