Frank Sinatra’s Love Affair with Alcohol
By Adrienne Kaliszak
“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
Was a quote said by legendary singer and songwriter, Frank Sinatra.
Some other quotes Sinatra was known to have said regarding alcohol include:
“I feel sorry for people that don’t drink because when they wake up in the morning, that is the best they’re going to feel all day.”
“Basically, I’m for anything that gets you through the night — be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.”
After reading these quotes it may not surprise you that numerous songs by old blue eyes are also about the “enjoyment” of alcohol.
“Drinking Again” — Frank Sinatra
Drinkin’ again and thinkin’ of when, when you loved me
I’m havin’ a few and wishin’ that you were here
Makin’ the rounds, accepting a round from strangers
Bein’ a fool just hopin’ that you’ll appear
Sure, I can borrow a smoke, maybe tell some joker a bad joke
But nobody laughs, they don’t laugh at a broken heart
Oh, yeah, I’m drinkin’ again, it’s always the same
That same old story
After the kicks there’s little old mixed-up me
Tryin’ to lose a dream that used to be
Look at me, I’m drinkin’ again, drinkin’ all over town
Yeah, I’m drinkin’ again
Other songs sung by Frank Sinatra with reference to alcohol include these old favorites:
“I Get a Kick Out of You” — Frank Sinatra
“I get no kick from champagne.
Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all.
So, tell me why it should be true
That I get a kick out of you?”
“One for My Baby (One for the Road)” — Frank Sinatra
“It’s quarter to three, there’s no one in the place except you and me
So, set ’em up, Joe, I got a little story you oughta know
We’re drinkin’, my friend, to the end of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby and one more for the road
I got the routine, so drop another nickel in the machine
I’m feelin’ so bad, wish you’d make the music pretty and sad
Could tell you a lot, but you’ve got to be true to your code
So, make it one for my baby and one more for the road
You’d never know it but buddy, I’m a kind of poet
And I got a lot of things to say
And when I’m gloomy, you simply gotta listen to me
Till it’s all talked away
Well, that’s how it goes and Joe,
I know your gettin’ pretty anxious to close
So, thanks for the cheer, I hope you didn’t mind my bendin’ your ear
This torch that I found must be drowned or it soon might explode
So, make it one for my baby and one more for the road
That long, long road”
I think it’s apparent by Sinatra’s quotes and music that alcohol influenced his life. Just how much did it influence his life? Did it interfere with friendships or relationships? Did he lose jobs or money as a result? How was his Mental Health?
These are some of the questions I have and hope to answer for you.
Did Frank Sinatra have strained relationships as a result of his alcohol use?
Frank was married 4 times and his last wife, Barbara, stated “It was time to run for cover if the gin bottle came out”. (Lady Blue Eyes: My Life with Frank Sinatra: Barbara Sinatra)
Barbara also stated in her book that he was capable of abstaining when preparing for a tour but there were times you’d need to watch out.
Sinatra’s alcohol consumption contributed to fist fights with journalists, destroying tv’s, as well as telephones. He even attempted to set fire to a pair of curtains while drunk.
How Did Alcohol Affect Sinatra’s Work?
Sinatra was able to stop drinking and smoking cigarettes when it was time to create an album or when he would be going on tour.
However, if you listen to Sinatra’s music from the 40’s then listen to him in the 50’s his voice is rougher and full of sadness.
Alcohol and cigarettes take a toll on your vocal cords more than likely accounting for this change in cadence.
The Party Never Ends
Frank had a lot of stamina and after concerts he would be on such a high and would want to go out and celebrate.
His 4th wife, Barbara, would be too tired to go out with him but Frank wouldn’t hear of it and insisted she go with him.
Often his friends would take turns going out with him.
Frank wanted to keep the party going.
150 Million Albums Sold and 11 Grammys
Despite Frank’s copious alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking the star lived to be 82 years old, sold 150 million records and received 11 Grammy awards.
Alcohol and cigarettes were a huge part of Sinatra’s life, it was the way of life for many from his generation, but not even those things were able to take away Frank’s great career success and his beautiful crooning voice.
Would he have been a happier, calmer man without alcohol and have had less relationship problems without those substances? Possibly, but then there’d be a different story to tell.
'Your windshield is bigger than your rearview for a reason; the mirror is there to help you glance back at where you’ve been, but if you focus too much on it, you’re going to crash.
We are ALL affected by our past and we are ALL reminded of it now and again, but we cannot live in it unless we want to repeat it over and over again. We need to learn from it, take lessons from it, know what’s good (and not good) for us, and adjust accordingly. Mistakes are only mistakes until we learn from them and then they become lessons.'
Love this from the Your Tango blog, it sums up the need for a forward focused growth mindset in sobriety and life in general.
