I've been a moonshiner
For seventeen long years
And I've spent all my money
On whiskey and beer

I'd go to some hollow
And sit on my step
And if the whiskey don't kill me
Well, then I don't know what will

I go to some bar room
And drink there with my friends
Where the women can't follow
And see what it is I spend

God bless 'em pretty women
Oh, I wish they was mine
Their breath is as sweet as
The dew on the vine

Let me eat when I am hungry
Let me drink up when I'm dry
Give me a dollar when I'm hard up
Some religion when I die

The whole world is a bottle
Yeah, life been but a dram
When the bottle gets empty
Well, it sure ain't worth a damn