Monty Harper Songbook

Monty wrote this song for "Project REACH - Stories, Songs, Puzzles" in 1994. The project was broadcast on WNYE in New York and was designed to help kids think about cigarette and alcohol advertising aimed at them. This song is not currently available as a recording.

No Alcohol For Me - song lyric

When they say, "Everybody does it,"
I say, "Not my friends and me."
When they say, "Come on, try a little,"
I say, "A little's too much for me."
When they say, "Come on man, don't spoil the fun,"
I say, "It doesn't look fun to me,"
and I quickly move my body to a new locality.

I never do drink alcohol because it messes with your mind,
and I like my brain the way it is - never a beat behind.
But there are people in my life and advertisers on TV
who always seem to want to push their alcohol on me.

When they say, "Wouldn't it be great?"
I say, "Not if you're drinking beer."
When they say, "Tastes great, less filling,"
I say, "Your taste buds must be weird."
When they say, "It'll never slow you down,"
I say, "That's not what I hear!"
Because alcohol does slow you down and there's plenty of that in beer.

I never do drink alcohol because it messes with your mind,
and I like my brain the way it is - never a beat behind.
When the pressure to start drinking grows around me every day,
my secret to not giving in is knowing what to say.

When they say, "Everybody does it,"
I say "Not my friends and me."
When they say, "Come on man, be cool,"
I say, "I'm cool just bein' me."
When they say, "You must be a chicken,"
I say, "Well at least I'm not fricasseed,"
and I quickly move my body to a new locality.

I never do drink alcohol because it messes with your mind,
and I like my brain the way it is - never a beat behind.
So the kids who pester me and advertisers on TV
will have to just get used to it - no alcohol for me.