Blue Moon Of Kentucky

Album: Blue Moon Of Kentucky (1946)
Play Video
  • Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue
    Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue

    It was on a moonlight night
    The star is shining bright
    And they whispered from on high
    Your love has said good-bye

    Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and said good-bye

    Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue
    Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue

    It is on a moonlight night
    The stars shining bright
    They whispered from high
    Your love has said good-bye

    Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining
    Shine on the one that's gone and said good-bye Writer/s: Bill Monroe
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TuneCore Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • Love from MsI know who he wrote the song about.
  • Tee from UsNobuo, In English, in the Us, and maybe other places the word 'blue' is used to express being unhappy. A 'Blue Moon' is a name for when there are two full moons occurring in one month. It doesn't literally mean the color blue. So, 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' "shines on the one who left and made me blue" or something like that. Another way that the word blue is used as a description in Kentucky, is bluegrass, the plant, which does is a fine silky grass that is attractive in lawns and is blue tinged on the ends. Bill Monroe, who wrote "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is the originator of a style of music that is called 'bluegrass', probably because he was a native of Kentucky.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 25th 1954, Elvis Presley performed "Blue Moon of Kentucky" live on the 'Grand Ole Opry' in Nashville, TN...
    Two weeks later on October 9th Elvis' covered version of Bill Monroe's classic peaked at #6 on Billboard's Memphis C&W Territorial Best Sellers in Stores chart...
    R.I.P. to 'The Father of Bluegrass' {1911 – 1996} and to 'The King' {1935 – 1977}.
  • Nobuo from Tkyo, JapanQuestion: Why is the moon in Kentucky blue?
    I've never been to Kentucky. I really want to know.
    -Knob, Japan
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia FederationAs written in '25 Albums that Rocked the World' Book by Chris Charlesworth, Geoff Brown, David Buckley and Andrew Doe : "Presley worked similar magic on the flipside, a bluegrass tune by the father of the genre, Bill Monroe. His original had the “high lonesome” sound of Forties bluegrass, with keening vocals and a tight, restrained rhythm. Elvis started out singing the song that way, then cut loose the chains and played it like an uptempo blues tune. By the time the record was finished, it was hard to tell which side was country and which was blues."
  • Pat from Albuquerque, NmMonroe had a bluegrass festival in Bean Blossom, Indiana every summer. He only allowed traditional bluegrass bands (acoustic instruments only, no "newgrass" songs) to play in the festival. Very traditional, but really good music. Yes, the Bluegrass Boys played "Blue Moon of Kentucky." The Festival is still around:

    http://www.beanblossom.com/

    I've attended once, and was blown away. You could stroll around the parking lot and hear many amateurs and pros getting down in the back of a truck. I wish I'd had a tape recorder...
  • John from Cincinnati, OhAlso covered by Al Kooper on his first solo album, "I Stand Alone", presumably as a put-on (since it ends with him saying, "This sounds just like the Byrds.").
  • Jl from French GuyanaThis is one of "sir" [:-)]Paul McCa's favourites, he often sings it on interviews and early solo gigs, when he doesn't want to play a Beatles song, which is of course what everbody's waiting for.
    He once sang it with George and Ringo, though (cf. The Beatles Anthology).
  • Sara from Greenville, AlThis was also covered by Rick Nelson on "Rick's Rareties".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.