1991
A Boy and His Gun Lyrics
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Get you a copper coil.
Fill it with new made corn mash
And never more you'll toil.
You'll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
Build you a fire with hickory,
Hickory, ash, and oak.
Don't use no green or rotten wood,
It'll get you by the smoke.
We'll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
In the pale moonlight.
My daddy, he made whiskey.
My granddaddy, he did too.
We ain't paid no whiskey tax
Since 1792.
We'll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
In the pale moonlight.
The song 1991 by A Boy and His Gun is a tribute to moonshine making. The song evokes an atmosphere of rural America, where making moonshine is part of the cultural heritage. In the first verse, the singer advises the listener to get a copper kettle and a copper coil, which are necessary for distilling the corn mash. He suggests that by doing so, they will cease to toil, meaning they will find a way to earn a living that does not involve strenuous labor. Instead, they will be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor while watching the alcohol jugs fill up under the moonlight.
In the second verse, the singer gives advice on how to build the fire needed to distill the corn mash. He mentions the types of wood to use and not use, stressing that green or rotten wood will not work, as it emits too much smoke. The singer then continues to describe the moonshine-making process before revealing that his family has been keeping the tradition alive for centuries, without paying any tax. The final verse reaffirms the main theme of the song, the simplicity and the beauty of the moonshine culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Get you a copper kettle,
Acquire for yourself a copper pot
Get you a copper coil.
Obtain a copper spiral
Fill it with new made corn mash
Pour fresh corn-based mixture into it
And never more you'll toil.
You won't need to work hard anymore
You'll just lay there by the juniper,
You can enjoy laying down beside the juniper tree
While the moon is bright.
During full moon nights
Watch them jugs a-filling
Observe the jugs being filled
In the pale moonlight.
In the soft light of the moon.
Build you a fire with hickory,
Prepare a bonfire with hickory wood
Hickory, ash, and oak.
Use hickory, ash, or oak woods exclusively
Don't use no green or rotten wood,
Do not use damp or decayed firewood
It'll get you by the smoke.
Prevent you from being smoky
My daddy, he made whiskey.
My father produced liquor
My granddaddy, he did too.
Similarly, so did my grandfather
We ain't paid no whiskey tax
We haven't paid any alcohol tax
Since 1792.
Since the year 1792
Writer(s): A. F. Beddoe
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anguitenens
'Any fool can make a baby, but only a real man can raise his children.' This is a real father's love.
@joel8583
That's right!
@33kingofkings
Greg Woodie oh hell yeah
@thecrim-n-l3165
That was deep.
@aliezahjuarez1212
Its true🗣💗
@brandonhardin2609
Agreed
@astoldbyaja3010
"My heart goes out to his mother and his family, but that's their problem. Trey, you my son you my problem." He was honest as hell. Respect him for that.
@gnomeking6568
Too bad that so many young brothers DONT HAVE a man in the house to stop them from going out making bad decisions and becoming statistics.
@whob4me
Hell...isn't honest! 😈
@stilesjohnson1745
Aja Wilson Facts sweetie.