Moonshiner
Moorer Allison Lyrics
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I spent all my money on whiskey and beers
I go to some hollow and put up my stilt
I'll make you one gallon for two dollar bill
I go to some grocery and drink with my friends
No women to follow to see what I spent
God bless those women I wish they were mine
I'll eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry
If moonshine don't kill me I'll live till I die
God bless those moonshiners, I wish they were mine
Their breath smells as sweet as the good ol' moonshine
I might go to heaven, I might go to hell
Till I meet my maker don't know where I'll [Incomprehensible]
It feels like stirred whiskey, I'll live in the sky
High upon the mountain with some sweet moonshine
"Moonshiner" by Allison Moorer is a haunting song that speaks of a man who has been making moonshine for 17 years. He has spent all his money on whiskey and beers, and he goes to some hollow to put up his still. He makes one gallon of moonshine for two-dollar bills. The moonshiner goes to a grocery to drink with his friends, but he doesn't want any women to follow him and see what he has spent. He admires women for their sweet breath, which smells like the dew on the vine.
The moonshiner lives a simple life, eating when he is hungry and drinking when he is dry. He hopes that moonshine won't kill him and that he will live till he dies. He pays homage to other moonshiners, wishing they were his. In the end, the moonshiner is unsure whether he will go to heaven or hell, but he feels as though he is already living in the sky, high upon the mountain with some sweet moonshine.
This song speaks to the life of many who lived in the South of the United States during the Prohibition era. Moonshiners were often seen as outlaws and criminals, but they were also seen as craftspersons, making something valuable out of something that was illegal. The song also touches on the themes of simplicity, friendship, and admiration for women.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been a moonshiner for seventeen long years
For the past seventeen years, I have been making moonshine illegally.
I spent all my money on whiskey and beers
Every penny I have, I spend on drinking alcohol.
I go to some hollow and put up my stilt
I find an empty space and set up my makeshift distillery to make moonshine.
I'll make you one gallon for two dollar bill
I am willing to sell one gallon of my moonshine for two dollars.
I go to some grocery and drink with my friends
I go to a store and drink with my buddies.
No women to follow to see what I spent
I don't have any women following me around to see how much money I spend.
God bless those women I wish they were mine
I wish I had some women in my life who can bless me with their love.
Their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine
Women's sweet scent reminds me of the sweet-smelling dew on the vine.
I'll eat when I'm hungry and drink when I'm dry
I eat only when I am hungry and drink only when I am thirsty.
If moonshine don't kill me I'll live till I die
Unless something untoward happens to me because of my moonshine, I will keep drinking until I die.
God bless those moonshiners, I wish they were mine
I wish that all moonshiners are blessed and belong to me exclusively.
Their breath smells as sweet as the good ol' moonshine
Moonshiners' breath reminds me of the sweet smell of the moonshine they make.
I might go to heaven, I might go to hell
I don't know whether I will go to heaven or hell.
Till I meet my maker don't know where I'll [Incomprehensible]
I don't know where I will end up before meeting my maker.
It feels like stirred whiskey, I'll live in the sky
I believe that I will have a wonderful life after death, just like the blissful feeling of stirred whiskey.
High upon the mountain with some sweet moonshine
When I die, I wish to reach heaven, consume some of that sweet moonshine and live on a high mountain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, BILL SHEPHERD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind