1991
Robert Svensson Lyrics
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Get you a copper coil.
Fill it with new made corn mash
And never more you′ll toil.
You'll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
Build you a fire with hickory,
Hickory, ash, and oak.
Don′t use no green or rotten wood,
It'll get you by the smoke.
We'll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
In the pale moonlight.
My daddy, he made whiskey.
My granddaddy, he did too.
We ain′t paid no whiskey tax
Since 1792.
We′ll just lay there by the juniper,
While the moon is bright.
Watch them jugs a-filling
In the pale moonlight.
The lyrics of Robert Svensson's "1991" are a nostalgic homage to moonshine and the tradition behind it. The first verse of the song instructs the listener to acquire a copper kettle and copper coil, which are essential for distilling moonshine. The lyrics suggest that by making one's own corn mash and distilling it, they will be freed from the toil of working for someone else. The second verse emphasizes the importance of using quality materials, specifically hickory, ash, and oak for the fire, as it is necessary to avoid using green or rotten wood which will produce smoke and ruin the distillation process. The lyrics paint an idyllic scene of laying by a juniper while watching the jugs fill up with moonshine in the pale moonlight. The final verse highlights the singer's heritage of distilling moonshine and the fact that their family has been doing so without paying the whiskey tax for over 200 years.
Beyond the lyrical content, "1991" also incorporates classic country and bluegrass elements into its sound. It begins with a simple banjo riff and gradually adds vocals, guitar, and percussion. The melody and chord progression are reminiscent of traditional country music, but the incorporation of a banjo and a strong focus on storytelling through lyrics places the song firmly in the bluegrass tradition.
Line by Line Meaning
Get you a copper kettle,
Acquire a copper vessel
Get you a copper coil.
Get a copper pipe
Fill it with new made corn mash
Fill the vessel with fresh corn mash
And never more you'll toil.
And you won't have to work anymore
You'll just lay there by the juniper,
You'll just lie down near the juniper tree
While the moon is bright.
When the moon is shining bright
Watch them jugs a-filling
Observe the jugs as they get filled
In the pale moonlight.
In the soft light of the moon
Build you a fire with hickory,
Construct a fire using hickory wood
Hickory, ash, and oak.
Using hickory, ash and oak types of woods only
Don't use no green or rotten wood,
Do not use fresh or decaying wood
It'll get you by the smoke.
It will emit smoke
We'll just lay there by the juniper,
We'll just lie down near the juniper tree
While the moon is bright.
When the moon is shining bright
Watch them jugs a-filling
Observe the jugs as they get filled
In the pale moonlight.
In the soft light of the moon
My daddy, he made whiskey.
My father made alcohol
My granddaddy, he did too.
My grandfather did the same
We ain't paid no whiskey tax
We haven't paid for alcohol tax
Since 1792.
Since the year 1792
Writer(s): A.f. Beddoe
Contributed by Mateo F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.