The Story of a Social Enemy

This song we adapted from the immortal Hank Williams

We took it from the album "Luke the Drifter"

And we call it "The Story of a Social Enemy"

Too many parties and too many pals

Will break your heart someday

Too many boyfriends and sociable sounds

Will drive your sweetheart away

Gentleman of the jury, the judge's speech begin

The scene was a crowded courtroom

And the judge was a stern old man

This prisoner here before you, is a social enemy

Lady of the evening

And you know the penalty

Her eyes reflect the night-life

Her cheeks, they're wet with paint

But I knew her mother, gentleman

While she was a saint

Now, I know she's nothin' like her

And yet, she might've been

If it hadn't been for pettin' parties

Cigarettes and gin

We took the night-life off the streets

And brought it into our own homes

Wild girls peeped on

With paint up their lips

And the swings of saxophones

We opened up the underworld

To the one we love so well

So, tell me gentleman

Is it right to send her to a cell?

And if she drinks what you told her

And if she smokes, you showed her how

So, gentleman

Do you think, is it right to go and condemn her now?

And when you're in that jury room

Just remember there and then

That for every fallen woman

There's a hundred fallen men

And before you render a verdict

On what this girl has done

Just remember there's a man to blame

And that man might be your son

Now, gentleman

Members of the jury

That's my story

My testimony stands

This girl here before you

Is my own daughter

And the case is in your hands

Too many parties and too many pals

Will break your heart someday

Too many boyfriends and sociable sounds

Will drive your sweetheart away