Moonshiner
Bob Forrest Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Overall Meaning

The song "Moonshiner" by Bob Forrest depicts the life of a dedicated moonshiner who has been making and drinking his own whiskey for seventeen long years. He has spent all his money on whiskey and beer, and his life revolves around drinking and getting drunk. He goes to some hollow and sits at his still, where he makes his whiskey, and hopes that it does not kill him. He knows that drinking too much can be lethal, but he cannot help himself from indulging in it. He also goes to some barroom to drink with his friends, where he can let loose and enjoy himself without worrying about the world's problems.


The song also talks about his admiration for women, who admire him for his love of life and freedom. He wishes that these women were his own and compares their breath to the sweetness of the dew on the vine. He also talks about his simple life's wants, which include food when he is hungry, drink when he is dry, and a dollar when he is hard-up. He also seeks religion when he dies, acknowledging the inevitable end of his life. The final lines of the song convey a sense of futility, that life itself is a bottle, which only holds a dram, and when it is empty, it is worth nothing.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been a moonshiner
I've been illegally making and selling distilled alcoholic beverages


For seventeen long years
I've been doing this activity for a long time - around 17 years


I've spent all my money
I've used up all my cash


On whiskey and beer
On buying whiskey and beer for myself, I spent all my available cash


I go to some hollow
I go to a remote or secluded area


And sit at my still
And sit to operate my equipment that is used to manufacture alcohol


And if whiskey don't kill me
If the consumed whiskey doesn't cause my death


Then I don't know what will
I can't predict or imagine what can result in my death other than whiskey


I go to some barroom
I go to some pub or place where alcohol is served


And drink with my friends
And consume drinks with my buddies


Where the women can't follow
I prefer to consume alcohol with my male friends only, and not with females


And see what I spend
And notice what amount of money I am using to buy drinks


God bless them pretty women
I hope good things happen to beautiful ladies


I wish they was mine
I wish to have a romantic or sexual relationship with them, as they are attractive to me


Their breath is as sweet
Their inhale and exhale is as pleasing as


The dew on the vine
The moisture on the plant


Let me eat when I am hungry
Please allow me to have food when I require it


Let me drink when I am dry
Please let me have some beverages when I'm feeling thirsty


A dollar when I am hard-up
Whenever I am in need of money, please let me have a dollar


Religion when I die
When I pass away, let me have spiritual faith or comfort


The whole world's a bottle
The world is like a container filled with alcohol


And life's but a dram
And our existence is like a small measure of alcohol


When the bottle gets empty
When the alcohol is used up from the container


It sure ain't worth a damn
It's not useful or interesting anymore




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAY STUART FARRAR, JEFF TWEEDY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Nox.INk# Records ❶

A classic masterpiece!

Adam White

this version is a piece of jewel, thanks for uploading it!

Diego Casta

A beautiful tribute to Bob Dylan, a legend of music

Mario G

this is a awesome version , just brings chills to me..

Örjan Grahn

This soundtrack is silly good in so many ways and needed two cds for the 34 songs.

Bruce MacNaughton

this is as good as it gets. best performance on the album, and it's a great album. the title tune is a close second.

goodbadugly16

mr. forrest is one of the most under-appreciated artists of his generation

StrangeSonoran80

Moonshiner is just one of those songs you can instantly make your own.

captain-cooked

A great version, grateful to hear it.

Vinyl Diary666

Forrest is so fucking underrated! Such a great artist!

More Comments

More Versions