'Use all your well earned politesse...' Ah a splendid alternate interpretation and pretty cool too, and no I never thought of Keith as especially "manicured" either
Yeah, it looks like Keith Richards decided to play Keith Richards role to get the thing done, to cope with it. Being eccentric - that's exactly the opposite what people who know him (Jagger, Watts, Wyman, Anita Pallenberg)) say he really is like. I suppose he really wasn't drunk at all, but play that role. But it doesn't matter - that is his public persona, and it is VERY funny persona, in deed.