Origin: Additional verses to Good Old Mountain Dew

Subject: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 12:37 PM

I heard a verse the other day I had never heard before:


My Uncle Don had a still in the John,
Where he ran off a gallon or two,
When the law comes a rushing,
Uncle Don goes to flushing,
And dumps all the good Mountain Dew.


Does anyone else know of any others that aren't widely known?

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Also see Moonshine songs

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 02:44 PM

I like it. I may add it to my performance of the song!
Quack!
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 03:15 PM

Banje - I am ammazed that wasn't already in the DT - checked it ain't.

Here is another verse that I learned from chaps in South Carolina about 1965 its the same time that I first heard your verse.

My uncle Mort he's so sawed off and short
He would give his right arm for a screw
Well, he threw that whore clean through the door
When he had some good ol' mountain dew.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:24 PM

Here's a verse from the horse's mouth:

Now the preacher drove by with his head h'isted high,
Said his wife had been down with the flu,
And thought that I ought to sell him a quart,
Of that good old Mountain Dew.

Bascom Lamar Lunsford (circa 1920)

-Richie

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 09:26 PM

Correct spelinghdf:

Now the preacher drove by with his head h'isted high,
Said his wife had been down with the flu,
And thought that I ought to sell him a quart,
Of that good old Mountain Dew.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,BU student
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 08:59 PM

I just came across this one...not sure where it's from though.

Now my little honey, she's a playboy honey
She can strip off a thing or two (or three!)
But you should see her strip when you give her a sip
Of that good old Mountain Dew.

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Judy Cook
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 11:26 PM

Don't know which ones are "widely known". How 'bout this one.

I know a guy named Pete

His hair ain't so neat

Though he fixes it with syrup and glue

But it stays right in place

When he uses just a trace

Of that good old mountain dew

--Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From:
Date: 07 Dec 03 - 07:12 PM

I recall this verse from summer camp in the 1960s:

My Uncle Frank drove a US Army tank
That wasn't exactly new
When it ran out of gas he just poured in a glass
Of that good old mountain dew

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: I. Pilot
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 03:26 AM

my shiner gives me a free drink for every verse i know:

my aunt louise does the striptese
down at the molon rogue
but it twirnt from old age
that she fell off the stage
but from sippin that good ol m.d.

i got me a pint just hid out of sight
in case i should get me the blues
i mix yellow and black
and i'm on the right track
for a snort of that good ol m.d.

my mama's son has the most fun
when he's high as a looney cartoon
he steals all the jars
from the trash cans of bars
and fills them with good ol m.d.

my brother's skank is low down and rank
she's stupid and talks funny too
but when i've had a shot she looks pretty hot
thank God for good ol m.d.

i made up this verse while driving the herst
with the remains of a quack and a screw
if you want any more get his jug and pour
us a sip of good ol m.d.

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:04 AM

Good to see that here's at least one song still "in the process of 'becoming'". May it be many years before it has a "definitive" form. I'm surprised that, as far as I can find anyway, this very different set of words (which has pretty much the same metre) isn't noted:

Let breezes blow and waters flow
In a free and easy way,
But give me enough of that good ould stuff
That's brewed near Galway Bay:
Come Gaugers all from Donegal
From Sligo and Leitrim too,
We'll give you all the slip when we take a little sip
From a barrel of the Mountain Dew


At the foot of the hill there's a neat little still
And the smoke curling up to the sky;
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell
There's potin made nearby;
For it fills the air with an odour rare,
And, betwixt both me and you,
As home we roll we may take a bowl
Or a bucket of the Mountain Dew.


Three verses in Colm O' Lochlainn's "Irish Strret Ballads", with score. I think this version was made by Irish Political prisoners in England, c1918. In typical Irish pronunciation, "roll" would be given as "Rowl" (and "bowl" would sound fairly visceral).

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 06:52 PM

Two completely different songs on he same subject. Bascom Lamar Lunsford in the States and The McPeakes in Ireland if I'm not mistaken.

It's late and I'm slightly mellow from Good Old English Ale.

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 12:46 PM

Now learned men who use the pen have sung it's praises high
The Sweet poteen from Ireland's green, distilled from wheat and Rye
Throw away your pills! It'll cure all ills
Be you Pagan or Christian Or Jew
Take off your coat and grease your throat with the rare ould mountain dew

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Genie
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 01:26 AM

My auntie June had some store-bought pefume
And it had such a sweet-smellin' pew.
Imagine her surprise when she had it analyzed -
'T'warn't nothin' but that good ol' Mountain Dew!

