Rye Whiskey (traditional Version) Lyrics - Nick Cave & The Bad Seed

Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Diamonds, I know you most of all 

You've robbed my poor pockets of silver and gold 

And whiskey, you villain, you've been my down fall 

You've cuffed and you've kicked me but I loved you of old 

Oh, whiskey, rye whiskey, whiskey, I cried 

If I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die 

Well, I go yonder mountain and build me a still 

And I send you a gallon for a five dollar bill 

Well, it's beefcake when I'm hungry, whiskey when I'm dry 

And it's greenbacks when I'm hard off and hell when I die 

I said, "Whiskey, rye whiskey, whiskey", I cried 

"If I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die" 

If the sea were made of Whiskey and I was a duck 

I'd swim to the bottom and never come up 

Oh, but the sea ain't made of Whiskey and I ain't a duck 

So I'll play Jack of Diamonds and trust on my luck 

I said, "Whiskey, rye whiskey, whiskey", I cried 

"If I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die" 

I said, "Whiskey, rye whiskey, whiskey", I cried 

"If I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die" 

Ohh, if I don't get rye whiskey I surely will die