Temperance Reel Songtext
von Michael Cleveland

I make my livin′ playin' fiddle, and I play it every night
To tell the truth, I′d fiddle if I didn't make a dime
And I sure like good liquor, it makes me wanna play
The funny thing about the fiddle is it makes you wanna drink
Pour a shot of homemade whiskey and a hundred dollar bill
I'll burn the hair right off of this bow and play the Temperance Reel


And I play one for the ladies, so sweet they swoon and swing
I play one for those I′ve left and the one that got away
And I play it in the mountains and out on the western plain
I play it for my brother, who I′ll never see again
Play it high, play it lonesome like a mountain river wheel
Let's burn the rosin off of this bow and play the Temperance Reel

The drinkin′ and dancin' is an awful, dreadful sin
And I know where I′m goin' sure as I know where I′ve been
This old fiddle bit me on the leg when I was six years old
I guess I'm gonna play it 'til the devil gets my soul
If I could play it all night long, never get my fill
Let′s play that rhythm down, boys, and play the Temperance Reel
Let′s play that rhythm down, boys, and play the Temperance Reel