Bob

I've been a moonshiner,
For seventeen long years,
I've spent all my money,
On whiskey and beer,
I go to some hollow,
And sit at my still
And if whiskey dont kill me,
Then I dont know what will,

I go to some bar room,
And drink with my friends,
Where the women cant follow,
And see what I spend,
God bless them pretty women,
I wish they was mine,
Their breath is as sweet,
The dew on the vine,

Let me eat when I am hungry,
Let me drink when I am dry,
A dollar when I am hard up,
Religion when I die,
The whole world's a bottle,
And life's but a dram,
When the bottle gets empty,
It sure aint worth a damn.


If you haven't heard Bob Dylan sing this traditional song, then you haven't heard him sing.

Wouldn't call it a rip-off. Sounds more like what became of the traditional song after a few generations in moonshine country. (Compare "A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go" with "Froggy Went A-Courtin'", also sung by Dylan).

Originally posted by sasquatch672
That's a ripoff of an old Irish drinking song.

I've played the Wild Rover
For many's the year
And I've spent all me money
On Whiskey and beer

Blah blah blahblahblah
blah blah blah blah blaaaaah
And I never will play the Wild Rover
No More

And it's no, nay, never
Clap clap clap clap
No nay never no more
Well I'll play the Wild ...[text shortened]... ed me 'neigh'
Such a customer like yours
I could have any day

And it's no, nay, never...

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Wouldn't call it a rip-off. Sounds more like what became of the traditional song after a few generations in moonshine country. (Compare "A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go" with "Froggy Went A-Courtin'", also sung by Dylan).

Originally posted by Wulebgr
When the Irish moved to Appalachia, they became moonshiners. They brought the song with 'em, and it evolved.

American folk music comes from Ireland and became the basis for Country and a lot of classic Rock.

Originally posted by Redmike
I don't think American folk music comes solely from Ireland.