Moonshine in Music
Moonshine’s presence in popular culture establishes the fact that it is here to stay and that it has never left everyone’s consciousness or palate. Technically, it is illegal. But that fact doesn’t stop these artists to include moonshine in their songs and music.
Dolly Parton hated Daddy’s Moonshine Stills
Country music Queen Dolly Parton sings the song “Daddy’s Moonshine Stills” and tells how it made an entire family miserable specially the mother. In it she describes hiding from revenuers, running moonshine, bootlegging and how moonshine stills made family life a living hell.
Dolly Parton hated Daddy’s Moonshine Stills
Country music Queen Dolly Parton sings the song “Daddy’s Moonshine Stills” and tells how it made an entire family miserable specially the mother. In it she describes hiding from revenuers, running moonshine, bootlegging and how moonshine stills made family life a living hell.
Bob Dylan has the Moonshine Blues
In the song Moonshine Blues, Bob Dylan croons how he’s been a moonshiner for 17 years; how he sits at his still waiting for whiskey to kill him; how he sits at the bar looking at women and how an empty bottle of whiskey, just like his life, isn’t worth a thing.
John Denver is misty-eyed for moonshine
Take me Home Country Road is a John Denver song that craves for the roads back home to West Virginia where the mountains are almost heavenly and the misty taste of moonshine is enough to bring tears in one’s eyes.
Akon can’t go nowhere without moonshine
Akon’s song moonshine is where he declares he can’t go anywhere unless moonshine is by his side. He needs his moonshine because he will be up in the club and he needs to feel nice.
Copper Kettle Song
Composed by Albert Frank Beddoe, the song is also known as “Get You a Copper Kettle” and tells about the positive side of moonshining. The song is dated 1946 and has its origins from folk music. Its lyrics also read like a moonshine recipe with instructions on how to start the process. It also acknowledges history as it details how `daddy and granddaddy made whiskey’ and paid no taxes for it since 1792. The song has been popularized by Joan Baez.
Composed by Albert Frank Beddoe, the song is also known as “Get You a Copper Kettle” and tells about the positive side of moonshining. The song is dated 1946 and has its origins from folk music. Its lyrics also read like a moonshine recipe with instructions on how to start the process. It also acknowledges history as it details how `daddy and granddaddy made whiskey’ and paid no taxes for it since 1792. The song has been popularized by Joan Baez.
The Grateful Dead references Moonshine
Grateful Dead is an American rock band that combines elements of folk, rock, reggae, bluegrass and country, among others, in their music. Their song “Brown Eyed Women” alludes to moonshine with its lyrics which goes, “Daddy made whiskey and he made it well, Cost two dollars and it burnt like hell, I cut hickory just to fire the still, Drink down a bottle and ready to kill.”
Grateful Dead is an American rock band that combines elements of folk, rock, reggae, bluegrass and country, among others, in their music. Their song “Brown Eyed Women” alludes to moonshine with its lyrics which goes, “Daddy made whiskey and he made it well, Cost two dollars and it burnt like hell, I cut hickory just to fire the still, Drink down a bottle and ready to kill.”
Parliament sings about a Moonshine-selling mom
Parliament was a funk band during the 1970s which sang the song Moonshine Heather. It is about a mother who has 14 kids and a husband who died during the war. According to the song, she sells moonshine to the Dutch, Blackman and the judge just to make ends meet
Hoyt Axton says No No to Moonshine
Hoyt Axton is a country music singer songwriter in the US as well as a film and TV actor. His song No No is about a man who is struggling to say “No” to cocaine, marijuana and moonshine. The lyrics of the song goes, “He held out some moonshine whiskey… and I said no no no, I don’t drink it no more..it makes it hard to find me door.”
Moonshine, as according to the perspectives of these artists, is both a boon and a bane. It also reveals how much it is embedded in the culture of the country that it found its way through the hearts and minds of these singers and similarly accepted by listeners.
Hoyt Axton is a country music singer songwriter in the US as well as a film and TV actor. His song No No is about a man who is struggling to say “No” to cocaine, marijuana and moonshine. The lyrics of the song goes, “He held out some moonshine whiskey… and I said no no no, I don’t drink it no more..it makes it hard to find me door.”
Moonshine, as according to the perspectives of these artists, is both a boon and a bane. It also reveals how much it is embedded in the culture of the country that it found its way through the hearts and minds of these singers and similarly accepted by listeners.