Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Day 131 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "The phrase "rush the growler" here refers to any receptacle such as a pitcher, a pail, a bucket, or a tin can, in which draught beer was carried from the bar of a saloon to adjacent premises by consumers or agents of consumers. . . .
"About the time this song arose there were mainly three kinds of saloons in the United States:
(1) saloons in bone-dry territory with the doors locked and a For Sale sign in front;
(2) saloons where the doors never closed seven days in the week;
(3) saloons where the doors closed only on Sundays. . . .
"The period was one provocative of vulgar proverbs, such as, "The coat and the pants do all the work but the vest gets all the gravy.""
Day 131 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "The phrase "rush the growler" here refers to any receptacle such as a pitcher, a pail, a bucket, or a tin can, in which draught beer was carried from the bar of a saloon to adjacent premises by consumers or agents of consumers. . . .
"About the time this song arose there were mainly three kinds of saloons in the United States:
(1) saloons in bone-dry territory with the doors locked and a For Sale sign in front;
(2) saloons where the doors never closed seven days in the week;
(3) saloons where the doors closed only on Sundays. . . .
"The period was one provocative of vulgar proverbs, such as, "The coat and the pants do all the work but the vest gets all the gravy.""
