Moonshine
by Foy Vance (featuring Kacey Musgraves)

Album: Live by Night (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Northern Irish singer-songwriter Foy Vance collaborated with country star Kacey Musgraves on this song. It was recorded for the crime movie, Live by Night which follows a bootlegger who becomes a notorious gangster.

    "When I first heard [it], I got a really fun, southern vibe from it," Musgraves said. "I thought that it would be kind of a fun challenge for me to figure out how to mix in my own flavor and my bits of harmony with the song."
  • Foy composed the song and said Musgraves was the first choice to accompany him. "Kacey got involved when we wanted to have a female vocal on there because there are a couple of really strong sort of female characters in the film," he said.
  • The word "Moonshine" meaning "illicit liquor" was used to describe the illegal whisky made by Appalachian distillers. The distillation was done by moonlight to avoid discovery.
  • Other songs on our database about moonshine include:

    "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle.

    "Moonshine" by Bruno Mars.

    "Mexican Moonshine" by Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers.

    "MoonshineIn The Trunk" by Brad Paisley.

    "Moonshine" by Paul Weller.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.