Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys – Blue Moon of Kentucky

About the song

Background

• “Blue Moon of Kentucky” is a classic bluegrass waltz written and performed by Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass music.
• Monroe first performed the song on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 1945 and recorded it for Columbia Records in 1946.
• The song’s distinctive sound features Monroe’s mandolin playing and the signature high lonesome vocals of bluegrass.

Themes

• The lyrics tell the story of a heartbroken lover under a blue moonlit Kentucky sky.
• Themes of love, loss, and betrayal are central to the song.
• The imagery of the blue moon adds an element of melancholy and loneliness.

Lyrics

The song opens with the now-famous line:

“Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin'”

The narrator pleads with the moon to keep shining, a silent witness to his pain.

• The lyrics detail how the lover was abandoned under a similar moonlit night, with the stars whispering of their lost love.
• The song continues with the narrator lamenting their situation, bathed in the sorrowful glow of the blue moon.

Legacy

“Blue Moon of Kentucky” is considered a cornerstone of bluegrass music.

• It has been covered by numerous artists across various genres, including Elvis Presley, who helped popularize the song with a faster-paced version.
• The song’s enduring popularity lies in its relatable themes of heartbreak and its beautiful melody that perfectly captures the essence of bluegrass.

Video

Lyrics