Way on up in the tennessee hills,
there lived an old hermit named moonshiner bill
now billy he ain't always lived by himself
as you can tell by the pictures on his livin room shelf
a black and white photo of a beautiful lass
in a wooden frame behind some broken glass
told a sad tale that bill would rather forget
of his younger days when wisdom he hadn't met
his darlin' and joy, Julianna her name
eyes like sapphires that set bill's heart aflame
she gave him lovin' like he'd never know again
when in come a richer fella on the midnight train
now billy he worked hard every day of his life
and hoped sweet Julianna might become his wife
but out from the desert come a Texas oil man
and snatched sweet Julianna right outta billy's hand
Moonshiner Bill, keep on climbin' those hills
and chasin' those spirits through the trees
ain't no jug o' punch gonna bring your baby back
only have you crawlin' 'round on your knees
Now this oil man from Texas named Jimmy,
didn't give a damn for no-one but himself
one look at Julianna and he knew he had to have her
and damn the consequences though he knew them well
One afternoon Billy thought he'd scurry on home
and Julianna thought that 'til sundown he'd be gone
so she up and called Jimmy, in the mood for a little messin'
they both wound up on the wrong end of Billy's smith & wesson
Moonshiner Bill, you're sweet darlin' you've killed
and now it's time for you to pay the piper
The County Sherriff's out and hot on your trail
said you're gonna find yourself some time alone in jail
The lawyer said it was a crime of passion
and it kept a-ringin in the jury's ears
the judge, he said, instead of walkin' down the aisle,
you'll be doin' ten to twenty years
Way on up in the Tennessee hills
there lived an old hermit named moonshiner bill
out behind his shack he went and laid himself to rest
with a black and white photograph clutched to his chest
