SUPREME COURT DASHES LAST HOPE OF

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SUPREME COURT DASHES LAST HOPE OF
MOIST MOUTH

"Last Hope of Moist Mouth" refers to the beginning of the U.S. Prohibition Era mandated by the 18th Amendment. Prohibition lasted from 1919 to 1933 and prohibited selling, making, and shipping alcohol within the U.S. While Prohibition halted legal production of liquor, speakeasies (illegal bars) were extremely common (by 1925, according to the National Archives, there were 30,000-100,000 speakeasies in in New York City alone), and organized crime prospered as the underground alcohol trade gained customers.

Related Images:
1. Detroit police raiding an illegal distillery during Prohibition.
2. "Save a Little Dram for Me", a 1922 Prohibition-era song. Click on link to access file.

Lyrics:

In the middle of the sermon, Parson Johnson rose and started sniffing the air.
There was a peculiar smell tricklin’ up the parson’s nose. That told him that gin was ‘round somewhere.
And he closed his Bible gently in the middle of the psalm and started figurin’ mentally where that smell was coming from.
His eyes scanned every pew, and then he did declare, he says “I announce this meetin’ through…
…until you kick in with my share.”

Oh, Bretheren if you want more preachin’
Save a little dram for me.
Glory hallelujah
Why drinkin’ gin ain’t against my teachin’.
Treat me with equality.

From this here smell it’s very plain to see
That somebody here’s been holding out on me.
For Bretheren if you want more preachin’
Save a little dram for me.

Now when they passed the bone dry law,
I was the very first to say that it never would stay
And neither did I think the law could regulate our thirst.
That’s why I’ve got some stored away.
Now since prohibition’s got us drinks is few and far between.
Of all the stingy brothers you’re the worst I’ve ever seen.
But I insist on my share.
Don’t say it’s all run out
Or else you’re going where--
You know that bad place I been preachin’ ‘bout?

For Bretheren if you want more preachin’
Save a little dram for me.
Glory hallelujah
Why drinkin’ gin ain’t against my teachin’.
Treat me with equality.

I’ve shared your joy and I’ve shared your sin
And believe me brothers I’m gwine to share your gin.
For Bretheren if you want more preachin’
Save a little dram for me.

Source(s)

Information Source:
"Teaching With Documents: The Volstead Act and Related Prohibition Documents". The National Archives, http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/volstead-act

Media Sources:
1. "Detroit police prohibition". n.d. United States National Archives and Records Administration Archival Research Catalog.
2. "Save a Little Dram for Me." Created/Published: Orange, N.J.: Edison. Author: Skidmore--Walker; singer: Duke Rogers. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

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