About The Song
George Jones was in high spirit when he appeared on one of Hee Haw show’s episodes to perform his signature hit “White Lightning.” If you happened to be in that program watching him sing face to face, I bet you’ll consider such experience unforgettable. But, even if you just watched the preserved footage of that episode on Youtube, you can’t help but feel entertained. The jovial vibe that Jones has put into the song was apparently real. That’s despite the plenty of emotions that went into recording the song. Managing to turn a poignant song into a fun-loving tune made Jones a singer, performer, and entertainer all rolled into one.
While many consider “He Stopped Loving Her Today” as George Jones’ most famous hit, “White Lightning” remains his signature song. In fact, the song gave the singer the first big hit of his career. That’s when the record reached the top spot of the country chart on April 13, 1959. It wasn’t Jones though who first recorded the song. Before him, rockabilly artist J.P. Richardson or best-known as “the Big Bopper” released “White Lightning” as a single in February 1959.
Richardson and Jones were known to be good friends. A week before Jones was supposed to record his version of the song, Richardson died. He, alongside singers Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The tragic event was later named as “The Day the Music Died.” That made the recording of the song an emotional experience for Jones. But his spirited performance of “White Lightning” on Hee Haw showed no trace of emotion in the singer. It’s purely fun, and that’s utterly amazing. It’s probably his sincerest way of remembering his friend.
Video
Lyrics
Well, in the North of Carolina, way back in the hills
Me and my old pappy and he had him a still
He brewed white lightnin’ ’til the sun went down
And then you’d fill him a jug and he’d pass it around
Mighty, mighty pleasin’, pappy’s corn squeezin’
Sh, 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 on cookin’
Phoo, 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’
Sh, 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 on cookin’
Sh, white lightnin’
Well, a city slicker came and he said “I’m tough”
I think I want to taste that powerful stuff
He took one s-slug and drank it right down
And I heard him a-moaning as he hit the ground
Mighty, mighty pleasin’, your pappy’s corn squeezin’
Shoo, white lightnin’
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 on cookin’
Sh, white lightnin’