White Lightning
George Jones
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Well in North Carolina, way back in the hills Me and my old pappy had a hand in a still We brewed white lightnin' 'til the sun went down Then he'd fill him a jug and he'd pass it around Mighty, mighty pleasin, pappy's corn squeezin' Whshhhoooh... white lightnin' Well the "G" men "T" men revenuers, too Searchin' for the place where he made his brew They were looking, tryin to book him, but my pappy kept a-cookin' Whshhhoooh... white lightnin' Well I asked my old pappy why he called his brew White lightnin' 'stead of mountain dew I took a little sip and right away I knew As my eyes bugged out and my face turned blue Lightnin' started flashin' thunder started clashin' Shhhoooh... white lightnin' Well the "G" men "T" men revenuers, too Searchin' for the place where he made his brew They were looking, tryin to book him, but my pappy kept a-cookin' Whshhhoooh... white lightnin' Well a city slicker came and he said "I'm tough" I think I wanna taste that powerful stuff He took one s-s-slug and drank it right down And I heard him a moaning as he hit the ground Mighty, mighty pleasin, pappy's corn squeezin' Whshhhoooh... white lightnin'
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Written by: J.P. Richardson
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, GLAD MUSIC CO.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Writers and Inspiration"White Lightning" was written by J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson in 1959.
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Vocals and PerformanceThe song "White Lightning" is famously sung by American country singer George Jones.
- It was one of George Jones’ first number-one country hits.
- Jones was reportedly drunk during his recording of the song, which took over 80 takes.
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Song ContentThe song tells the story of a moonshiner in the American South.
- Its title, "White Lightning", is a slang term for homemade whiskey or moonshine.
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Chart Success"White Lightning" eventually became a hit, reaching the top position on the Billboard country singles charts.
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Timing and ReleaseThe release of "White Lightning" by George Jones in 1959 came tragically just a few months after The Big Bopper had died in a plane crash.
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Popular CoversThe song has been covered by numerous other artists over the years, including country music star Hank Williams Jr.
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Cultural ImpactIt is considered a classic of the country genre and is one of George Jones’ signature songs.
- "White Lightning" has been included on numerous compilation albums and is a staple in live performances.
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Video and FilmThe music video of "White Lightning" has gained millions of views on YouTube.
- The song was featured in the film "Crazy Heart" starring Jeff Bridges.
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Recording IssuesAccording to music industry lore, George Jones had trouble with the tongue-twisting lyrics of the song due to his inebriation. He supposedly took around 80 takes to get it right, making it one of the most time-consuming songs he ever recorded.
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Song LegacyDespite its challenging recording process, "White Lightning" remains an icon in country music history, demonstrating Jones’ versatility as an artist and performer, and it remains one of his most enduring hits.
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Citation
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"White Lightning Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/34146312/George+Jones/White+Lightning>.
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