Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'

Subject: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Áine
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 01:39 AM

Has anyone written down and/or run across the lyrics to John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto' by by Chris Thomas King and Colin Linden? I've been listening to my 'Down From The Mountain' CD to try and catch all of them, but I'm still unable to understand a few words. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 02:07 AM

We looked for it once before, dear, and didn't find it. I still didn't find it this time. Sorry. Why don't you post what you can figure out?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 04:46 AM

Good lord!! But then its no surprise. The John Law I lived 2 doors away from was a right rebel.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Áine
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 10:15 AM

Dear Sorcha,

I swear on my Mudcat badge and beanie hat that I did several searches of both the Forum and the DT, looking for any info on this song; but, nothing at all came up. '-) The last 'Cat look-see must've happened while I was away with the good people (i.e. flat on my back and not able to crawl to the 'puter).

I haven't typed up my 'notes' yet; but I'll try to do so today and post what I've got.

All the best, Áine

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN LAW BURNED DOWN THE LIQUOR STO'
From: Áine
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 07:40 PM

Alrightey, here's my best guess at the lyrics. If anyone knows the 'official' version, please let us know. ;-)

All the best, Áine

John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
(Chris Thomas King and Colin Linden)

Moonshine whiskey oughta be a crime,
When I start drinkin', I'm bound to lose my mind,
Oh brother, din' it get me through hard times.

Now what's that smokin' yonder 'cross the hill?
Look like our secret hideaway, we has so many a year,
John Law done come an' run us 'way from here.

He burned down the liquor sto'
He burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
For that bootleg whiskey, where we gon' go?

Workin' in the fields all the hot long day
Just thinkin' 'bout the night we used to dance our blues away
But now I feel I'm drinkin' my own tears.

He turned water to whiskey, that's what the preacher say,
Lawd, I need a miracle, to git me through the day,
Muddy water come, and wash my blues away.

He burned down the liquor sto'
He burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
For that bootleg whiskey, where we gon' go?

Instrumental Break

John Law didn't mind us havin' a little fun,
'Cuz when we made money, he would git him some,
The jungle rotgut 'till the mornin' come.

But when the money got low, he took me off to jail,
'Cuz I drank all my corn liquor, and had no mo' to sell,
I ain't had no one to git me out on bail.

He burned down the liquor sto'
He burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
For that bootleg whiskey, where he gon' go?

Good mornin', Judge, what may be my fine?
When the Judge taste' my whiskey, he didn't give me no time,
He said, 'Could you make me some mo' of yo' moonshine?'

He burned down the liquor sto'
He burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
For that bootleg whiskey, where we gon' go?

Well, he burned down the liquor sto'
He burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
John Law burned down the liquor sto'
For that bootleg whiskey, where we gon' go?

lyrics corrected reflecting Jim Dixon's post below by mudelf ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 02:45 PM

A different arrangement of "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'" is included in Chris Thomas King's album "Legend of Tommy Johnson Act I." Click here to play a RealAudio file, found at that web page, of the entire song. The words are a bit clearer than the version on "Down from the Mountain."

(This page has some sound samples of other songs on that album.)

Áine, your transcription may be perfect, but King sings one verse differently on the studio recording. The verse after the first chorus goes:

Workin' in the fields all the hot long day
Just thinkin' 'bout the night we used to dance our blues away
But now I feel I'm drinkin' my own tears.

(I suspect King inadvertently sang the wrong line in the concert version.)

Also, in verse 2 he sings "fields" instead of "hill", but that doesn't seem significant.

This is a wonderful song. Thanks, Áine, for calling my attention to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Áine
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 03:48 PM

Thanks, Jim! You know, it did sound like Chris was kinda 'faking' that line on the Down From The Mountain CD. I'll correct my lyrics to reflect his version on his own CD -- which is in Dear Hubby's car, dang it, and I keep forgetting to steal it away from him (hehehe).

Many thanks, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 04:08 PM

I still have some doubts about "the jungle rotgut" but that makes as much sense as anything else I can think of.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'
From: Áine
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 04:14 PM

I listened to that line over and over, and that's the best I could do. Does it sound any different to you on Chris' own CD?

-- Áine