Rum by Gum

Song Meaning

This song presents a darkly comedic, almost absurd, take on the fervor of the Temperance Union. The repeated refrain "Away, away with rum, by gum" acts as a rallying cry, but the verses quickly reveal an extreme and illogical interpretation of abstinence. The narrator and their "brave little band" stand firmly against not just alcohol, but also tobacco, linking its use to drinking. This initial stance, while strict, still holds a semblance of conventional temperance logic. However, the true absurdity unfolds as the lyrics expand the definition of what constitutes a threat. The condemnation of cookies because they "have yeast" and could turn a man into a "beast" is a bizarre leap. Even more so is the outright rejection of fruitcake due to its rum content, which is depicted as leading to a man becoming a "bum" or getting "tight." The song crafts a narrative where even the most innocuous items are viewed as potential gateways to vice, painting a picture of extreme, almost paranoid, abstinence. The bridge takes this to a surreal level, fixating on the "fruitcake that's tight" and twisting a holiday greeting into a strange, unsettling chant. The repetition of "tight" in relation to both a person and the fruitcake itself blurs the lines, creating a disorienting effect. This section highlights how the movement's anxieties have become so pervasive that they manifest in nonsensical obsessions, turning a festive item into a source of dread. Ultimately, the lyrics effectively use hyperbole and escalating irrationality to critique the extreme end of the temperance movement. By focusing on the ludicrous connections made between everyday items and moral decay, the song suggests a loss of perspective. The "song of the Temperance Union" becomes less a call for sobriety and more a testament to the anxieties and rigid dogma that can consume a cause.