h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In Ireland, Mountain Dew is an old euphemism for Whiskey.

Well, 'round here, (the hills of East Tennessee) some old timers used to call home brewed whiskey "mountain dew", or "moonshine". I think "moonshine" is the more well known name.

I believe the person who wrote the entry either stated or implied that the originators of Mountain Dew took the name from a local euphemism for home brewed alcoholic beverage. If not, they should have, because, believe me, it is. I've lived in Knoxville, Tennessee or the surrounding area all my life and I've heard home brewed liquor called all sorts of names. Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, tonic, corn squeezin's, shine, and branch water, to name a few.

I'm sure some of those come over from Ireland, as did several of our ancestors.

I can think of two Irish songs about whiskey: A Bucket of the Mountain Dew, and The Moonshiner.

There's a Bluegrass song with "Mountain Dew" in the title. I can't think if that is the whole name of the song or not. I think the Osborn Brothers may have sang it. Can't say for sure, I'm not really into Bluegrass music. All that nasal twang gets on my nerves.

However, give me a good pipe and drum band...

Oh waily waily!

Sure, however, after hearing "Scotland the Brave" non-stop for six hours by countless bands in competition at a Highland Festival, well, you can only take small doses.

Some lyrics to "Mountain Dew" - there are more (about Uncle Mort I think) but these are the ones I remember right now. Oh, and I grew up in East Tennessee but love all kinds of music - I'll see your pipe and drum band and raise you some sea chanteys.



CHORUS:
They call it that good ol' mountain dew
the ones who refuse it are few
I'll hush up my mug if you'll fill up my jug
with that good ol' mountain dew

My uncle Mort was sawed off and short
he measured four foot two
but he'd think he's a giant when he'd get a pint
of that good ol' mountain dew.

Down the road here from me is an old holler tree
where you lay down a dollar or two
you go round the bend and you come back again
there's a jug of that good ol' mountain dew

Do you mean "Scotland Depraved"?
"Bring me my whiskey mother,
I'm feeling frisky mother
bring me my sheep for I'm lonely tonight"

"England forever and Scotland just a weeee bit longer!"

Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack. Going away now.

Yep, that's the song I was thinking of. (Oops, ended that with a preposition.)

indolentcin, be nice, but you don't have to leave.

oh i certainly meant to say that...I did know that Mt. Dew was a euphamism...but if i I didn't I'm sorry!

Darth Zaphod

I think you did, I enjoyed your post very much.

I always get a little thrill when I see a post about something from my area of this mostly harmless planet.

I just can't ever think of anything to write about. Any sugestions?