Drinkin' that free bubble up...

Posted by Bob on January 04, 2001

In Reply to: Drinkin' that free bubble up... posted by ESC on January 04, 2001

: : : : : FREE BUBBLE-UP AND RAINBOW STEW -- Voters of Kentucky changed the state's constitution so the General Assembly, our lawmaking body, will meet every year instead of every two years. In a Lexington Herald-Leader article (Jan. 1, 2001), Senator David Williams said: "We're going to approach this session cautiously. We're mindful that voters did not anticipate large numbers of bills passing through here, unless they all deal with free bubble-up and rainbow stew."

: : : : : Anyone have any ideas as to the origin of this phrase? Bubble-up, I think, is a soda pop similar to the more well-known 7-up. But "rainbow stew"?

: : : : I think the good senator was refering to free drinks and leftovers for everybody... the pot of gold... like a Hail Mary pass to the end zone...
: : : : like in programs that will feed people that don't want to work for a living. I hope the voters of Kentucky know a boondoggle when they see one.

: : : : I got to thinking about this one for some reason and began to wonder if the senator from Kentucky was indeed refering to welfare and gay rights legislation. "rainbow stew"... is that capital hill speak for the multitudes of activists demanding equal rights?

: : Welfare programs, maybe. I can guarantee you almost 100 percent that he wasn't talking about gay rights or equal rights. He was talking about new roads and other goodies for the people. I'm thinking the expression comes from a folktale.

: Thanks to a coworker, I have found the source! It's a country song, "Rainbow Stew," written and performed by Mr. Merle Haggard.

: When they find out how to burn water
: and the gasoline car is gone,
: When an airplane flies without any fuel
: and the sunlight heats our home,
: One of these days when the air clears up
: and the sun comes shining through,
: We'll all be drinkin' that free bubble up
: and eatin' that rainbow stew.

: And another coworker says "Bubble Up" is a product that was put out by RC Cola.

: Now that this mystery is solved, we can all go back to work.

I remember the advertising jingle (circa 1961):
Sugar Free Bubble Up
Sugar Free Bubble Up
Sugar Free Bubble Up has the pizzazz
That's what Sugar Free Bubble Up has.

Profound stuff.

Drinkin' that free bubble up... ESC 01/04/01