Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – 22 September 1989), born Israel Isidore Baline… Read Full Bio ↴Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 – 22 September 1989), born Israel Isidore Baline, in Tyumen, Russia (according to other sources possibly Mogilev, now Belarus), was an American composer and lyricist. He was one of the most prodigious and famous American songwriters in history.

Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.

Moonshine Lullaby
Irving Berlin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Behind the hill
There's a busy little still
Where your pappy's working in the moonlight
Your lovin' pa
Isn't quite within the law
So he's hiding there behind the hill

Bye bye, baby

Stop your yawning
Don't cry, baby
Day will be dawning

And when it does
From the mountain where he was
He'll be coming with a jug of moonshine
So count your sheep
Mamma's singing you to sleep
With the Moonshine Lullaby

Dream of pappy
Very happy
With his jug of mountain rye
So count your sheep

Mamma's singing you to sleep
With the Moonshine Lullaby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Irving Berlin's "Moonshine Lullaby" paint a vivid picture of a rustic southern lifestyle, where moonshining and bootlegging were commonplace. The first verse describes a busy little still behind a hill where a child's father is hard at work making moonshine, all while trying to avoid the law. The second verse conveys a sense of comfort and safety, with the mother singing a lullaby to her child and encouraging them to dream of a happy father with his jug of mountain rye.

The song is an interesting commentary on the Prohibition era, a time where alcohol was banned in the United States, but many Americans continued to drink and produce their own liquor in secret. The lullaby-esque quality of the song also adds to the irony of the lyrics, with the soothing melody contrasting with the illicit activity described in the verses. Overall, "Moonshine Lullaby" is a playful and nostalgic homage to a bygone era and a window into a fascinating period in American history.

Line by Line Meaning

Behind the hill
There is something hidden beyond the horizon

There's a busy little still
It's a place where alcohol is illegally produced

Where your pappy's working in the moonlight
Where your father is secretly working at night

Your lovin' pa
Your affectionate father

Isn't quite within the law
He's doing something illegal

So he's hiding there behind the hill
He's hiding to avoid getting caught

Bye bye, baby
Goodbye, my child

Stop your yawning
Stop being tired and go to sleep

Don't cry, baby
Do not weep or sob, my little one

Day will be dawning
The sun will rise soon

And when it does
At that time