American Old Time Song Lyrics: 06 The Price Of A Drink

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 6

THE PRICE OF A DRINK.

"Five cents a glass " does any one think,
That that is really the price of a drink?
"Five cents a glass," I hear you say;
"Why that isn't very much to pay.
Oh, no, indeed, 'tis a very small sum
You are passing over 'twixt finger and thumb-
And if that were all that you gave away,
It wouldn't be very much to pay.

The price of a drink? let him decide
Who has lost his courage And lost his pride,
And lies a grovelling heap of clay,
Not far removed from a beast to-day.
The price of a drink? Let that one tell.
Who sleeps to-night in a murderer's cell
And feels within him the fires of hell.
Honor and virtue, love and truth,
All the glory and pride of youth,
Honor of manhood, the wreath of fame,
High endeavor, and noble aim-
These are the treasures thrown away,
As the price of a drink from day to day.

"Five cents a glass!" how Satan laughed.
As o'er the bar the young man quaffed
The beaded liquor; for the demon knew
The terrible work that drink would do;
And before the morning the victim lay.
With his life-blood swiftly ebbing away;
And that was the price he paid, alas!
For the pleasure of taking a social glass.

The price of a drink! if you want to know
What some are willing to pay for it, go
Through the wretched tenement over there.
Where dingy windows and broken stairs,
Where foul disease, like a vampire crawls
With outstretched wings o'er the mouldy walls.
There Poverty dwells with a hungry brood,
Wild-eyed as demons for lack of food;
There Shame, in a corner crouches low;
There Violence deals its cruel blow;
And innocent ones are thus accursed.
To pay the price of another's thirst.

Five cents a glass!" Oh, if that were all,
The sacrifice would indeed be small;
But the money's worth is the least amount
We pay: and whoever will keep account.
Will learn the terrible waste and blight
That follows this ruinous appetite.
'' Five cents a glass!" Does any one think
That that is really the price of a drink?