Being autistic, I’m unlikely to venture into places where this song usually heard. Pubs and loud people are a form of torture for me. Bliss has become something of an iconic cult song in Aotearoa – our unofficial national drinking song. Performed by the Kiwi band Th’ Dudes, it’s kind of ironic as it was written as a satirical comment about the many drunken audiences they played to while performing on the Sydney pub circuit in Australia. Any evening when large quantities of alcohol is consumed in this nation, you can guarantee the song will the night’s anthem.
Originally this song originally referred to piss, which is slang for alcohol, especially beer, but their recording company balked at its use, hence the word piss being replaced by bliss, including as the title. The music video was recorded in a well known Wellington watering hole – The Cricketer’s Arms. The song was released in May 1980 and climbed to a ranking of 25 on the New Zealand Music Charts. It has since been voted 50th best New Zealand song of the 20th century.
While I’ll never be able to participate in rendering this song in alcohol induced revelry, I find it somewhat liberating when I hear it played at a moderate volume level. Enjoy.
Bliss Yah ya ya ya ya Ya ya ya ya Yah ya ya ya ya Ya ya ya ya Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Have a stiff one all night Everything is alright Try and reach the bar Coppers took the car Offers from the sidewalk Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Yah ya ya ya ya Ya ya ya ya Yah ya ya ya ya Ya ya ya ya Think I'm at full speed Get it up the Coogee Hello Sailor cruising Buy some Spanish shoes Think I need a refill Get it at the Cross Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another Drink yourself more bliss Forget about the last one Get yourself another
Another Spectrum 
14 Nov, 2022 at 9:07 am
That’s a fun song – great energy!!
I’ll drink enough for both of us!
14 Nov, 2022 at 11:01 pm
Actually Barry, I have been to many a piss up and someone will grab a guitar, (often a Maori fella) and “Ten Guitars” would be the favorite sing along for drunks that was written by the pomie guy Engelbert Humperdinck. Maybe times have changed.
14 Nov, 2022 at 11:11 pm
You must have lived a sheltered life while in Godzone 🙂
14 Nov, 2022 at 11:43 pm
ha ha, no I have of course heard the Dudes and the song Bliss but many liked a sing along session at a party and none is better than a strummed guitar and Ten Guitars raising the roof while downing a quart bottle of Lion Red 🙂
15 Nov, 2022 at 7:16 pm
At least Lion Red is preferable to Redband which seemed to be the brew of choice of those I knew in the 60s and 70s.
I’m simply not comfortable in crowds, and avoid them as far as possible. For me, 10 people I know really well (family or close friends) is a crowd, or 5 people I don’t know well is a crowd, no matter whether it’s Ten Guitars or Bliss.