Oh Mr. Whiskey, Wherever You Are

 Oh Mr. Whiskey, wherever you are, 

 I'm all alone and the time is up,

 Oh Mr. Whiskey, you already know

 That I'm all yours, what you waiting for?

I like to know song lyrics by heart. With familiar tunes, the lyrics come easily, so I don't have to look them up. There are always a few songs that get stuck in my head, over and over again. This happens especially after nights going out, the fragmented lines tumble through my mind, even if I don't know the whole song. 

One of the lyrics that hilariously surprised me was what I thought was called "Mr. Whiskey." I'd never bothered to look up the song name or artist and when I started singing it with the group, they burst out laughing. When I found out the song was "Promiscuous Girl," and not about whiskey or whiskers, the whole dance floor changed. Instead of the alcohol addiction described above, the Nelly Furtado's lyrics follow:

"Promiscuous girl, wherever you are

I'm all alone and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy, you already know
That I'm all yours, what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you're teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, let's get to the point
'Cause we're on a roll, you ready?" 

I like to think the rumbling bass and strobe lights contributed to my misunderstanding, but I find that both versions fit in their contexts. While at the Middleton Distillery on the Jameson tour, this song ran through my head again, in the perfect way. The whiskey making process exposed me to the science of the process and helped me to understand how Guinness and whiskey can be national symbols of economy and pride. I most enjoyed the whiskey tasting, even though some of them were very strong. The pretzels were my favorite. 

I got to chat with our tour guide for the day while we traveled between stops, where she told me about her love of spirits and gin. It was insightful to know that she also didn't particularly enjoy whiskey either, but that she was interested in the history of the place and legacy. It was so nice to make a personal connection during the tour because it gave me a little bit more insight into individual opinions about Ireland's history and present. 

Music and songs change an experience, that's for sure. Every ship has a sea shanty, every nation an anthem, business a jingle, and distillery a chant. I think this tour helped me to see how even now, Ireland is utilizing the power of current technology to enhance the experience and processes of their businesses. The high-tech video and speakers, from both the Guinness and Jameson experiences, are proof of that. 

Just like each process can change, writers change too. Since Joyce's early short stories, and since having immersed myself in Ulysses for my senior project, I'm noticing such a switch in his writing. The complex metaphors are still there, and the narrative voice seems somehow younger, even in "The Dead." I'm looking forward to see how his narrative voice changes in Finnegan's Wake after the project. He's the type of writer that keeps you on your toes and expects as much work from you as he puts into the text, which is something I appreciate (and am frustrated by at the same time). 

I believe that his anthem would come from his book of poems Chamber Music, Poem 33: 

"Now, O now, in this brown land

    Where Love did so sweet music make
We two shall wander, hand in hand,
    Forbearing for old friendship’ sake,
Nor grieve because our love was gay
Which now is ended in this way.

A rogue in red and yellow dress
    Is knocking, knocking at the tree;
And all around our loneliness
    The wind is whistling merrily.
The leaves—they do not sigh at all
When the year takes them in the fall.

Now, O now, we hear no more
    The vilanelle and roundelay!
Yet will we kiss, sweetheart, before
    We take sad leave at close of day.
Grieve not, sweetheart, for anything—
The year, the year is gathering."

Its both romantic like Yeats, but if speaking about Ireland, becomes much more tragic. Let's hope I'm not mishearing this one, though 😉.