Lyr Req: What a Waste of Good Corn Liquor

Subject: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: GUEST,Anahootz w/o cookie
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 08:34 PM

Looking for lyrics to this tune...I know mac wiseman sung it, and now Del & the boys do it (Jason Carter sings on it)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 12:22 PM

I can't find even the song title in any of the usual places. Can you quote any lines from the song? Can you name a specific album it's on?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 12:39 PM

I'm actually just looking for the 2nd of 3 verses, all my recordings seem to be sluured or garbled at that point (live versions)...so here is the first verse and chorus (as I hear it)

I have lost my blue-eyed darling, now I sit with a broken heart
in my cabin in the Carolina hills
For I loved a 'shiner's daughter, loved her true with all my heart
'til she fell into her pappy's liquor still

Oh what a waste of good corn liquor
from the still as they pulled the plug
now the revenuers snicker, 'cause she melted in the liquor
and they had to bury poor Lily by the jug

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 02:27 PM

This sounds like a good song, worth finding, but I am still stuck.

I tried using several phrases from your song as search arguments with Google, but the only thing I could come up with was a song called "What a Waste of Good Corn Liquor" performed by Mac Wiseman with the Shenandoah Cut-Ups, on their album "New Traditions Volume One," Crosscut Records, CR-1067, 1975. This sounds like a good candidate, but I still can't find any lyrics or sound samples.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 02:48 PM

If all else fails, I found an address for Mac Wiseman on his website:
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: bigchuck
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:16 PM

I heard Del do it last night at the Lebanon Opera House. Great song. I seem to remember that there were at least three verses, with your 2nd verse used as a chorus. Maybe someone can come up with the rest of the lyrics now.

SAndy

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT A WASTE OF GOOD CORN LIKKER (Gordon
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 09:42 PM

Lyrics copied from http://www.bluegrasspro.com/BluegrassPRO.com/Lyrics/Waste.htm

WHAT A WASTE OF GOOD CORN LIKKER
Slim Gordon

I have lost my blue eyed darlin'. Now I sit with a broken heart
By the cabin in the Carolina hills.
Oh, I loved the shiner's daughter, loved her true with all my heart,
Until she fell into her pappy's liquor still.

CHORUS: Oh what a waste of good corn liquor,
From the still they pulled the plug.
Now the revenuers snicker cause she melted in the liquor
And they had to bury poor Lilly by the jug.

Cousin Caleb on the Jew's harp played a mighty mournful tune.
Kinfolks bowed their heads and gathered round.
Then I heard the parson sing, "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes"
As we watched them pour poor Lilly in the ground. CHORUS

Now I'm sittin in the twilight, 'neath the weepin' willow tree.
The sun is slowly sinkin' in the west,
An' I'm claspin' to my bosom a little jug of Lilly May.
With a lonely heart I'm longin' for her breast. CHORUS

[Sung by Mac Wiseman on "At the Toronto Horseshoe Club," Wise CD #50105, 2001; "The Singles," Music Mill CD #70037, 2003; and "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered: Complete Recordings 1951-1964," Bear Family 6-CD set #15976, 2003. Bill Long also sings it on the various-artists compilation "King Hillbilly Bop 'n' Boogie: King/Federal's Roots of Rockabilly 1944-1956," Ace CD #854, 2002.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lily by the Jug (poor lily)
From: GUEST,Bigchuck at work
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 04:30 PM

Thanks Jim. That's a site I missed in my search.

Sandy