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Wine Is Good Enough For Me

by Rhys Howlett

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about

In early March 2020 my siblings and I were in Mui Wo, Hong Kong, to spend precious time with our Dad. It turned out to be his last week alive after 18 months trying to beat a real bastard cancer. Our own family health drama set amidst the global health drama.

One evening there was a conversation about prescription meds - the pros and cons of various brands etc. I hadn't heard of any of them and realised I was the only one drinking an alcoholic beverage. Dad wasn't much of a meds man either, generally preferring rum, Guinness, and wine.

My love of wine started by sharing bottles with Dad. His favourites were crisp, fresh whites like Clare Valley Rieslings or the Vinho Verde's he'd bring back from Macau; and rich, ripe reds: Maglieri Shiraz from McLaren Vale and Metala from Langhorne Creek were his two red reference points. Value was important to Dad and six bottles of a decent wine made far more sense to him than one exceptional but very expensive bottle.

The morning after the meds discussion I went for a run up the hill. Thinking about Dad, wine and meds, this song came and stuck. Back down the hill I wrote it out.

Dad was sleeping a lot by this stage but I played him a bunch of his favourites the day before he died - Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, the Freo Dockers club song... I also sang what I had of this to him and hope he heard it.

Dad initiated and encouraged my love of wine but also music. Tom Waits is probably the strongest musical connection with Dad. One thing I love about Tom Waits is he writes about food and drinks, simple pleasures. Eggs and Sausage, Chocolate Jesus, stuff like that. I write songs like Half Greek Blues about Greek pastries and White's Number One Tincture about medicinal beverages because of that.

And now this one - Wine Is Good Enough For Me. Four chords and two minutes, a simple song but it means a lot to me and just wanted you to know why.

Cheers,
Rhys

lyrics

I have never taken an opiate
But I know for many people they're a crutch
Those dopey little pills
And powder-coated bills
Don't interest me all that much
When I'm feeling wonky
Just pass the Chenin Blonky
Yeah wine is good enough for me
Wine is good enough for me.

Pandemics and recession
Anxiety, depression
The fear of global catastrophe
The Cretins and The Haters
Media Dictators
These times will pass, just you wait and see
You can keep the FOMO
Just pass the Nebbiolo
Yeah wine is good enough for me
Wine is good enough for me.

I'm game for Gamay
I can do Cabernet
It's not a maybe when it comes to Malbec
Serious about Sangiovese
And you could call me crazy...
But wine is good enough for me
Wine is good enough for me.

credits

released May 1, 2020
Written and performed by Rhys Howlett

Recorded by Nick Russell at King's Closet, 20 April 2020

Artwork by Casey C Illustration: www.caseycillustration.com.au

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Rhys Howlett Adelaide, Australia

Songs about people, places, work, identity, hope, home, food, beverages...

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