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Cover art for The Moonshiner lyrics by Tommy Makem

Tommy Makem

The Moonshiner

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The Moonshiner Lyrics

I've been a moonshiner for many a year
And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I'll go to some hollow and I'll set up my still
And I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill

[Chorus:]

I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler,
I'm a long way from home
And if you don't like me
You can leave me alone
I'll eat when I'm hungry
And I'll drink when I'm dry
And if moonshine don't kill me
I'll live till I die

I'll go to some hollow in this country
Ten gallons of wash and I'll go on a spree
No woman to follow and the world is all mine
I love none so well as I love the moonshine

Moonshine dear moonshine oh how I love thee
You killed my poor father but dare you kill me
Bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine
For their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine

Submitted by

songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012

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SongMeanings

Submitter

2012-02-06 15:32:18

1 Meaning

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Cover art for The Moonshiner lyrics by Tommy Makem

by andy144405

8y ago

The tune of the Star-Spangled Banner is an from an old drinking song, "Anacreon on Heaven" which appears to be related to The Moonshiner. You can sing the words of the Star-Spangled Banner to the tune of the Moonshiner, and vice versa.

another verse of it goes:

It's corn bread when I'm hungry, corn liquor when I'm dry Work when I'm hard up, and religion when I die For the world's but a bottle, and life's but a dram And when the bottle is empty, it ain't worth a damn.

A couple of alternate lines:

God bless pretty women, I wish they were mine But I love none so well as I love my moonshine.

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