Old Mountain Dew

DESCRIPTION: The praises of mountain dew are sung. "Oh, they call it that good old mountain dew, And those who refuse it are few...." Doctor, preacher, conductor, lawyer (and, in some versions, Uncle Nort, Aunt June, Brother Bill) derive various benefits from it.
AUTHOR: Bascom Lamar Lunsford
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (recording, Bascom Lamar Lunsford)
KEYWORDS: drink family
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
JonesLunsford, pp. 36-38, "Mountain Dew" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Botkin-SoFolklr, p. 736, "Good Old Mountain Dew" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, p. 289, "Good Old Mountain Dew" (1 text, filed with "Real Old Mountain Dew"="Good Old Mountain Dew")
Silber-FSWB, p. 236, "Mountain Dew" (1 text)
DT, MTDEW3*
Roud #9133
RECORDINGS:
Delmore Brothers, "Old Mountain Dew" (Decca 5890, 1940)
John Griffin, "Real Old Mountain Dew" (Columbia 33145-F, n.d.)
Grandpa Jones, "Mountain Dew" (King 624, 1947)
Lulu Belle & Scotty, "Mountain Dew" (Conqueror 9249, 1939) (on CrowTold02; this may be the reissue of the Conqueror recording, but it's not certain)
Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "Mountain Dew" (Brunswick 219, 1928); "Old Mountain Dew" (on BLLunsford01)
NOTES: Botkin's text is from a 1949 field recording. He says Lunsford composed and recorded it in the twenties, but that it has already changed substantially in oral tradition. - NR
Some have thought that Lunsford took a traditional song and made it his own. His recording, however, remains the first known version -- and there is no evidence that Lunsford did this with any other song. - RBW
Lunsford himself said he wrote it in the early years of this century, and that it was made up out of whole cloth, not adapted. It should not be confused with the traditional Irish song usually called "Real Old Mountain Dew" [or "Good Old Mountain Dew"]. - PJS
Last updated in version 4.0
File: BSoF736

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And two versions from the Digital Tradition:

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GOOD OLD MOUNTAIN DEW

On my first day in court I wish to report,
Now witness my story so true.
When the state closed its case a young man raised his face
And began all these facts to review.
Yes, they call it that old Mountain Dew.
Said those who refuse it are few.
While I know I've done wrong, the temptation is strong
When they call for that Old Mountain Dew.

The deacon drove by in his auto so they
Said his family was down with the flu.
Said he thought that I ought to just get him a quart
Of that good Old Mountain Dew.
Yes, he called it that Old Mountain Dew,
Said those who refuse it are few
So I thought that I ought to just get him a quart
Of that good Old Mountain Dew.
The doctor he phoned just to see me alone
One night about half a-past two.
Said he'd close up his mug if I'd fill up his jug
With good Old Mountain Dew.
Yes, he called it that Old Mountain Dew,
Said those who refuse it are few,
So I closed up his mug when I filled up his jug
With good Old Mountain Dew.

The conductor said with a nod of his head,
"My wife she never knew
That I take my fun when out on my run,
So bring me a quart or two
Of that good Old Mountain Dew ",
For those who refuse it are few
But his wife said to me, you can bring me three
Before his train is due.

My attorney began to turn the lid on the can.
I knew then my case was lost.
Said his honor to me,
I'll set you free if you will pay the cost
For they call it that old Mountain Dew
And those who refuse it are few.
But you acted the man when you took that stand
To swear what is so true.

Note: This is the version that Bascomb Lamar Lunceford (and Lulu
Belle and Scotty) copyrighted in 1945 and that Lunceford
wrote in 1920. He claimed that the more-familiar verses
(such as the ones sung by Grandpa Jones) were results of
folk-processing of his original; others have said that they
preceded his verses. RG
@drink @trial
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TUNE FILE: MTDEW
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RG

MOUNTAIN DEW

G - / C - / C - / C G

My brother Bill runs a still on the hill
Where he turns out a gallon or two
And the buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can't fly
Just from sniffing that good old mountain dew.

G - / C G / G - / G D7

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll hush up my mug if you'll fill up my jug
With that good old mountain dew.

My uncle Mort, he is sawed off and short,
He measure 'bout four foot two,
But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint
Of that good old mountain dew.

You take a little trash and you mix it with ash,
And you throw in the soul of a shoe,
Then you stir it awhile with an old rusty file,
And they call it that good old mountain dew.

During the war we couldn't get any more,
We didn't have no sugar for the dew
With a few old potaters and a few ripe tomaters,
We turned out some stuff, I'm tellin' you

I know a guy named Pete, his hair ain't so neat,
Though he fixes it with syrup and blue,
But it stays right in place when he uses just a trace
Of that good old mountain dew.

Old Auntie June had a brand new perfume,
It had such a wonderful "pew"
But to her surprise, when she had it analyzed,
It was nothing but that good old mountain dew

Old Deacon Crane took a trip in the rain,
Said his wife had come down with the flu,
And hadn't I ought just to give him a quart
Of that good old mountain dew.

There's an old hollow tree just a little way from me
Where you lay down a dollar or two
If you hush up your mug, then they'll give you a jug
Of that good old mountain dew

Mr Roosevelt told me just how he felt
The day that the dry law went through:
If your likker's too red, it will swell up your head
Better stick to that good old mountain dew

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The preacher walks by with a tear in his eye
Said that his wife had the flu
She'll be alright if you give her a pint
Of that good old mountain dew

My uncle Klaus had a real mean old mouse
When they asked how it happened,
He said it was a lappin'
That good old mountain dew

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American traditional

@drink
American traditional (Copyrighted by Gran'pa Jones; additional
words by everybody. RG)
filename[ MTDEW
TUNE FILE: MTDEW
CLICK TO PLAY
DC