Smokin' and Drinkin'

©1984 Andrew Calhoun, recorded on Shadow of a Wing

Written for Roy Arbuckle, of Derry, who used to come through Chicago for month-long gigs at the major Irish clubs with Gerry O'Neill, the duo was "Fiddler's Elbow." I had a rough time finding work in Chicago as a young man, but Roy would point me out in the crowd, and say, "this is by an obscure Chicago genius," and sing "Vancouver," which warmed my heart immensely. He went through some rough times and retired for a period to a meditation retreat in Donegal. Got four kids, now. Love you, Roy.

I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'
Getting so low and high
I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'

The party life's its own thing,
It will leave your body ringing,
It will use your time
It will set your head to swirling
It will send your body whirling
Past the rhythm and the rhyme

I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'
Getting so low and high
I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'

The weight is on our shoulders
While we're old and getting older
With our back to death
We can't turn around and break it
We can't run away and shake it
Make it weigh a little less

I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'
Getting so low and high
I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'

I feel a morning breaking
And I know you are escaping
From that place you were
Where that dark web grows tighter
It has grown a little lighter
And I thank you, sir

I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'
Getting so low and high
I'm glad you quit smokin' and drinkin'