To touch on what robbnthahood said. I think the "still" plays an integral part in the song, because when you make moonshine you use the "still" for distilling all the impurities out of the alcohol. First off its illegal to make moonshine, and it's typically done in the back "woods" as to not be discovered or tampered with. I also think it plays into the "slow down the time," because it is a lengthy process that can take weeks. With that said I still believe it's metaphorical for Justin Vernon actual trip to the mountains to find himself. So in short lol, he's in the woods to find himself, and extricate all the impurities in his life so that he can find what makes him pure, genuine, and beautiful; which could takes weeks or months. Just like making moonshine. Either way, it's amazing.
To touch on what robbnthahood said. I think the "still" plays an integral part in the song, because when you make moonshine you use the "still" for distilling all the impurities out of the alcohol. First off its illegal to make moonshine, and it's typically done in the back "woods" as to not be discovered or tampered with. I also think it plays into the "slow down the time," because it is a lengthy process that can take weeks. With that said I still believe it's metaphorical for Justin Vernon actual trip to the mountains to find himself. So in short lol, he's in the woods to find himself, and extricate all the impurities in his life so that he can find what makes him pure, genuine, and beautiful; which could takes weeks or months. Just like making moonshine. Either way, it's amazing.