“The Intoxicated Rat”

Description

Singer spills rum on the floor; rat licks it up, gets drunk and carries on. The cat comes out; the rat sobers up and runs back to his hole (or gets caught)

Notes

The first verse of this is apparently derived from "Four Nights Drunk," and the metre of the whole song implies that "Four Nights" may have been the source -- but it clearly has gone in its own direction. - RBW

Recordings

• The Dixon Brothers, "Intoxicated Rat" (Bluebird B-6327/Montgomery Ward M-4823, 1936; Victor 27495, 1941)
• Farley Holden & his Six Ice-Cold Papas, "Intoxicated Rat" (King 628, 1947)
• Cisco Houston, "Drunken Rat" (Disc 5067, 1940s)
• New Lost City Ramblers, "The Intoxicated Rat" (on NLCR08)

References

1. Silber-FSWB, p. 234 "The Intoxicated Rat" (1 text)
2. DT, INTOXRAT
3. Roud #11257
4. BI, FSWB234