Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee

Album: Volume 1: 1947-1951 (1947)
Play Video
  • Down in New Orleans where everything's fine all them cats is drinkin' that wine
    Drinkin' that mess is their delight when they get drunk start singin' all night
    Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee drinkin' wine wine spo-dee-o-dee drinkin' wine

    Wine spo-dee-o-dee drinkin' wine pass that bottle to me
    Now I've got a nickel have you got a dime let's get together and get a little wine
    Some buys a gallon some buys a quart
    When you buy black beer now you're doin' things smart
    Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee...

    Down on Rempart Street in Willie's den he would sell but a gill of gin
    One cat wanted a bottle of wine he hooked that cat for a dollar and a dime
    Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee... Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

  • Steve Cohen from Tucson AzHere is a link on Spodee Odee:
    https://bit.ly/46EH2Fu
    Yes, the original word was m-f.
  • Michael from Fort Worth, TxDenis, you may be correct. In the liner notes for atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 1) it is written "While in the service, Stick (McGhee) had learned a barracks ditty that had a lyric line unacceptable even to 1980's ears. Rewriting the lyrics to the extent of replacing the offensive phrase with "spo-de-o-dee," he cut the tune for Harlem Records. . ."
  • Rotunda from Tulsa, OkGood rockin' song. I have two versions of this song by Jerry Lee Lewis. One is a fair rocker while the other is a far rowdier rocker with a wild guitar break then later on his piano break which leave you all hot and nasty! A party song, without a doubt! And such a talent as Jerry Lee Lewis' vocals and red-hot piano. Yes indeed, party time!
  • Cynthia from Lake County, IlFrom "A Morning for Flamingos" by James Lee Burke.... "the customers ate boudin and pickled hog's feet off paper plates, drank long -necked Jax and wine spotioti, a mixture of muscat and whiskey that can fry your head for a week...." The Cajun/Creole "spotioti" became "Spo-De-O-De".
  • Denis from St.paul, MnI heard that the word Spo de o de actually means the words mother f.....r. Has anyone else ever heard that or is someone pulling my ....
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis was the second of his 'drinking theme' songs;
    in 1968 he released "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out of Me)", it peaked at No. 94!!!
  • Darrell from Muskegon, MiMy favorite part/line is the end "think about it"...
  • Oscar from Zebulon, NcI believe the confusion some appear to have with the actual spelling, can be attributed to Jerry Lees' personality.
    In his youth; Lee was a very cocky, self absorbed showman. He relished in being seen as the "Bad Boy" standard bearer of the newly emerging Rock'n Roll genre.
    With out him, the popularity of Rock'n Roll would have been resigned to represent a bunch of wiggling hips.
    His contribution helped turn it into the revolutionary anthem, for all who dared to be different.
    That said, his rendition used a play on the lyrics from "Dee" to his own name of "Lee".
    So the title under copyright was "Spo-Dee O'Dee"
    but the lyrics were slurred to sound as "Spo-Lee O'Lee". A deliberate self absorbed act of showmanship, of which Jerry Lee was truly the "King"
  • Robert from Philadelphia, MsThe Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, at one time had big parties they called "Spo-Li-O-Li" parties. This was in the early 1960s. I can't say if they still exist. I suppose they got the name from this song.
  • Doug from Tempe, AzJerry first recorded this song while at Sun Records.
    In the mid 1960's, Smash/Mercury released an album by Jerry in stereo, Memphis Beat I believe, that had a version of this song on it.
  • Ed from Nashville, Tn"Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O-Dee" was written during WWII by Stick McGhee, the brother of blues great Brownie McGhee. Stick first recorded it in 1946 on Harlem, then again in 1949 for Atlantic - at which point Decca re-released his original version. The Atlantic release (as by Stick McGhee and his Buddies) became a hit with rock and rollers, and was the version I heard growing up in Pittsburgh and the one on my 78 jukebox at home.
    Ed S., Nashville, TN.
  • R from Seattle, WaIn the Pacific Northwest, high school students used to call a partially hollowed-out watermelon filled with vodka a "spo-de-o-de"
  • Ted from Loveland, CoThe title is actually..."Drinkin' Wine Spo-De-O-De"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.