I've been a moonshiner
For seventeen long years
I spent all my money on whiskey and beer

I go to some hollow
And set up my holy holy still
If drinking do not kill me
Then I don't know what will

I go to some bar room
And drink with my friends
If women and men would come to follow
To see what I might spend
God bless them handsome men
I wish they was mine

They're breath is as sweet as
The dew on the holy holy vine

You're already in hell, you're already in hell
I wish we could go to hell

When the bottle gets empty
Then life ain't worth the drown


Lyrics submitted by typo

Moonshiner Lyrics as written by . Traditional Bill Shepherd

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Moonshiner song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    no, it's actually a traditional irish folk song.

    here are the original lyrics:

    I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry And the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

    I've been a moonshiner for many a year I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer I'll go to some hollow, I'll set up my still And I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill

    I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry And the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

    I'll go to some hollow in this counterie Ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree No women to follow, the world is all mine I love none so well as I love the moonshine

    I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry And the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

    Oh, moonshine, dear moonshine, oh, how I love thee You killed me old father, but ah you try me Now bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine Their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine

    I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home And if you don't like me, well, leave me alone I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry And the moonshine don't kill me, I'll live til I die

    it then crossed the ocean and became a traditional american bluegrass song, which became an oscar brand (50's folksinger) song, which became a dylan song, which became a tupelo song, which became a chan song.

    whew.

    jillycon February 21, 2006   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    It's definitely based on the old folk song, but it's pretty clearly her take on it and she's added lyrics that were never part of the original version. It sounds like she is singing the song from the point of view of herself and her alcohol problems, which she's publicly talked about several times. She used to be so drunk during concerts that she sometimes couldn't finish or would bail out on shows. I remember reading a quote from her where she said she hadn't performed a concert sober for basically her whole career (up until the mid-2000s when she cleaned up).

    "See if women and men would come to follow To see what I might spend God bless them handsome men I wish they was mine"

    That verse in particular paints a picture to me of her getting drunk in a bar and offering to pay for rounds of drinks for people around her ("To see what I might spend"). "God bless them handsome men" is her lamenting the fact that there are all these men around her who are only giving her attention because she's drunk and paying for their drinks, and that after the night is over they will want nothing more to do with her ("I wish they was mine").

    The whole song is basically about finding companionship in alcohol and the act of drinking with people, and how neither of those are fulfilling and are ultimately self-destructive.

    scottdoesntknow628on August 02, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "You're already in hell, you're already in hell. I wish we could go to hell." Don't get me wrong, I love this song, but this is my favourite part.

    siliconyodaon February 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    such a great song

    Quinton 55555on September 15, 2021   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    obviously about an alcoholic

    Adagio%Breezeson June 21, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ...or I think it actually comes from somewhere else before UT.

    tooscaredtotryon February 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    .......bob dylan i believe

    FakePlasticTyleron February 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, I new I heard it from Bob Dylan too.. slipped my mind.

    tooscaredtotryon April 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yikes, knew

    tooscaredtotryon April 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    where's the "already in hell" part from? is that all chan?

    allbeardon February 14, 2009   Link

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