We are happy to offer some special notes on all of the songs on the CD. Some of the text will be identical to that found on the CD, while there are special comments and further information added--some of which was not able to be printed due to size constraints. We hope you will enjoy this companion to your CD purchase. There are additional external links to other sites offering lyrics and guitar chords and tabulature for your convenience.
liner notes
One of the first skills from the Old World to make the trip over was the art of distilling whiskey. It came along with Irish Music to the Appalachians, and they turned to white lightning and bluegrass. This tongue-twisting tune, also known as "The Rare Auld Mountain Dew" is our favorite gauge of just how many good singers are out in the audience, and just how much they've had to drink.
This song features a double-tracking of Henry's fiddle, and single-str
ing leads by Brian as well.
This is one of the first Irish songs that Brian learned, and is still a very active part of his performances. It's always
fun to teach the song to a new audience and see them
actually be able to do the chorus by the end of the song.
(The Rare Old) Mountain Dew
Hi, dee-diddley-didle-dum,
didley-doodle-didle dum;
Diddley, do-ri-diddley-di-day
Hi, dee-diddley-didle-dum,
didley-doodle-didle dum;
Diddley, do-ri-diddley-di-day
Let grasses grow and waters flow
In a free and easy way
But give me enough of the finer stuff
That's made near Galway Bay
And policemen all from Donnegal
Sligo and Leitrim, too
We'll give them the slip when we take a sip
Of the rare old Mountain Dew
At the foot of a hill, there's a neat little still
Where the smoke curls up to the sky
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell That there's poteen brewing nearby
It fills the air with odor rare
That bewitch' both me and you
When home you stroll, you can take a bowl
Or a bucket of the Mountain Dew
Now, learned men who use the pen
Have wrote your praises high
That sweet poteen from Ireland green
Distilled from wheat and rye
Throw away your pills it'll cure all ills
Be they pagan or Christian or Jew
Take off your coat and grease your throat
With the rare old Mountain Dew
