A shebeen (Irish: síbín) was originally an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages were sold without a licence. The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland, to Scotland, Canada, the United States, England,Zimbabwe, the English-speaking Caribbean,Namibia, and South Africa. In modern South Africa, many "shebeens" are now fully legal. The word derives from the Irish síbín, meaning 'illicit whiskey'.
In South Africa and Zimbabwe, shebeens are most often located in townships as an alternative to pubs and bars, where under apartheid and the Rhodesian era, indigenous Africans were barred from entering pubs or bars reserved for those of European descent.
Originally shebeens were operated illegally by women who were called Shebeen Queens and was itself a revival of the African tradition that assigned the role of alcohol brewing to women. The Shebeen Queens would sell homebrewed and home-distilled alcohol and provided patrons with a place to meet and discuss political and social issues. Often, patrons and owners were arrested by the police, though the shebeens were frequently reopened because of their importance in unifying the community and providing a safe place for discussion. During the apartheid era shebeens became a crucial meeting place for activists, some attracting working class activists and community members, while others attracted lawyers, doctors and musicians.
I'm shoppin', gonna buy my blues away
Shoppin', I'm walking up to the counter and say
I want this sweater, I sure feel better
Shoppin', gonna take my troubles to town
Shoppin', you don't need money down
Charge it, wrap it, send it shoppin'
Ever since my mother took me to a big department store
My heartbeat escalated all the way to the second floor
I couldn't hide my passion for the latest fashion craze
My mama told me that's just another phase I'm going through
Whatcha got that's new?
Shoppin', gonna buy my blues away
Shoppin', I got bad news today
Instead of eating 'cause my man's cheating
Shoppin', I'm gonna take my troubles to town
Shoppin', while everyone else is smokin', token', coken'
Well, I'll be shoppin', hit it, boys
Excuse me Miss, see that, the dress over there?
How many colors does it come in?
Yes, all right, no, I'd like every one
No, I'm not going to try it, I know it'll fit
Ooh, you know what?
Let's go up, oh, they're having a sale
My God, I love sales
No, I don't have a last name
It's just Cher, just plain Cher
Ooh, I like the shoes
Do you think you could this thing
It's all pink and wrinkly it's
What a darling little bag
Shoppin', I'm gonna buy it
Shoppin', I never try it on for size
Shoppin, will I like it
Shoppin', does the color match my eyes?
Folks say I'm daring for what I'm wearing
I'm always scaring the people's staring
So I'm declaring, I'm tired of swearing
I'm just shoppin'
Shoppin', I'm gonna but my blues away
Shoppin', I got bad news today
Shoppin', I'm gonna take my troubles to town
Shoppin', don't need money down
Shoppin', gonna buy my blues away
Shoppin', walking up to the counter and say
I want that sweater, I sure feel better
Shoppin', charge it, wrap it, send it
Shoppin', instead of eating 'cause my man's cheating
I've been shoppin'
While other people may be smokin', token', coken'