Frontal Lobotomy

[Ron Sivils]

Wolfe, Skip wrote:
> 
> >Also, by the bye -- I'd always heard the "bottle in front of me" line
> >attributed to the one and only Tom Waits;  not sure if he originated it,
> >or just took it for his own.
> 
> I've heard a song -- either country or mock-country -- featuring this line.
>  I don't know who sings it, but I'm pretty sure it's not Tom Waits (which
> isn't to say the line didn't originate with him anyway).
>      Skip


I know I'm showing my age here but what the heck.  The first time I 
recall this line being used was on an old "Tonight Show" airing, when 
Steve Allen was the host.  The story, as best as I can recall, is that 
Steve had a guest on who happened to launch into a story concerning 
lobotomies, which was a big topic in those days, when Steve suddenly 
quipped "I'd rather have a free bottle in front of me than a pre-frontal 
lobotomy."  This happened more than 30 years ago so the songs and 
anecdotes mentioned in several postings happened many years later.  Just 
had to stick in my own two cents.  I'll go back into hiding now, the 
thanatoids are coming.