Released: 2022
Lainey Wilson’s “Watermelon Moonshine” captures a slice of youthful innocence, first loves, and the bittersweet taste of growing up, all soaked in the flavors of a homemade liquor under the summer sky. It’s a song that charms you with its sweet, nostalgic embrace, telling the story of two young lovers exploring the depths of affection, freedom, and the rites of passage under the veil of adolescence. Wilson’s imagery and storytelling invite listeners into a world that’s both vivid and intimate, making you taste, feel, and remember the thrill of being young and in love.
The song kicks off by painting a picture of carefree days right after senior year, a time when summer holds promise and every moment feels significant. Hanging out on the gate of his truck, under a setting sun, symbolizes the transition from youth to adulthood. The mention of “Bein’ brave as 18 gets” and sharing “more than our hearts” with the help of a mason jar hints at the innocence and boldness of first experiences. This scene sets the stage for a story about experimenting with love and moonshine, where both are intertwined with the thrill of discovery.
Drinking watermelon moonshine with a cut of lime, hidden away in the kudzu vines, is a metaphor for the sweetness and sting of young love – exhilarating yet undefined. Wilson cleverly uses the experience of sharing their first drink together to reflect on their young romance. The alcohol, much like their relationship, is something they’re figuring out as they go, a mix of innocence and daring. When Wilson confesses it was her first drink and proclaims “he was the one”, it underscores the naïveté and earnestness that often accompany young love.
The chorus repeats this motif, emphasizing that their youth and lack of experience didn’t hinder their exploration of love. The repeated lines “Too young to know what love was, But we were learnin’ on a sweet buzz” suggest a coming-of-age tale where lessons are learned not through wisdom passed down but through lived experience. Here, Wilson hints at the ephemeral nature of such moments and relationships – intense, unforgettable, but often fleeting.
As the song progresses to its bridge, “I thought that high would last forever/But that ain’t what it does,” Wilson introduces a note of reality into the reminiscence. This reflection evokes the universal truth of impermanence, especially pertaining to the highs of youth and first love. The questioning – “Maybe we were drunk in love or maybe we were just…” leaves the story open-ended, inviting listeners to ponder the fine line between love and infatuation, especially when looked back upon through the lens of maturity.
“Watermelon Moonshine” is more than just a song about first love; it’s a time capsule of emotion, capturing a moment when everything feels intense and infinite. Lainey Wilson, through vivid storytelling and relatable imagery, brings to life a universal story of growth, memory, and the sweetness of youth, forever tied to the taste of water,melon moonshine.
