published on
The third Return to Normal album, "The Briars and the Brome" is now available for download on Amazon (coming soon to iTunes, etc.)
Here's the third track, "Kentucky Moonshiner". It's loosely based on a traditional N. American folk song of the same name -- which is, in turn, based on the classic English language folk song, "The Wild Rover".
The traditional recorded versions of Kentucky Moonshiner are mostly either aggressive, dark, and hard driving, or (more to my liking) sparse and non-rhythmic. But despite the pesky illegality of this traditional trade, it is nevertheless a craft practiced in the bucolic valleys of the Appalachian Mountains -- one that requires knowledge, skill and patience. I tried to convey that sense of craftsmanship in this R2N version of...
KENTUCKY MOONSHINER
Well, I been a moonshiner for seventeen years,
spent all my money on whiskey and beers,
I go down to the holler and set up my still,
and I'll make you a gallon for a two dollar bill.
Then I go down to the tavern,
and drink with my friends,
no woman following me,
watching what I spend.
But I do love a pretty woman,
and how I wish she were mine,
her breath is as fresh as
the dew on the vine,
Kentucky moonshiner.
So I eat when I'm hungry
and drink when I'm dry,
if the moonshine don't kill me,
I'll live 'til I die,
God bless every moonshiner
you're all friends of mine.
May your days be as sweet
as your best batch of shine.
Kentucky moonshiner.
Seems I spent most all my days,
just a cooking up the 'shine,
never worked in no factory,
no dark, dusty mine,
I'm going down to the holler
going fire up my still
and I'll make you a gallon
for a two dollar bill.
------------------------------
Vocals by Marty and Corinne Lucas. Corinne plays the percussion, I play the other instruments (banjo, guitar, accordion, bass, etc.) by Marty Lucas. Arranged and produced by Return to Normal. Recorded by Return to Normal, North Judson IN USA,. Mastered by Jon Huxtable, smallfishrecordings. (c) Corinne and Marty Lucas, PO Box 16, North Judson IN USA 46366, all rights reserved.
We also produced "The Briars and the Brome" as a limited edition CD -- send me a DM if you'd like to purchase one.
- Genre
- Folk