Absinthe

Elizabeth and Abigail explore the rich and complex history of absinthe's popularity, especially in 19th century France, and offer ways to use it in cocktails today.

Mentioned in the show:
Hideous Absinthe: A History of the Devil in a Bottle by Jad Adams

Absinthe Frappè Sheet Music

Absinthe Frappè lyrics 
From the 1904 Broadway comic operetta 'It Happened In Nordland'
Music by Victor Herbert (founder of ASCAP)
Lyrics by Glen MacDonough

Verse
When Life seems grey and dark the dawn

And you are through,

There is, they say, on such a morn

One thing to do:

Rise up and ring, a bell-boy call

To you straight-way,

And bid him bring a cold and tall

Absinthe frappè!

 

Chorus
It will free you first from the burning thirst

That is born of a night of the bowl,

Like a sun 'twill rise through the inky skies

That so heavily hang o'er your soul.

At the first cool sip on your fevered lip

You determine to live through the day,

Life's again worthwhile as with a dawning smile

You imbibe your absinthe frappè.

 

Verse
The deed is done so waste no woe o'er yestereen.

Nor swear to shun a year or so the festive scene.

Remorse will pass, despair will fade with speed away

Before a glass of rightly made absinthe frappè!

 

Chorus
It will free you first from the burning thirst

That is born of a night of the bowl,

Like a sun 'twill rise through the inky skies

That so heavily hang o'er your soul.

At the first cool sip on your fevered lip

You determine to live through the day,

Life's again worthwhile as with a dawning smile

You imbibe your absinthe frappè.