Whiskey Hill

Billy’s dad made whisky in his old granddaddy’s still
A family tradition behind their cabin on the hill
Just Billy and his daddy, his mom already gone
Them doctor bills done ‘em in, dad sold most the farm

They made a crop like anyone else, coulda been corn or wheat
Used copper tubes and firewood instead of sowing seeds
They’d come to town ‘bout once a month, buy sugar from the mill
Get back to work out on the place folks called Whiskey Hill

Never took to farming, found a way to pay the bills
With fire, corn and sugar, and a rusty metal still
People came from miles around, ‘til they got their fill
Some folks never made it down…
…down from Whisky Hill

This was after prohibition, you could pick up beer and wine
But a Saturday trip up Whisky Hill became ritual in time
Business was booming, the family couldn’t lose
Billy knew the time had come to break his dad the news

Billy helped his daddy, but he never touched the stuff
Moonshine done his grandpa in, he’d seen enough
He was headed for the army, come back on the G.I. Bill
Go to school and find a life, down from Whiskey Hill

Never took to farming, found a way to pay the bills
With fire, corn and sugar, and a rusty metal still
People came from miles around, ‘til they got their fill
Some folks never made it down…
…down from Whisky Hill

Billy was headed out the door when it was time to leave that day
Saw his daddy passed out by the still, and couldn’t turn away
His dad looked like his grandpa, when his grandpa’d taken ill
Helped him back inside the house up on Whisky Hill

Billy took his bags, dropped ‘em on the floor
Shook his head at daddy and wandered out the door
He was stranded here awhile, alone with that old still
Didn’t stop to think, he took a drink up on Whisky Hill

One drink led to another and one year led to two
Never made the army, never went to school
He took over daddy’s work, after daddy died
But it was only Billy pouring shine on Saturday night

The town lost track of Billy, up there in the wilderness
Moonshine’s day was over, except for him I guess
Everyone has their demons; it was alcohol took Bill
A family tradition up on whisky hill