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Genie
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 01:42 AM

'Cours'n, t'uther verse about My Uncle Mort goes like this:

My uncle Mort, he's so sawed off an' short,
He measures about four-foot-two,
But he thinks he's a gi'nt if you give him a pint
O' that good old Mountain Dew!

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: Genie
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 01:51 AM

Oh, what the heck,
here's another verse (worse than the first):

City gal from New York loved my brother's pulled pork,
The best Carolin' barbecue!
He says the piggies, o' course, 're glad to bake in that sauce,
For it's 90 proof good ol' Mountain Dew!

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 02:07 PM

Down the road from me there is an old hollow tree were you lay down a dollar or two. you go round the bend and you come right back again and there would lay some good old mountain dew.

Subject: RE: Additional verses to 'Mountain Dew'
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 02:08 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Origin: Additional verses to Good Old Mountain Dew
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 03:49 AM

Here is the Traditional Ballad Index entry for "Good Old Mountain Dew," first found by O'Lochlainn in 1916.

Good Old Mountain Dew

DESCRIPTION: "Beside a hill there is a still Where the smoke runs up to the sky." The smell reveals that "the liquor boys are nigh." The making of the dew is described, and it is said to have been praised by scholars. The singer calls for more dew.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916 (OLochlainn)
KEYWORDS: drink nonballad
FOUND IN: US(MA,SE) Canada(Ont) Ireland
REFERENCES (7 citations):
BrownIII 41, "The Hidden Still" (1 fragment, probably this piece)
OLochlainn 64, "The Real Old Mountain Dew" (1 text, 1 tune)
Morton-Maguire 23, pp. 53-54,112,166, "The Mountain Dew" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 180-182, "Good Old Mountain Dew' (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 288-289, "Real Old Mountain Dew" (1 text, filed with "Old Mountain Dew")
Silber-FSWB, p. 229, "Real Old Mountain Dew" (1 text)
DT, MTDEW2*
Roud #938
RECORDINGS:
O. J. Abbott, "The Real Old Mountain Dew" (on Abbott1)
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "The Real Old Mountain Dew" (on IRClancyMakem01)
John Griffin and Ed Geoghegan?, "The Real Old Mountain Dew" (on Voice13)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Are You There Moriarity" (tune, per OLochlainn)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Let the Grasses Grow
NOTES: OLochlainn: "I am told it was written by Phil O Neill of Kinsale." - BS
Robert Gogan, 130 Great Irish Ballads (third edition, Music Ireland, 2004), p. 37, on the other hand, attributes it to Samuel Lover. But I should observe that few of his song notes seem to find support in reputable sources. And, of course, it's possible that Lover published a version without actually writing it.
Not to be confused with Bascom Lamar Lunsford's "Old Mountain Dew." - RBW
File: LxA180

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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In the Digital Tradition, this is MTDEW2*:

REAL OLD MOUNTAIN DEW (from DT, version 2)

Beside a hill there is a still,
Where the smoke runs up to the sky;
You ean always tell by the whiff and the smell
That the liquor boys are nigh.

That the liquor boys are nigh,
That the liquor boys are nigh,
You ean always tell by the whiff and the smell,
That the liquor boys are nigh.

This mountain dew is made from grain,
And mixed with water pure,
And the alcohol that it eontains
Will all your troubles cure.

Will all your troubles cure,
Will all your troubles cure,
And the alcohol that it contains
Will all your troubles eure.

AII learned men who use the pen
Have writ its praises high;
It fills the air with perfume rare
Distilled with wheat and rye.

Distilled with wheat and rye,
Distilled with wheat and rye,
It fills the air with perfume rare
Distilled with wheat and rye.

Away with pills,'twill cure the ills
Of Pagan, Christian and Jew,
Off with your coat and wet your throat
With the real old mountain dew.

With the real old mountain dew,
With the real old mountain dew,
Off with your coat and wet your throat
With the real old mountain dew.

So before we roll won't you have another bowl
Of the good old mountain dew?
Of the good old mountain dew?
Of the good old mountain dew?

