'Striking new talent Ed Prosek brings a modern authenticity, passion and originality to the British Singer-Songwriter scene and is quickly establishing himself as an up and coming artist with serious prospects for the future.
In 2010, California native Ed Prosek brought his original flavor of orchestral folk music to Brighton. The son of an Opera composer, his musical talents emerged from a formal classical background, including years of study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a stint with the notable Magik*Magik Orchestra. His current project is the culmination of his classical prowess and savvy pop sensibilities; producing a sound that transcends labels or the boundaries of genre. Accompanied by a seven-piece band and a string quartet, his most recent work, his re-imagination of Paul Simon’s classic: ‘Homeward Bound’ has been featured as the soundtrack to the newest Cathedral City ad campaign. His debut release, ‘California’, having sold several thousand copies since its release in June 2012, has established Ed as an artist to watch out for in the coming year. With his upcoming tour and follow up EP to be released Spring, 2013, the excitement and anticipation is building along with his dedicated and ever expanding fanbase.'
http://www.EdProsek.com
Moonshiner
Ed Prosek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 bar room,
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 as,
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.
The lyrics of Ed Prosek's "Moonshiner" paint a bleak picture of a man who has been distilling illegal liquor for seventeen long years, who has lost all his money on whiskey and beer. He goes to a hidden place in the hollow and sits at his still, and if whiskey doesn't kill him, he doesn't know what will. He goes to a bar room and drinks with his buddies, where women can't follow, and spends all his money alcohol. The song tells us that he wishes he had the pretty women, but they are not his, and their breath is as sweet as the dew on the vine.
The last stanza of the song reflects the inner conflict within the Moonshiner's heart as he talks to God. He asks for enough food to eat when he's hungry, whiskey to drink when he's dry, a dollar when he's hard up, and religion when he dies. He says the whole world's a bottle, and life's but a dram, and when the bottle gets empty, it's not worth a damn.
"Moonshiner" is a powerful and introspective song that delves into the psychological state of an individual who has lived a hard life. The moonshiner being referred to is likely a composite character made up of many different people encountered while researching and writing the song, and it explores the themes of addiction, isolation, and the search for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been a moonshiner,
I have been illegally making alcohol for a very long time.
For seventeen long years,
I have been doing this for a very long time.
I've spent all my money,
I have used all of my money.
On whiskey and beer,
On alcoholic beverages.
I go to some hollow,
I go to a secluded place.
And sit at my still
And operate my equipment to make alcohol.
And if whiskey don't kill me,
And if the alcohol I drink doesn't kill me,
Then I don't know what will,
I don't know what will.
I go to some bar room,
I go to a bar.
And drink with my friends,
And consume alcohol with my friends.
Where the women can't follow,
Where women are not allowed.
And see what I spend,
And see the money I spend.
God bless them pretty women,
May God bless those beautiful women.
I wish they was mine,
I wish they were my romantic partners.
Their breath is as sweet as,
Their breath is rather pleasant like
The dew on the vine,
The dew on a vine (which is a simile for their breath)
Let me eat when I am hungry,
When I am hungry, give me food.
Let me drink when I am dry,
When I am thirsty, give me something to drink.
A dollar when I am hard up,
When I am in financial trouble, give me one dollar.
Religion when I die,
When I die, let me have religion.
The whole world's a bottle,
The entire world is like a bottle.
And life's but a dram,
Life is just a small amount of alcohol.
When the bottle gets empty,
When the bottle is empty,
It sure ain't worth a damn.
It is not worth anything.
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ron Talley
Hey, Ed, just retweeted your cover of this song which I also have covered. But my point is I've subscribed to your channel. I look for and watch out for tasteful musicians with good instincts, like yourself for example. lol Pulled an all-nighter so I ain't at my best as to forming ideas into shape to be put down as writing. See what I mean??? lol Anywho, like your music, Man.
Ron
Steinove Standal
where is the harmonica?