(S. Cahn, J. Van Heusen)
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[Recorded April 10, 1964, Los Angeles]
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With Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
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(chorus) [the drunks] The rest are solos.
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Booze, Mister Booze (Mister Booze), Mister Booze
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Mister B double O, Z Eeee, (that sure spells booze),
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You will wind up wearing tattered shoes if you mess with Mister Booze,
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(Don't mess with Mister Booze, don't mess with Mister Booze.)
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Don't mess with B, double o, Z, E, if you've been so simply occupied.
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You'll feel better once you testify, (testify, testify)
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[I want to testify, I want to testify]
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Well, then cleanse yourself, my child, cleanse yourself.
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Brothers and sisters, I happen to know this poor unfortunate soul,
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And the fight she is waging against sin,
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That old devil Booze has changed her
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Into the unsightly person you see before you.
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Give us your testimony, my child.
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[Well, it all began with Johnny] (Yeah?)
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[He said drink helped him stay alive] (Yeah?)
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[Do you know how old he was when he died?] (No)
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[He was twenty-five] (No. no)
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[That's why I gotta come clean] (why?)
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[Because I'm already seventeen]
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Who's to blame? (Who's to blame?) What his name?
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(We know his name, his name is.)
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Mister Booze, Mister Booze, Mister B, double O, Z, E,
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Don't ever choose, any game you play with him, you lose,
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If your head feels like it's two miles wide,
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You'll feel better once you testify (testify, testify, testify)
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[I want to testify, I want to testify]
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Well, come forward, dear brother, come forward.
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You see here, ladies and gentlemen, a man who just last year
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Was the United States Olympic heavyweight wrestling champion,
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Here he is, just a shadow of his former self, wasted in health, ravaged by sin.
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Oh give us your testimony, dear brother.
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[I was cruel and I was mean] he was mean!
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[I was a no-gooder, pickpocket] (a no-good pickpocket)
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[And then you see, sin got me in its clutches now] sin got him in his clutches,
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[No. I said sin was not...] Oh, I didn't hear the first part
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[And that's why I need forgiving] (Why?)
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['Cause my hands shake so much now, I can't even make love]
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That's a shame, (what a shame) who's to blame? (Who's to blame?)
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(Mister Booze, Mister Booze, Mister B, double O, Z., E. what's with you?)
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(You'll make the office dupe a recluse, sister, if you dance with Mister Booze.)
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(If you prince with tiffless, naughty guy,)
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(You'll feel better when you testify, testify, oh yeah, testify, oh yeah, testify)
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[I wanna testify. I wanna testify.]
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Ah but you don't have to. [oh but I wanna] (oh let the bum testify!)
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Okay, then put down that demijohn and come up forward here,
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And let us lead you on the path of righteousness. Not long ago, brothers and sisters,
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This helpless soul was the foremost brain surgeon in this grand and glorious country.
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Success was smiling down upon him.
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Now go ahead and tell us your story. Don't be shy.
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[Let me tell. Let me tell. You see I use spirits for medicinal purposes only] (Yeah)
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[I manufacture it for medicinal purposes only.] (yeah?)
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[Then I started drinking what I manufactured till I drank myself]
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[Out of a hell of a business for medicinal purposes only.] (That's right)
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Now, alcohol makes a big man small and can lead to life of crime.
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Drinking rum makes you skin-and-bone, and you cash in before your time.
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Bootleg gin for your Mickey Finn till you don't even know your name.
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You're a basket case right on your face, there's only one guy to blame.
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(Oh Mister Booze, Mister Booze, Mister B, double O, Z, E, don't ever queue,)
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(Don't you wind up swearing platitudes if you're mad with Mister Booze)
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(Oh, Mister Booze, Don't mess, mess with Mr. Booze.)
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Don't mess with B, double O. Z, E, cause that spells booze.
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And you gotta lose with Mi-ister Booze. (Oh Yeah).
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Don't mess around with Mister Booze.
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(Don't with Mister Booze, Don't with Mister Booze.)
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(What's his name now, Oh Mister Booze),
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(Don't mess with Mister Booze), Oh Mister Booze, (Don't mess with Mister Booze.)
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-----------------
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Mister Booze
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Frank Sinatra |