The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Ooo when I was a small boy,
Well, I could see the magic in a day,
But, now I'm just a poor boy,
Well, maybe it's the price you have to pay,
If you lock your dreams away
If no-one wants to listen.
What's the story,
I wish I'd been a minstrel,
Just think of all the maidens I could call,
Oh-I wish I'd been a gypsy,
Then maybe I could read the crystal ball,
Cause surrounded by these walls,
Just makes me feel uneasy.
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
Won't you send me a little sun
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all try
Give us a secret, show us the light,
Well, strike up the music, light up the sky.
Mmm-If I was a lion,
Well, I could be the king off all the plains,
Mmm-If is was an eagle,
Well, maybe I could fly above the rains,
Oh, fly above the pain
But, I know I'm only foolin'
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Won't you send me a little sun,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry,
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all cry,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
I said hey, said hey
I said hey, I said hey Sister Moonshine
Well, I could see the magic in a day,
But, now I'm just a poor boy,
Well, maybe it's the price you have to pay,
If you lock your dreams away
If no-one wants to listen.
What's the story,
I wish I'd been a minstrel,
Just think of all the maidens I could call,
Oh-I wish I'd been a gypsy,
Then maybe I could read the crystal ball,
Cause surrounded by these walls,
Just makes me feel uneasy.
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
Won't you send me a little sun
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all try
Give us a secret, show us the light,
Well, strike up the music, light up the sky.
Mmm-If I was a lion,
Well, I could be the king off all the plains,
Mmm-If is was an eagle,
Well, maybe I could fly above the rains,
Oh, fly above the pain
But, I know I'm only foolin'
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Won't you send me a little sun,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry,
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all cry,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
I said hey, said hey
I said hey, I said hey Sister Moonshine
Lyrics submitted by Philosophy
Sister Moonshine Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Well, moonshine is a term for homemade distilled alcohol. Maybe Roger's turning to strong alcohol to escape from the difficulties in his life: the verses imply loneliness, regret, and pain. He's overcome with regret, because he "lock[ed] [his] dreams away," dreams of being a minstrel, gypsy, or other such adventurous and fun childhood fantasy. Now that he's an adult, he drinks to escape. "Sister Moonshine" is his only friend.
Or, how about a completely different interpretation? Roger's simply personifying actual moonlight. That's essentially what moonlight is, a little sun in the middle of the night. Perhaps the darkness of the night symbolizes his sadness.
Meanwhile, sunlight symbolizes childhood's innocence and imagination, "see[ing] the magic in a day." Now that he's grown, he's lost sight of his dreams, and is shrouded in permanent nighttime. He knows he can't return to childhood entirely, but still he hopes to regain a small measure of imagination and ambition by asking Sister Moonshine to send them; to give him the secret to enjoying himself; to light up the sky and his life.
At any rate, I think this is a good song. Hopefully my post will start a discussion. Please feel free to disagree with me, or to add to my ideas.
Well, I agree with the latter comments, but not the first one about drinking.