Moonshiner

by Shawn Smith

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[Traditional]
Publication date
1927
Language
English

The origins of this song are disputed. Some submit that it is a folksong of American origin which migrated to Ireland where it became wildly popular. A second group, including the Clancy Brothers, assert it is of Irish origin and migrated to the United States. Others dispute its authenticity as a self-contained folksong. Alan Lomax contends it is a derivative work of two other folksongs, "The Wagoner" and "Rye Whiskey". Others claim "The Moonshiner" incorporates elements of popular song more associated with a middle-of-the-road repertoire of professional singers of in the late-19th century and, thus, isn't really even a folksong.

The publication date is for Carl Sanburg's "The American Songbag", in which the first known appearance of the song is made under the name "Kentucky Moonshiner".

--Second Hand Songs website

lyrics

I've been a moonshiner
For seventeen long years
I've spent all my money
On whiskey and beer
I go to some hollow
And sit at my still
And if whiskey don't kill me
Then I don't know what will
I go to some barroom
And drink with my friends
Where the women can't follow
And see what I spend
God bless them pretty women
I wish they was mine
Their breath is as sweet
The dew on the vine
Let me eat when I am hungry
Let me drink when I am dry
A dollar when I am hard-up
Religion when I die
The whole world's a bottle
And life's but a dram
When the bottle gets empty
It sure ain't worth a damn.

credits

released July 13, 2020

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Shawn Smith Indianapolis, Indiana

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