(Intro) (Fast banjo roll kicks in alone) (Heavy bass drum stomps on the quarter notes: Thump... Thump... Thump... Thump) (Fiddle screams a high slide and the whole band crashes in) (YEE-HAW!) (Verse 1) Way up high in the smoky mist Where the GPS don’t exist Livin’ in a shack made of plywood scraps Dodgin’ the bears and the Federal traps He was a scrawny fella with a wizard’s beard The kinda man the government feared Wore a slouch hat low and overalls thin With a Lucky Strike grin and a gallon of sin! (Chorus) He said, "Jesus turned the water into wine But I turned the corn into pure moonshine!" Yeah, pour it in the jug, watch the bubbles rise It’ll burn out your gut and water your eyes Listen to the thump-keg rattle and moan Popcorn Sutton’s on the throne King of the Creek, Lord of the Mash Tradin’ white lightning for cold hard cash! (Verse 2) Got a Model A Ford with a four-banger heart He knew that engine apart by part Loadin’ up sugar, fifty sacks at a time Crossing the line just to make a dime He brewed it by the stream where the water runs cold Using a recipe a hundred years old Copper and solder and a steady hand The last free man in a regulated land! (Verse 3) Well, the revenuers came in their shiny black cars Tryina put a legend behind the bars They found the still and they smashed the worm But a hillbilly lesson is hard to learn He stood in the court, looked the Judge in the eye Said, "I made the liquor, I won’t deny It’s my daddy’s trade, it’s in my blood Runnin’ thick as the Mississippi mud!" (Chorus) He said, "Jesus turned the water into wine But I turned the corn into pure moonshine!" Yeah, pour it in the jug, watch the bubbles rise It’ll burn out your gut and water your eyes Listen to the thump-keg rattle and moan Popcorn Sutton’s on the throne King of the Creek, Lord of the Mash Tradin’ white lightning for cold hard cash! (Bridge) (Tempo slows down just a little, breakdown style - heavy bass and mandolin chop) They gave him eighteen months in a Federal cage But Popcorn wouldn't act on their stage He said, "I’m too old for a prison cell I’d rather drink with the Devil in Hell!" He climbed in his Ford just one last time Left the world behind on a mountain climb... (Guitar Solo - Fast, distorted, country-rock shredding) (Verse 4) Now the still is quiet in the Maggie Valley wood But the legend stands where the copper stood You can buy the jar with the name on the side But it ain’t the same as the outlaw ride If you listen close when the wind blows hard You can hear a banjo in the heavenly yard And a raspy voice laughin’ loud and deep Saying, "I kept the secrets I meant to keep!" (Chorus) He said, "Jesus turned the water into wine But I turned the corn into pure moonshine!" Yeah, pour it in the jug, watch the bubbles rise It’ll burn out your gut and water your eyes Listen to the thump-keg rattle and moan Popcorn Sutton’s on the throne King of the Creek, Lord of the Mash Tradin’ white lightning for cold hard cash! (Outro) Yeah, me and my likker... (Banjo breakdown) Last of the real deal... (Fiddle run) Popcorn! (Final chaotic crash of instruments) (Spoken in a raspy voice: "That's the last run I'm makin'.")
