Songfacts®:

• Not to be confused with the later uptempo Ozzy Osbourne track "Demon Alcohol," this Ray Davies composition, the 5th track on the 1971 Muswell Hillbillies album, tells the story of a man who was brought down by women and drink - always a fatal combination - in particular his ambitious wife and a floozie. Actually, it is the women alone who appear to bring him down, but he probably didn't need that much assistance. A sad but familiar tale in post-World War Two Britain.
• On stage, during the drunkard's lines "Oh demon alcohol," Davies would sometimes spray beer on the front row of the audience, something he did for the first time in Montreal, Canada, on February 5, 1970. He did this because the audience was unresponsive (and apparently stoned) but instead of taking it as an insult they enjoyed it. This led to the performance of the song becoming more theatrical, and with the audiences turning up ready for the shower. >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2