Wonderful Wino

Lyrics

L.A. in the summer of '69
I went downtown and bought me some wine
Oh, I drank it down under the table
I said: "Watch me now, I'm gonna eat the label!"
Well I'm a wino man
Don't you know I am?

36, 24, hips about 30
I seen a fine lady and I started talkin' dirty
Boy, she looked over at me and she raised her thumb
She said: "Jam down the road, you bum-ba-bum-bum"
I'm a wino man
Don't you know I am?

I went to the country
And while I was gone
I lost control of my body functions
On a roller-headed lady's front lawn
I'm so ashamed, but I'm a wino man
I can't help myself

I've been drinkin' all night till my eyes got red
Stumbled on the gutter and busted my head
Bugs in my zoot suit, been scratchin' like a dog
I can't stand no water, and I stink like a hog
Give me a five-dollar bill
And an overcoat too
Give me a five-dollar bill
And an overcoat too
A five-dollar bill and an overcoat too
A five-dollar bill and a Florsheim shoe

Players On This Song

• At The Circus verion: FZ (guitar, vocals), Mark Volman (vocals), Howard Kaylan (vocals), Jeff Simmons (bass, vocals), George Duke (keyboards), Ian Underwood (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums)

• Freaks & Motherfu*#@%! version: FZ (guitar, vocals), Mark Volman (vocals), Howard Kaylan (vocals), Jeff Simmons (bass, vocals), George Duke (keyboards, trombone), Ian Underwood (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums)

• Swiss Cheese/Fire! version: FZ (guitar, vocals), Mark Volman (vocals), Howard Kaylan (vocals), Jim Pons (bass, vocals), Don Preston (keyboards), Ian Underwood (keyboards), Aynsley Dunbar (drums)

• Playground Psychotics version: FZ (lead guitar, vocal), Mark Volman (vocal), Howard Kaylan (vocal), Jim Pons (bass, vocal), Don Preston (keyboards, electronics), Ian Underwood (keyboards, alto sax), Aynsley Dunbar (drums)

• The Lost Episodes version: Ricky Lancelotti (vocal), FZ (guitar), George Duke (piano, clavinet), Erroneous (bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Ian Underwood (saxophone), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Sal Marquez (trumpet)

• Zoot Allures version: FZ (guitars, bass, keyboard, vocal), Terry Bozzio (drums) + Ian Underwood (saxophone), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Sal Marquez (trumpet)

Albums In Which This Song Has Appeared

Zappa Albums

• Zoot Allures
• Playground Psychotics
• The Lost Episodes
• Freaks & Motherfuckers as Wino Man - With Dr. John Routine
• At The Circus
• Swiss Cheese/Fire!

Tributes & Cover Albums

• Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up

Notes About This Song

• Coincidentally, comedian George Carlin also had a comedy routine called "Wonderful Wino", which debuted in 1972.

• Wino Man - With Dr. John Routine on Freaks & Motherfuckers is citing Bringing In The Sheaves, which also segues Friendly Little Finger and "Wonderful Wino" together on Zoot Allures.

• Florsheim shoe: Florsheim is a famous U.S. shoemaker.

CC Clues In This Song

• Give me a five dollar bill is also sung near the end of the song You Are What You Is
• Advertising: A Florsheim song is mentioned.