"Blue Moon of Kentucky" is a waltz written in 1945 by bluegrass musician Bill Monroe and recorded by his band, the Blue Grass Boys. Some think its roots may trace back to "Roll Along, Kentucky Moon", a waltz Jimmie Rodgers recorded about 15 years earlier. Here is my cover of it with the Yazoo Ramblers, which I posted to the channel on June 12, 2026.
Elvis Presley and Paul McCartney have both recorded it. It is the official bluegrass song of Kentucky, and in 2002 Monroe's version was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. CMT ranked it No. 11 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.
Why I picked it
This is the home of my ancestors. My grandmother was a blue Kentucky girl from Harrodsburg.
Credits
- Song: Blue Moon of Kentucky
- Original artist: Bill Monroe
- Written by: Bill Monroe
- Played by: Cal and friends
Session notes
- Posted to YouTube: June 12, 2026
- Length: 2:45
Join the ramble
Song Stories is where I share the story behind each cover on Cal Carter's Yazoo Ramblers Channel. I record the covers in my garage in Milton, GA, and I put the story and the credits here. If this song means something to you, tell me about it in the YouTube comments. I'd like to hear it.
If you are new here, the playlist below has the rest of the Yazoo Ramblers covers, and my music page has them all in one place.
Keep rambling
- Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hsuHu8BiXZo
- More of my covers: https://www.gulfshoreslife.com/the-yazoo-ramblers-band-covers
- Playlist: Yazoo Rambler Covers - Americana & Blues Classics Covers: The Yazoo Ramblers Sessions (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaYy11pUoiVYXStCbXs7Th_FcOKuj5TMR)
- Previous song story: Gimme Back My Bullets
- Next song story: Far Away Eyes
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