Of the good old mountain dew?
Of the good old mountain dew?
So before we roll won't you have another bowl
Of the good old mountain dew?
WE DO

From American Ballads and Folk Songs, Lomax
Recorded by Patrick Galvin, Clancys
@drink
filename[ MTDEW2
TUNE FILE: MTDEW2
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: RE: Origin: Additional verses to Good Old Mountain Dew
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 03:53 AM

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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The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

---

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
filename[ MTDEW3
TUNE FILE: MTDEW
CLICK TO PLAY
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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
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

-----------------------------------------------------------------
American traditional

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

Subject: Lyr Add: MOUNTAIN DEW (Grandpa Jones, 1947)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Oct 19 - 10:49 AM

You can hear this recording on YouTube:


MOUNTAIN DEW
(Wiseman-Lunsford)
As recorded by Grandpa Jones, 1947. (King 624-A)

1. There's a big holler tree down the road here from me
Where you lay down a dollar or two.
You go round the bend, and you come back again,
There’s a jug full of good ol’ mountain dew.

2. Oh, they call it that ol’ mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ol’ mountain dew.

3. Well, my uncle Nort, he’s sawed-off and short.
He measures about four foot two,
But he thinks he's a gi’nt when you give him a pint
Of that good ol’ mountain dew.

4. Well, my old Aunt June bought some brand-new perfume.
It had such a sweet-smellin’ "pew,"
But to her surprise, when she had it analyzed,
It ‘as nothin’ but good ol’ mountain dew.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

5. Well, the preacher rode by with his head h’isted high,
Said his wife had been down with the flu
And he thought that I ort [=ought] just to sell ‘im a quart
Of that good ol’ mountain dew.

REPEAT VERSE 2

6. Well, my brother Bill, he’s got a still on the hill
Where he runs off a gallon or two.
The buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can't fly
From smellin’ that good ol’ mountain dew.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

REPEAT VERSE 2

Subject: Lyr Add: SOME MORE MOUNTAIN DEW (Grandpa Jones)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Oct 19 - 11:39 AM

You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive.


SOME MORE MOUNTAIN DEW
(Myrtle S. Wiseman; Scott Wiseman)
As recorded by Grandpa Jones, 1954. (RCA Victor 20-5685)

1. Well, it ain’t been so long since I sung you my song
‘Bout that stuff called good ol’ mountain dew.
Now I’ve run off some more and I’ll give you the score.
That’s the old mountain dew number two.

2. Oh, they call it that ol’ mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Oh, I’ll button up my lip if you bulge out my hip
With a bottle of good ol’ mountain dew.

3. Now, old deacon Crane made a trip in the rain
An’ he took home a fruit jar or two;
Said his old woman Liz had a bad rheumatiz’
And she’d cure it with good ol’ mountain dew.

4. Oh, they call it that ol’ mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Just a swig twice a day keeps you happy, they say.
That’s that good old mountain dew.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

5. They say durin’ the war that they couldn’t make no more,
No sugar to sweeten up the brew;
But with corn syrup and taters and a few ripe tomaters
They turned out some stuff, I’m tellin’ you.

6. Oh, they call it that good ol’ mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Oh, that old sugar head will put you to bed.
Better stick to that good ol’ mountain dew.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

7. There’s old uncle Waits, as he often relates,
Will be eighty in just a year or two,
But you ought to see him jig when he gets him a swig
Of that good ol’ mountain dew.

8. Oh, they call it that old mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Take me back to the hills where they cure all my ills
With that good ol’ mountain dew.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD MOUNTAIN DEW (Delmore Brothers, 1940)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Oct 19 - 01:24 PM

You can hear this recording on YouTube. I have boldfaced the words that are different from Grandpa Jones’ recording, above. Note that this recording is older than Grandpa Jones’.


OLD MOUNTAIN DEW
(Alton Delmore)
As recorded by The Delmore Brothers, 1940. (Decca 5890-A)

1. There's an old holler tree down the road here from me
Where you lay down a dollar or two.
Then you drive round the bend; when you come back again,
With a jug full of mountain dew.

CHORUS. Oh, they call it that ol’ mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Oh, I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With that good ol’ mountain dew.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

2. Now, if you are the sort that really could snort,
Here’s a piece of advice that is true:
Get it straight from the hills where a moonshiner’s still
Makes a drink of that mountain dew.

CHORUS AND INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

3. Oh, the preacher drove by in his high-breasted fly,
Said his wife had been down with the flu,
And he thought that I ought just sell him a quart
Of that good ol’ mountain dew.

CHORUS AND INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

4. Mister Roosevelt told us just how he felt
When he saw that the dry law was through:
“If your liquor’s too red, it will swell up your head.
Better stick to your mountain dew.”

CHORUS