Gil Scott-Heron
Lyric guide

The Bottle

Read The Bottle lyrics by Gil Scott-Heron on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Gil Scott-Heron visibility1 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Gil Scott-Heron Canonical path: /gil-scott-heron/the-bottle Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

The Bottle

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

See that black boy over there, runnin' scared

His ol' man's in a bottle

He done quit his 9 to 5 to drink full time

So now he's livin' in the bottle

See that Black boy over there, runnin' scared

His ol' man got a problem

Pawned off damn near everything, his ol'

Woman's weddin' ring for a bottle

And don't you think it's a crime

When time after time, people in the bottle

See that sista, sho wuz fine before she

Started drinkin' wine

From the bottle

Said her ol' man committed a crime

And he's doin' time

So now she's in the bottle

She's out there on the avenue, all by herself

Sho' needs help from the bottle

Preacherman tried to help her out

She cussed him out and hit him in the head with a bottle

And don't you think it's a crime

When time after time, people in the bottle

See that gent in the wrinkled suit

He done damn near blown his cool

To the bottle

He wuz a doctor helpin' young girls along

If they wuzn't too far gone to have problems

But defenders of the dollar eagle

Said: What you doin', Doc, it ain't legal,

And now he's in the bottle

Now we watch him everyday tryin' to

Chase the pigeons away

From the bottle

And don't you think it's a crime

When time after time, people in the bottle

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "The Bottle"?

Gil Scott-Heron performs "The Bottle", and this lyric page sits inside the Gil Scott-Heron catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "The Bottle"?

Yes. The related section below points to B Movie and Did You Hear What They Said? with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Gil Scott-Heron?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Gil Scott-Heron's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on The Bottle yet.