Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew is a citrus flavored soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It was first marketed locally in 1948 and across the United States in 1964.

Historical meanings

Mountain Dew was originally southern and Irish slang for moonshine (homemade whiskey), or poitín as it is called in Ireland.

Related Topics:
Moonshine - Poitín - Ireland

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An 1882 song from Ireland "The Rare Old Mountain Dew" (words by Edward Harrigan and music by Dave Braham) begins:

Related Topics:
1882 - Edward Harrigan - Dave Braham

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:Let grasses grow and waters flow

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:In a free and easy way,

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:But give me enough of the rare ould stuff,

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:That's made near Galway Bay,

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:Come gougers all from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too,

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:And we'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip,

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:Of the rare ould mountain dew.

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A 1947 version by Grandpa Jones (1913-1998) may be better-known to Americans:

Related Topics:
1947 - Grandpa Jones - 1913 - 1998

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:There's a big holler tree down the road here from me

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:where you lay down a doller er two.

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:When you come round the bend and when you come back again

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:there's a jug full of good old mountain dew

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:Oh they call it that old mountain dew and them that refuse it are few.

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:I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug with some good old mountain dew.

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And one more from Bluegrass group Flatt and Scruggs:

Related Topics:
Bluegrass - Flatt and Scruggs

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:There's a big hollow tree down the road here from me

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:Where you lay down a dollar or two

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:You stroll 'round the bend and you come back again

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:There's a jug full of good old mountain dew

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:They call it that mountain dew

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:And them that refuse it are few

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:I'll hush up my mug if you fill up my jug

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:With that good old mountain dew

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:My uncle Mort, he's sawed off and short

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:He measures about four foot two

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:But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint

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:Of that good old mountain dew

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:Well, my old aunt June bought some brand new perfume

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:If had such a sweet smelling pew

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:But to her surprise when she had it analyzed

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:It was nothing but good old mountain dew

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:Well, my brother Bill's got a still on the hill

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:Where he runs off a gallon or two

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:The buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can't fly

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:From smelling that good old mountain dew

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