Spill the Wine

"Spill the Wine" is a 1970 song performed by Eric Burdon and War. Released as a single in the spring of 1970, it was War's first chart hit (but not the only single which charted during Burdon's time with the group), reaching the top five and eventually peaking at number three.

It was also a top three hit in Canada and Australia. It charted #15 in Netherlands and #28 in Germany.

In 1996, it was remixed by Junior Vasquez and released as a single again.

Lonnie Jordan said in an 2008 interview that Eric Burdon is the first Latin rapper in pop music.

The story is about a "long-haired leaping gnome" who dreams that he would be the star of a Hollywood movie, which was Burdon's dream for a long time in real life.

Chorus:

• "Spill the Wine, take that Girl
• Spill the Wine, take that pearl"

Songfacts.com notes that the "Pearl" is a sexual reference, meaning the clitoris.

In the background, a woman speaks in spanish to Burdon.

"Spill the Wine" was used in the popular motion pictures "Boogie Nights", "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo", and "Remember the Titans".

It was also sung during "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", in the episode "That's No Lady, That's My Cousin".

The song has been covered a few times since, most notably by The Isley Brothers for their 1971 album Givin' It All Back, as well as by The B-Side Players, Juan Ma y su Sonido Costeño, Lalo Schifrin, Melvin Sparks, Alexander Zonjic, Michael Hutchence, The Dream Syndicate, Lighter Shade of Brown, Los Mocosos and Freaked Out Flower Children. A spanish cover was made by Rabbits & Carrots.

Eric Burdon adds a different story, everytime, when he performs the song live.

• "Spill the Wine" Song Review on Allmusic website
• "Spill the Wine" page on Songfacts.com
• Eric Burden and War with live performance of "Spill The Wine," 1970.

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