Lyr Add: The Moonshine Can

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOONSHINE CAN
From: Bob Landry
Date: 12 May 97 - 07:21 PM

Contribution - Sometimes I follow this tune immediately with Mountain Dew and Mountain Tay to get a triple homage to that most widespread of illegal beverages. (Note - any misspellings are the result of phonetically transcribing the words from the version recorded by Dick Nolan.)

THE MOONSHINE CAN
(Newfoundland - Traditional or by Paddy Ryan if the lyrics ring true)

Come, all ye moonshine drinkers, and ye will quickly see,
The work of the Beaudin farmers and the way they served me.
I'll tell of the Beaudin farmers and how they cowed aloud.
They jealously could not agree. They turned me moonshine down.

It been on Easter Sunday morn when down the road I see
Old Mickey wavin' both his arms and headin' straight for me.
He waved his arms and cowed aloud as down the road he ran,
Sayin', "Pat, me b'y, there's an awful kick about your moonshine can."

Then next there came the magistrate to tell me I must go.
They made me walk that lonesome trail up to me knees in snow.
They made me walk that lonesome trail and put me on the stand,
Sayin', "Paddy b'y, you'll have to pay for havin' a moonshine can."

"I'd like to know how moonshine's made," the magistrate did say.
"Of yeast cake and molasses, sure that's the proper way.
Of yeast cake and molasses, sure that's the cutest plan."
And the magistrate was happy then. He took me moonshine can.

The magistrate was happy then. God bless his eyes of blue.
He sent me home with a constable and told him what to do.
To hear them break me moonshine can, it nearly burst me heart,
But when they threw it into the bay, it tore me soul apart.

Then here's to that good magistrate. May the Lord receive me friend.
When he dies, we'll bury him, and he'll go to the other end.
Saint Peter then will greet him and the gates he'll then unlock,
Sayin', "Come right in, dear magistrate, and welcome to the flock."

Now, here's to the man who wrote this song. I'm sure he was not lyin'.
And if you wants to know his name, his name be Paddy Ryan.
His name be Paddy Ryan, me b'y. From Goose Town he belong.
And when moonshine time comes 'round again, he'll make 'er twice as strong.^^^

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Bob Landry
Date: 12 May 97 - 07:28 PM

Oops!!!!... I just found out you can't halt the transmission to make a correction by pushing Stop after you hit the Submit Message button.

Sorry

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Les Blank w/ thanks
Date: 12 May 97 - 07:34 PM

Bob:

For more years than I care to remember I have wanted to be able to perform this number for those to whom I sing on occasion. There were two things that prevented me from doing it -- 1.) The speed of the flat picking accompaniment and 2.) the inability to "translate" the lyrics from the only record I had of the song. You have removed one of those obstacles. Alas, I wish it had been the first !!. But, now that you have given me the words, perhaps I can get up the gumption to really tackle those John Herald riffs. Thanks so much and keep 'em coming !!

Les Blank

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Bob Landry
Date: 12 May 97 - 08:00 PM

You're welcome - there are more coming as I identify what I have that's missing from DT. I've been collecting these things for nearly 30 years.

Just remember, a true-blue Newfie outporter never uses the word "my", it's always "me". He always aspirates the "H" when he shouldn't and ignores when he should. So it's "me 'eart" instead of "my heart", etc.

Thank you for giving me an idea - flat picking this tune. I've never heard it done before.

Bob

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Les Blank
Date: 12 May 97 - 08:31 PM

The version to which I referred is by Ian and Sylvia on their album Northern Journey. John Herald is on lead, with Ian on 2nd and the old master Monte Dunn (not too shabby a flat picker himself !!) on mandolin. How do you do it ?? It's difficult for me to imagine it done in finger style -- but I'm sure open to it, since that's about all I do, any more.

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Bob Landry
Date: 13 May 97 - 12:58 PM

I first learned the tune from listening to Omar Blondahl and later transcribed the words from Dick Nolan, neither of whom flat pick or finger pick the tune - essentially, they strum. I jazzed up the rhythum to accompany my howling but, essentially, I use a basic "root note - strum" style. I tried flat picking it last night and ran into definite limits imposed by my lack of familiarity with the I & S version as well as my lack of skill and imagination. There has to be a copy of Northern Journey floating around here in Northern Alberta.

