Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament
From: beachcomber
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 06:16 AM

The great Irish balladeer, Delia Murphy, recorded "The Moonshiner" back around the late 1930s or early 1940s. Would that be the same ballad ?
"I've been a moonshiner for many a year
and I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer
etc.."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament
From: GUEST,me
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 06:06 AM

Anybody find the song yet?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament
From: GUEST,BigDaddy
Date: 03 Jun 17 - 04:40 PM

If you get a good DVD copy of Deliverance, you can go directly to that scene. It's readily available, even at most libraries.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament
From: GUEST,Sysse
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 04:14 PM

Well it's red meat/When I'm hungry/Moonshine when I'm dry/Greenbacks when I'm hard up/Religion when I die
I am looking for the lyrics too

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moonshiner's Lament
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 09:25 PM

Yes indeed!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 07:46 PM

I did a version of this song in the 1950's, before I heard The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem do the song that has to be its Irish predecessor. The Irish song is edgier and has a defiant ring to it, where the American "lament" seems to evoke the hardscrabble life of makers of illicit booze in places like the West Virginia "Hollers."
I like them both and they are one good illustration of what happens to songs as they travel and begin to reflect new places and customs.

You could almost create a whole performance dedicated to the history and traditions of the moonshiner genre. Why does Foster Brooks come to mind.....?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,sam
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 06:21 PM

who's version does Ronny Cox play in Deliverance?

Subject: Lyr Add: MOONSHINE BLUES (Bob Dylan)
From: GUEST,RedCassis
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 04:41 PM

Hmm. Even Dylan has sung this song, but I think he called it Moonshine Blues. I think it's a traditional. The lyrics differ from everywhere it's sung.
Here goes:

¯¯¯
I've been a moonshiner for seventeen long years
I've spent all my money on whiskey an' beer
I go to some hollow and set up my still
If whiskey don't kill me then I don't know what will.

I'd go to some bar room and drink with my friends
Where the women can't follow an' see what I’ve spent
God bless those pretty women, I wish they was mine
Their breath is as sweet as the dew on the vine.

Let me eat when I’m hungry, moonshine when I’m dry
Greenbacks when I’m hard up, religion when I die
The whole world is a bottle an' life's but a dram
When a bottle gets empty, god it ain't worth a damn.

¯¯¯¯
In the movie, Deliverance, Ronny Cox sings only the last verse and I think he sings "Well, it's red meat when I’m hungry, moonshine when I’m dry.” In some other versions I’ve seen that they repeat the first verse as a last verse. Anyways, thanx again Deckman and all you others!

HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 30-Nov-01.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 02:33 PM

I recorded our family version of, "God Bless the Moonshiners" on the old Prestiege label in the early sixties. Long out of circulation, though I may have one or two albums here somewhere. Title: The Best of Jean Ritchie. (About this series, Ed McCurdy said, 'No- I'm not recording for them- no one's gonna get the best of ME!')

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 04:27 AM

Moonshiner is in the DT (upper right search window, enter 'moonshiner') and many many version in the Forum. In the DT you can also listen to a midi. The three basic chords suffice.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 08:51 PM

Could it be that the song you want is really The Bootlegger's Lament ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,RedCassis
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:12 PM

Deckham: Thanx, that might be the one! :) do you know the chords?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:11 PM

I didn't really think so, but your song is not on the official soundtrack. That is where I looked first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,RedCassis
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:08 PM

Sorca: no its not the mountain dew..

Actually i wrote a letter to Mrs. Cox and asked the name of the song Ronny was singin in that movie.. She wrote "The song is called Moonshiner's lament".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,RedCassis
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:05 PM

yes, i remember one half meaning..

(about what people need i think) He sings something like

"religion when you cry" (or die)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 12:18 AM

Apparently, Hedy West sang that song on her second Vanguard album.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 11:39 PM

An Internet search shows that Vernon Dalhart, accompanied by Carson J. Robison, recorded a song called "The Moonshiner's Lament" in 1925 on the Victor label, #20058.

I can't say whether it's the same song described above, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 08:54 PM

Do you mean this one? ... I've been a moonshiner, for seventeen long years, I've made all my money on whiskeys and beers ...?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 08:28 PM

Red, do you remember any of the words from the song? A phrase or two would help ensure we have the right song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 07:50 PM

I found a listing of songs on the soundtrack and there is not one by that name. Is it possible you mean Good Old Mountain Dew? If so, the chords are easy--straight G major progression.

Subject: MOONSHINER'S LAMENT
From: GUEST,RedCassis
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 05:31 PM

Hi folk music luvers! I'm with ya!

I was just wondering if anyone has the lyrics (chords wouldn't hurt either) to the Moonshiner's Lament.. It is sung by Ronny Cox in the movie Deliverance from 1972. Please, if you know the lyrics or have a book with the lyrics in it, post them :)