Moonshine, Music, and Mystery: The Family Story Behind Rebekah Gilbert’s New Song

Some stories are too compelling to remain hidden in the past. For singer-songwriter Rebekah Gilbert, a family secret uncovered during a college genealogy project became the inspiration for her haunting new ballad, "Somebody Else’s House."

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The song, a country-tinged ballad rich with Southern Gothic storytelling, unfolds like a cinematic tale in just over three minutes. With a bluesy, banjo-driven melody, Gilbert brings to life a forgotten piece of her ancestry—one that intertwines the echoes of prohibition-era moonshiners with the weight of generational secrets.

A Family Mystery Unearthed

“When I was in college, I was required to do some genealogy research for one of my classes,” Gilbert recalls. “I decided to dig into my dad’s side of the family since I knew a good bit about my mother’s already.”

That curiosity led her to an astonishing discovery—a distant relative who was not only a moonshiner but had secretly maintained a second family just a few miles from his first. “We visited my great-grandmother, who shared fascinating stories about him,” Gilbert says. “I left with the impression that he was a harsh, short-tempered man.”

Years later, Gilbert stumbled across an old photograph of a man bearing the same name. In the picture, he stood with a family, a banjo in his hands. Though she couldn’t confirm his identity, the image added another layer to the mystery—and sparked an idea that would ultimately become a song.

From Hidden Histories to Haunting Lyrics

The concept of "Somebody Else’s House" deepened after an encounter in Nashville with a homeless man. “Our brief conversation left a lasting impression on me,” Gilbert shares. “It made me reflect on how generational cycles repeat until someone decides to break them.”

During a writing session with Amanda Williams, Gilbert wove together the threads of her family’s past, the struggles of the man she met in Nashville, and a phrase that had always resonated with her: You never know what’s going on in someone else’s home.

Williams infused the song with a gritty, blues-inspired edge, while producer Nicole Witt honed the arrangement, creating a haunting yet upbeat atmosphere. The track was recorded at John Paul White’s Sun Drop Sound Studio in Florence, Alabama, with a lineup of top-tier musicians: Sol Littlefield on banjo and guitars, Grayson Wright on keys, Jimbo Hart on bass, and Jon Davis on percussion. Their contributions added depth to the song’s evocative storytelling, bringing Gilbert’s ancestor—and his secrets—to life.

The Story Within the Song

With lyrics as striking as the history that inspired them, "Somebody Else’s House" paints a vivid picture of deception, legacy, and the truths that resurface across generations:

He played banjo

He and grandma had five kids

Ran moonshine in his hot rod Ford up and down the ridge

And what my sweet grandma didn’t know

He had another wife and three more kids

Just ten miles down the road

You never know what’s going on

In somebody else’s houseIt’s 190 proof

Bottled up under the same roofIn somebody else’s house

Gilbert’s ability to transform personal history into a song that resonates universally is a testament to her storytelling prowess. "Somebody Else’s House" is more than just a song—it’s a piece of family folklore set to music, a reminder that the past has a way of revealing itself in unexpected ways.

A Story Still Unfolding

For Gilbert, the journey doesn’t end with the song’s release. The deeper she dives into her family’s past, the more she uncovers—proving that some stories refuse to stay buried. With "Somebody Else’s House", she invites listeners to peer through the cracks of history, where truth lingers in whispers, waiting for someone to listen.