The Rare Old Mountain Dew is a jaunty Irish drinking song celebrating the qualities of Irish moonshine called poitin. Though illegal for many years, this powerful home-distilled drink became exceptionally popular, leading to its status as an emblem of Irish culture. True poitin can only be distilled in Ireland, where it has long since passed into song and story.
The Rare Old Mountain Dew was written in 1882 by Edward Harrigan. It is here sung by the Clancy Brothers and Thomas Makem.
Lyrics:
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Let grasses grow and waters flow in a free and easy way,
But give me enough of the fine old stuff that's made near Galway Bay,
And policemen all from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too,
Oh, we'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip
Of the rare old Mountain Dew.
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
At the foot of the hill there's a neat little still,
Where the smoke curls up to the sky,
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell,
That there's poitin brewin' nearby.
It fills the air with odors, rare,
And betwixt both me and you,
When home you stroll, you can take a bowl,
Or a bucket of the Mountain Dew.
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Know that learned men who use the pen,
Have wrote your praises high,
The sweet poitin from Ireland green,
Distilled from wheat and rye.
Throw away with your pills, it'll cure all ills
Of Pagan, Christian or Jew,
Take off your coat and grease your throat
With the rare old Mountain Dew.
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
Hi di-diddly-idle-um, diddly-doodle-idle-um,diddly-doo-ri-diddlum-deh
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