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The Wagon


Greg B

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  • 3 weeks later...

A quick search in google turned up a few options.

 

 

 

Source 1:

 

The most common attributed origin is the american water wagon , as described by Kai.

 

 

 

Source 2:

 

Another option is from the American Salvation Army, that would collect and bring alchoholics to the shelter each morning by picking them up and putting them "on the wagon" they used. They had some men get off or fall off to continue or begin drinking again. To "fall off the wagon" was to return to drinking or "go on a bender" after a period of sobriety.

 

 

 

Several regional Salvation Army sites claim "on the wagon" originated with them, including www.tsagoldenstate.org.

 

 

 

Source 3:

 

The official BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) site attributes the phrase to a practice dating from 1547 to a tavern at Bow, where condemned prisoners went inside for a last drink, while the executioner stayed "on the wagon" outside. The article on the BBC's site is called "The Tyburn Tree", and states that this origin is only "one theory" for where the phrase came from.

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  • 4 weeks later...

"On The Wagon" is also linked to "last shout". The wagon driver with convicted prisoners would pull into an Inn, so the prisoners could have their last drinks. They were not allowed in the Inn, so the driver would "shout" out for the drinks. When the prisoners had their last drinks, they were ordered "on the wagon".

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