#keepmovingforward #positivequotes #positivity #yourtango #growthmindset #growthquotes #motivationalquotes #motivation #soberquotes #sobrietyquotes #lookforwardnotback #leavethepastbehind #movingforward #quotestagram #selfhelpquotes #positivemindset
Having an amazing time in #Japan and managed to head south out of Tokyo for a few days today to Kamakura by the ocean.
The drinking culture here is totally different to the UK, but all the bars are full, not many AF options either, but I wouldn’t want to visit such an amazing place and spoil it by boozing.
#tokyo #kamakura #tokyonight #tokyoneon #kamakuratemple #japaneseshrine #buddhisttemple #japantravel #tokyotrip #ramen #japaneseculture #japanlife
Wow! Rock Bottom & Rising has won the GOLD medal at the @nautilusbookawards for the best Addiction Recovery Memoir.
The book has 21 incredible stories by real people who have quit alcohol and turned their lives around, it is a truly inspirational read.
So this award is for everyone who contributed to the book, congratulations and thank you!
#bestbooks #nautilusbookaward #nautilusbookawards #nautilusbookawardwinner #sheldonpress #hatchettebookgroup #hodderandstoughton #addictionbooks #adictionmemoir #alcoholbooks #sobrietybooks #soberbooks
Woohoo! Just seen one of my books on the shelf @theworksstores #anxiety #anxietybook #theworks #bookshop #selfhelpbook #bookstore
Just finished recording a piece with @itvnews about the growing number of people quitting alcohol and the sobriety movement as a whole.
It airs next week, so look out for my shiny head on your TV screens.
#itv #sobriety #itvnews #sobermovement #sobercoach #tvinterview #newsstory #alcoholfree #soberlife #sobrietyrules
These two inspiring books from leading sobriety coach Simon Chapple are out today!
Read more...Repost @sheldon.press
Featuring contributions from some of the most well-known personalities in the Sober Space, Rock Bottom and Rising brings us real, raw, relatable stories from individuals who’ve found joy in an alcohol-free life.
The perfect companion to Rock Bottom – The Sober Life Journal captures the essence of journaling and provides space to grow and develop as you embark on a sober life. With hundreds of writing prompts, pages for reflection, focus, inspiration and guided exercises, this beautiful new journal supports your intention to create something lasting and meaningful to accompany you on your journey to an alcohol-free life.
Ideal for anyone contemplating a sober life come the new year, or from #dryjanuary.
Find out more in our bio.
——
#RockBottomandRising #SoberLife #Sober #SobrietyCoach #Sobriety #StopDrinking #Freefromalcohol #AlcoholFree #SoberBook #SimonChapple #BeSober #Howtogosober #quittingalcohol #teetotaller #teetotal #alcoholism #aa #cutdown #alcoholic #thisnakedmind #addiction #problemdrinking #soberjourney
Watch the best videos from my YouTube Stop Drinking Channel
Watch my video below – The Best Quit Alcohol Books
Read on for more of the very best quit alcohol books.
———————————————————————————————————–
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR STOPPING DRINKING ALCOHOL
———————————————————————————————————–
📖 GET MY NEW STOP DRINKING BOOK HERE – http://a-fwd.com/asin-uk=1529357586&asin-com=1529357586
⚠️ Subscribe to my YouTube channel – there are new stop drinking videos every Tuesday and Thursday.
Don’t miss another video – click below to Subscribe and also click on the Bell Icon to be notified about new videos.
Subscribe to my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkDiUhERjbdHN0kNXbD8UBQ/?sub_confirmation=1
💡 14 Days Free – Join my Stop Drinking Program:
https://www.joinbesober.com
🌎 Connect with me on a personal level – follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/besoberandquit
👥 Join my awesome free private Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1960061840706240/
If you need some inspiration, check this out…
🎥❤️🔥 My Top 5 favourite videos to help you quit alcohol on your own – watch these now if you are curious about sobriety and becoming alcohol-free:
1 – How I quit alcohol after 40 years – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ydqjrN0AI
2 – Awesome tactic to stop alcohol cravings fast – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GedYoBZ_W2M&t
3 – 7 tips for the first week of sobriety – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4x0vBEwMw&t
4 – Does alcohol cause depression and anxiety – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkrQpZPHBls&t
5 – Weight loss and stopping drinking alcohol – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyw9jM0kj5U&t
🌞 MUST WATCH – Check out my most viewed YouTube video – 7 Big Mistakes to Avoid in Sobriety – here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtBxWrju_ng&t
📚 Get the first 10 chapters of my first book totally free here: https://besober.co.uk/2020/08/18/stop-drinking-books-by-simon-chapple-recommended-quit-alcohol-books/
