Now I live across town from the only one I love
No woman wants a man that drinks too much
I know she'd take me back again if I could quit for good
Lord knows I'd quit if I could

I'm not holdin' the bottle the bottle's holdin' me
I could win back all I've lost but I'm not free
In my darling's loving arms that's where I wanna be
I'm not holdin' the bottle the bottle's holdin' me

--- Instrumental ---

My friends come around me but they can't stop the rain
The way you could if you were mine again
And when that evening sun goes down they all hit for home
And leave me here all tied up alone

I'm not holdin' the bottle the bottle's holdin' me
I could win back all I've lost but I'm not free
In my darling's loving arms that's where I wanna be
I'm not holdin' the bottle the bottle's holdin' me

I'm not holdin' the bottle the bottle's holdin' me