This is the latest installment of our weekly series The Language of the Blues, in which author and rock musician Debra Devi explores the meaning of a word or phrase found in the blues.
Grab a signed copy of Devi’s entertaining & award-winning glossary The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (Foreword by Dr. John) at Bluescentric.com. Also available as an eBook.
Saltwater is slang for alcohol. It shows up in the Charlie Patton song “Revenue Man Blues”:
My doney loves saltwater, she always wants a drink
If they see you with a bottle, they’ll almost break your neck
The “they” to which Charlie Patton was referring were the “Revenue Men” — feared Treasury Department agents known for their brutality who hunted down moonshiners during Prohibition.
Songs:
“Revenue Man Blues”- Charlie Patton
Video:
Charlie Patton – “Revenue Man Blues”