Bob

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: Dale Rose
Date: 13 May 97 - 01:20 PM

Practically all of Ian and Sylvia's Vanguard material [including Northern Journey] has been reissued on CD in the last few years. The most recent release [that I am aware of] is Live at Newport, comprised mostly of previously unreleased live versions. Vanguard has also done a compilation of their MGM and Columbia releases under the title Long Long Time.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MOONSHINE CAN (from Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 11:58 AM

Here's the way Ian & Sylvia do it.


Come all ye moonshine drinkers and you will quickly see,
The work of a bold informer and the way they served me.
I'll tell of the bold informer who's lately been around.
They jealously could not agree; they put my moonshine down.

It being on Easter Sunday morn when down the road I see,
Old Mickey wavin' both his arms and comin' straight to me.
He waved his arms and called aloud as down the road he ran,
Sayin' "Pat, me Boy, there's an awful kick about your moonshine can."

Then next there came a summons to tell me I must go.
They made me walk that lonesome trail up to me knees in snow.
They made me walk that lonesome trail and they put me on the stand,
Sayin' "Patty Boy, you'll have to pay for havin' a moonshine can."

"I'd like to know how moonshine's made," the Magistrate did say.
"Of yeast cake and molasses, sure that's the proper way.
"Of yeast cake and molasses, sure that's the cutest plan."
And the Magistrate was happy then, he took my moonshine can.

The Magistrate was happy then, God bless his eyes of blue.
He sent me home with a Constabule and he told him what to do.
To hear him break my moonshine can, it nearly burst my heart,
But when he threw it in the bay, it tore me soul apart.

Now here's to the right good Magistrate, "May the Lord receive my friend."
And when he dies we'll bury him and he'll go to the other end.
Saint Peter there will greet him and the gate he'll then unlock,
Sayin', "Come right in, good Magistrate, and welcome to the flock."

Now, here's to the man who wrote this song, I'm sure he was not lyin'.
And if you wants to know his name, his name is Patty Ryan.
His name be Patty Ryan, my Boys, from Goose Town he belong.
And when moonshine time comes 'round again, he'll make 'er twice as strong.

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: GUEST,Family
Date: 02 Sep 10 - 01:16 PM

All of the above lyrics are incorrect. Speaking from someone who actually belongs to the family that created the song "The Moonshine Can". Pat Troy was from Goose Cove East in Newfoundland and he actually wrote the song to describe his experince of being the frist Newfoundlander to go to court for making the illegal substance. The lonely place he talks about travelling to is St. Anthony. As for the verses, well there are alot missing! Pat Troy in the original song thanks the many people who helped him; Mr. Biles, Mr. Ollerhead, Mr. MCdonald, the Magistrate, etc.

Subject: RE: The Moonshine Can
From: GUEST,aNne reardon, "Mickey's" granddaughter
Date: 29 Dec 10 - 07:27 PM

As I sit here with my 89 year old father, he remembers the song quite well. The man "Mickey" referred to in the first couple of verses was his father, Michael Reardon. The song was wrote by Pat Troy of Goose Cove, St.Anthony in northern Newfoundland..y father says Pat Troy could neither read nor write.A fisherman all his life, he had a wonderful memory. It upsets him when someone else gets the credit for coming up these lyrics. Dad remembers that Mr.Troy died while my father was overseas during the Second World War.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Moonshine Can
From: GUEST,Megan
Date: 07 May 11 - 01:21 PM

Thankyou ! I run a Jam session here in Calgary once a month and am always looking for songs to share. We always like to use the original lyrics and so I appreciate when someone lets us know when the words are wrong. The problem is, you didn't tell us the right ones. I'll nose around for them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Moonshine Can
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 07 May 11 - 02:37 PM

GEST's site has a version collected by Peacock which is less polished than the Nolan/Ian&Sylvia versions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Moonshine Can
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 07 May 11 - 11:28 PM

A great song! I learned this from hearing Omar Blondahl singing it over CJFX radio.