Moonshiner
Jolie Holland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pass it here one more time
Moonshiner, moonshiner
Pass it here one more time
You've got that good, hard stuff
That always gets me high
And plant that field
Hole up in the backyard
And work that still
You know, we're gonna
Miss you around here
You've got that good, hard stuff
That always gets me high
Moonshiner, moonshiner
Why don't you come back home?
Now I got to drink this store-bought stuff
And go to bed all alone
Moonshiner, moonshiner
Why don't you come back home to me?
By the time you get back
There's no telling where I'll be
I loved you in summertime
When we kissed goodbye
I loved you in the fall
And I missed you all the time
I loved you in the winter
When you were far away
And the springtime almost killed me
With hot blood in my veins
Moonshiner, moonshiner
I know you're comin' back again
Moonshiner, moonshiner
Oh, it's probably a sin
'Cause I'm down in the alley
With my old drunk friend
Yes, I'm down in the alley
With my old drunk friend, oh oh, oh ooh
The song "Moonshiner" by Jolie Holland is a melancholic tune that captures the essence of longing for someone who is no longer around. The opening lines "Moonshiner, moonshiner, pass it here one more time" is a request for the moonshiner to provide another drink, indicating that the singer is addicted to the intoxicating effects of the drink. The use of moonshine is not just a symbol of addiction but also a metaphor for the longing and the need for the return of the person they are missing. The drink is a way of coping with the pain of separation.
The slow and somber guitar chords and the raw, soulful voice of Holland creates a mood of sadness, resignation, and regret. The nostalgia-filled lyrics show the depth of the singer's feelings. The symbolism of different seasons in the song evokes the passage of time and the struggle of living without the person they love. The line "And the springtime almost killed me with hot blood in my veins" paints a vivid picture of the torment that the singer feels.
In conclusion, "Moonshiner" is a poignant and powerful song that captures the bittersweet essence of love and loss. Holland's powerful vocals and the raw melody of the song create an emotional depth that is both heartbreaking and captivating.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonshiner, moonshiner
Addressing the person who makes and sells illegal alcohol
Pass it here one more time
Asking for another drink of the moonshine
You've got that good, hard stuff
Complimenting the high alcohol content of the moonshine
That always gets me high
Expressing the effect of the moonshine
You can break that ground
Referring to illegally planting ingredients for moonshine
And plant that field
Further explaining the planting process
Hole up in the backyard
Referencing the hidden location of the still
And work that still
Explaining the process of distilling the moonshine
You know, we're gonna
Implying the artist and others who drink the moonshine
Miss you around here
Expressing the desire for the moonshiner to return
Why don't you come back home?
Expressing the desire for the moonshiner's return
Now I got to drink this store-bought stuff
Complaining about the lower quality of legal alcohol
And go to bed all alone
Expressing the loneliness without the moonshiner's company
Why don't you come back home to me?
Reiterating the desire for the moonshiner's return
By the time you get back
Considering the time it takes for the moonshiner to return
There's no telling where I'll be
Implying the artist's unsettled state of mind
I loved you in summertime
Recalling past affection for the moonshiner
When we kissed goodbye
Remembering a moment of departure
I loved you in the fall
Continuing to express past affection for the moonshiner
And I missed you all the time
Expressing continuous longing for the moonshiner
I loved you in the winter
Recalling more past affection for the moonshiner
When you were far away
Reminding the listener of the moonshiner's previous absence
And the springtime almost killed me
Suggesting the singer's suffering during the moonshiner's absence
With hot blood in my veins
Using vivid language to describe the intensity of the experience
I know you're comin' back again
Confident in the moonshiner's return
Oh, it's probably a sin
Acknowledging the illegality of the moonshine
'Cause I'm down in the alley
Admitting to currently drinking illegally
With my old drunk friend
Revealing the artist's current company
Yes, I'm down in the alley
Confirming the location of the drinking
Oh oh, oh ooh
Sounds of the music
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind