Bucket Of Mountain Dew
Or sometimes called The Real / Rare / Bucket Full Old Mountain Dew. The full sheet music score is included in the key of G and D Major including letter notes, also known as The Rare Old Mountain Dew, Traditional. I heard the Pogues and the Dubliners do a fine version of this. The Youtube video is of The Dubliners and the Pogues, alas it's hard to come across a decent drop of poteen any more. The Hills Of Connemara song is also written about the making of mountain dey / poteen. The second set of guitar chords in chordpro are set to The Dubliners And Pogues version. The song was also recorded by Foster And Allen, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem and Poitin. Recently recorded by Irish country singer Derek Ryan as part of his Irish Medley set. Now included is the solfege [ Do Re Mi ] sheet music notes. Mountain dew guitar / mandola tab in CGDA tuning added.
Let[D] the grasses grow and the waters flow in a free and easy[G] way,
But[D] give me enough of the[G] rare old stuff that's [D]made near[A] Galway[D] Bay
Come[D] 'goughers all from Donegal , Sligo and Leitrim[G] too
We'll[D] give them the slip and we'll[G] take a sip of the [G]rare old[A] mountain[D] dew
There's a neat little still at the foot of the hill where the smoke curls up to the sky
By a whiff of the smell you can tell right well that there's poitin boys close by
For it fills the air with perfume rare and betwixt both you and me
As home we roll , we can drink a bowl , or a bucket full of mountain dew
Now learned men as use the pen have writ the praises high
Of the rare poitin from Ireland green , distilled from wheat and rye
Away with your pills It'll cure all ills be you pagan Christian or Jew
So take of your coat and grease your throat with a bucket full of mountain dew
But[D] give me enough of the[G] rare old stuff that's [D]made near[A] Galway[D] Bay
Come[D] 'goughers all from Donegal , Sligo and Leitrim[G] too
We'll[D] give them the slip and we'll[G] take a sip of the [G]rare old[A] mountain[D] dew
There's a neat little still at the foot of the hill where the smoke curls up to the sky
By a whiff of the smell you can tell right well that there's poitin boys close by
For it fills the air with perfume rare and betwixt both you and me
As home we roll , we can drink a bowl , or a bucket full of mountain dew
Now learned men as use the pen have writ the praises high
Of the rare poitin from Ireland green , distilled from wheat and rye
Away with your pills It'll cure all ills be you pagan Christian or Jew
So take of your coat and grease your throat with a bucket full of mountain dew
Here’s a lively, session-style intro / turnaround riff for “The Rare Old Mountain Dew” in D Major, just like The Dubliners or The Clancy Brothers would kick it off.
It’s written for standard-tuned guitar (EADGBE) and works equally well on mandolin or fiddle.
🎶 Intro / Turnaround Riff – The Rare Old Mountain Dew (Key of D Major)(Play before Verse 1, or between verses as an instrumental break.)
Lively Irish Reel Feel – (D → G → D → A → D) e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----3---2------|-----0----------|-----3-2-0------|-----0----------| G|---2---2---2----|---0---0--------|---2-----2------|---2---2--------| D|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| D chord feel G lift A walk up Back to D For a slightly fuller version, here’s one that adds more movement (great for 2 guitars or fiddle + guitar):
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----3---2------|-----0----------|-----3-2-0------|-----2-0--------|----------------| G|---2---2---2----|---0---0--------|---2-----2------|---2---2-2-0----|----------------| D|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0-----------4-2-|0---------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| D chord feel G chord run A lead-in roll walk down to G back to D
💡 How to Use It
🎸 Optional Strummed VersionIf you prefer strumming instead of fingerpicking, just play:
D – G – D – A – D
(one bar each, with a bouncy Irish rhythm — ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑)
It’s written for standard-tuned guitar (EADGBE) and works equally well on mandolin or fiddle.
🎶 Intro / Turnaround Riff – The Rare Old Mountain Dew (Key of D Major)(Play before Verse 1, or between verses as an instrumental break.)
Lively Irish Reel Feel – (D → G → D → A → D) e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----3---2------|-----0----------|-----3-2-0------|-----0----------| G|---2---2---2----|---0---0--------|---2-----2------|---2---2--------| D|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| D chord feel G lift A walk up Back to D For a slightly fuller version, here’s one that adds more movement (great for 2 guitars or fiddle + guitar):
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|-----3---2------|-----0----------|-----3-2-0------|-----2-0--------|----------------| G|---2---2---2----|---0---0--------|---2-----2------|---2---2-2-0----|----------------| D|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0--------------|-0-----------4-2-|0---------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| D chord feel G chord run A lead-in roll walk down to G back to D
💡 How to Use It
- Intro: Play once before the first verse (“Let the grasses grow...”).
- Between verses: Play once to keep the energy rolling — great for singalongs.
- Ending: Repeat the last 2 measures and hit a big ringing D chord to close.
🎸 Optional Strummed VersionIf you prefer strumming instead of fingerpicking, just play:
D – G – D – A – D
(one bar each, with a bouncy Irish rhythm — ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑)
Here’s the full “The Rare Old Mountain Dew” with chords on every verse — arranged in D Major, the traditional key used in most Irish pub and folk versions.
It’s formatted for easy reading and playing, with a lively rhythm that fits both strumming and whistle/fiddle backing.
🎵 The Rare Old Mountain Dew(Traditional Irish – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1]
Let [D]the grasses grow and the waters flow
In a [A7]free and easy [G]way,
But [D]give me enough of the [G]rare old stuff
That’s [D]made near [A7]Galway [D]Bay.
Come [D]‘goughers all from Donegal,
Sligo and Leitrim [G]too,
We’ll [D]give them the slip and we’ll [G]take a sip
Of the [G]rare old [A7]Mountain [D]Dew.
[Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
(Optional — repeat after each verse)
[Verse 2]
There’s a [D]neat little still at the foot of the hill
Where the [A7]smoke curls up to the [G]sky,
By a [D]whiff of the smell you can [G]tell right well
That there’s [D]poitín [A7]boys close [D]by.
For it [D]fills the air with perfume rare,
And betwixt both you and [G]me,
As [D]home we roll we can [G]drink a bowl
Or a [G]bucket full [A7]of Mountain [D]Dew.
[Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
[Verse 3]
Now [D]learned men who use the pen
Have [A7]writ the praises [G]high,
Of the [D]rare poitín from [G]Ireland green,
Dis[D]tilled from [A7]wheat and [D]rye.
A[D]way with your pills, it will cure all ills,
Be you [A7]pagan, Christian, or [G]Jew,
So [D]take off your coat and [G]grease your throat
With a [G]bucket full [A7]of Mountain [D]Dew.
[Final Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 lively Irish rhythm)Keep it driving and bouncy — ideal for singalongs:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
or the Dubliners-style percussive march:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ (short downstrokes with emphasis on beats 2 and 4).
It’s formatted for easy reading and playing, with a lively rhythm that fits both strumming and whistle/fiddle backing.
🎵 The Rare Old Mountain Dew(Traditional Irish – Key of D Major)
[Verse 1]
Let [D]the grasses grow and the waters flow
In a [A7]free and easy [G]way,
But [D]give me enough of the [G]rare old stuff
That’s [D]made near [A7]Galway [D]Bay.
Come [D]‘goughers all from Donegal,
Sligo and Leitrim [G]too,
We’ll [D]give them the slip and we’ll [G]take a sip
Of the [G]rare old [A7]Mountain [D]Dew.
[Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
(Optional — repeat after each verse)
[Verse 2]
There’s a [D]neat little still at the foot of the hill
Where the [A7]smoke curls up to the [G]sky,
By a [D]whiff of the smell you can [G]tell right well
That there’s [D]poitín [A7]boys close [D]by.
For it [D]fills the air with perfume rare,
And betwixt both you and [G]me,
As [D]home we roll we can [G]drink a bowl
Or a [G]bucket full [A7]of Mountain [D]Dew.
[Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
[Verse 3]
Now [D]learned men who use the pen
Have [A7]writ the praises [G]high,
Of the [D]rare poitín from [G]Ireland green,
Dis[D]tilled from [A7]wheat and [D]rye.
A[D]way with your pills, it will cure all ills,
Be you [A7]pagan, Christian, or [G]Jew,
So [D]take off your coat and [G]grease your throat
With a [G]bucket full [A7]of Mountain [D]Dew.
[Final Chorus]
Oh, [D]hi the diddle diddle, hi the diddle day,
The [A7]rare old Mountain [G]Dew,
Where [D]men are strong and the [G]smoke is long,
And the [D]hearts are [A7]kind and [D]true!
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 lively Irish rhythm)Keep it driving and bouncy — ideal for singalongs:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
or the Dubliners-style percussive march:
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ (short downstrokes with emphasis on beats 2 and 4).
Here are the guitar chords as played by The Pogues And The Dubliners
Let the [F]grasses [C]grow and the [F]waters flow in a free [C]and easy[G] way,
But[C] give me enough of the[F] rare old stuff that's made [C]near Galway[D] Bay
[F]Come[C] 'goughers all from Donegal , Sligo and Leitrim[F] too
We'll give them the [C]slip and we'll[F] take a sip of the [C]rare old[A] mountain[D] dew
There's a [C]neat little still at the foot of the hill where the smoke curls up to the[F] sky
By a [C]whiff of the smell you can [F]tell right well that there's [C]poitin boys close by
For it fills the air with perfume rare and betwixt both me and [Am]you
As [C]home we roll , we can [F]drink a bowl , or a [G]bucket full of mountain dew
Let the [F]grasses [C]grow and the [F]waters flow in a free [C]and easy[G] way,
But[C] give me enough of the[F] rare old stuff that's made [C]near Galway[D] Bay
[F]Come[C] 'goughers all from Donegal , Sligo and Leitrim[F] too
We'll give them the [C]slip and we'll[F] take a sip of the [C]rare old[A] mountain[D] dew
There's a [C]neat little still at the foot of the hill where the smoke curls up to the[F] sky
By a [C]whiff of the smell you can [F]tell right well that there's [C]poitin boys close by
For it fills the air with perfume rare and betwixt both me and [Am]you
As [C]home we roll , we can [F]drink a bowl , or a [G]bucket full of mountain dew
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 800 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Mountain dew lyrics
Mountain dew guitar / mandola tab in CGDA
Included below's the solfege [ Do Re Mi ] sheet music notes for Mountain Dew.
