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These songs are the ones that when I hear them, I'll stop whatever I am doing for a minute and let the songwriter take me away. There are others, there are many good songs. Many songs by Jimmy Buffet (A Pirate Looks at Forty) and James Taylor (Gaia) and Crosby Stills and Nash (Southern Cross).

But these are the lyrics that stand out for me as 'great story ballards' if that is even a real category. They are great snapshots of Americana. Anyone else have some?

Pinging some others who I think are music fans, for a Saturday muse...

Got music?

Great Minds think alike!

I was going to go find "Edmund Fitzgerald" but saw you already had it.

Try this instead:

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN

(Price)

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new bluejeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk

------ organ solo ------

Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

Too cold for playing with horses and hubby is watchin' a ball game ;~D

ust sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour………
The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
the Minnow would be lost; the Minnow would be lost.
The ship took ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the Skipper too,
the Millionaire, and his Wife,
the Movie Star, the Professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle

Not sure it's quite what you mean - but this song paints for me an amazingly detailed portrait of a man's life. It's called "Alaska or Bust", by my favorite singer/songwriter, Andrew Peterson. It's a lot of fun to sing, too.

Margie, won't you listen to an old man's wish
They say it's mighty pretty in Alaska
My daddy used to talk about those deep sea fish
So there's something, darling, that I wanna ask you
So don't you turn me down

In the morning we would listen to the cattle calling
Lowing in the land of Okeechobee
Where it's flatter than the cardboard on the carport floor
And the cattails seem to wave just like they know me

Ah, but Enoch in the tackle shop
Goes on about the salmon caught
The time he and his brother sailed to Juneau

So get in, I'll do the driving
The bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie, get in, put down those dishes
The town will see us go if we're in luck
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

I've been holding down this farm that daddy left me, darling
The kids have married off and moved away
And the doctor says I'm healthy for an old man dying
Well enough to seize another day

So get in, I'll do the driving
Your bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie get it, these bones are dry
I've been running, but the cancer's catching up
So come on, it's Alaska or bust

There were days when I imagined that the clouds were mountains
Towering above the rolling ocean
And I was sailing on my tractor, turning hay out in the pasture
Catching salmon of my own while I was mowing

So get in, I'll do the driving
Your bag's already packed and in the truck
Margie get in, there's not much time
I've been running, but the cancer's catching up
The town will see us go if we're in luck

So come on, it's Alaska or bust

Renaissance SONG OF SCHEHERAZADE lyrics

The Sultan

Sultan king cruel majesty
Ordered that his women die
A single night this for all his wives
Takes his pleasure then their lives
And so for many days with the dawn
The sultan had his way
Wives were put to death
His name on their dying breath
Then one day as the evening came
Sultan sends for him a wife
Choose her well charms I wish to see
Bring her, send her in to me
Then came Scheherazade to his side
And her beauty shone
Like a flower grown
Gentle as he'd ever known
Scheherazade bewitched him
With songs of jewelled keys
Princes and of heroes
And eastern fantasies
Told him tales of sultans
And talismans and rings
A thousand and one nights she sang
To entertain her king
She sings, Scheherazade, Scheherazade, etc
The Young Prince And The Young Princess As Told By Scheherazade
And you would cause the sun to see your light
And then be shamed
You cover darkness with a thousand secret flames
With your love, oh my love, oh my love, my love
And I would cause the winds to blow a hundred different days
And bring the perfumes of the gardens of the ways
Of your love, oh my love, oh my love, my love
Crystal and the clay, nights and the days
All on the prince's seal
Eagle of the sky, lion of the earth
This is what the seal is worth, what the seal is worth
Holds all of the dreams of a man
Tapestries, wishes of man, pictures and visions of man
The spirit of the soul of the man
And he would vow to love her for the rest of all his days
The Festival
Sheherazade this day is yours
The bearers of your gifts now all around you stand
The finest silk made in the land
Is waiting for your choice
It shimmers at your hand
Sheherazade your life is one
You have today the sultan's love
The people watch you step into the sun
Stalls and bars of every kind
Food piled high on woven leaves for all to eat
Drums and flutes at every turn
The music winding, twisting through the crowded streets
Caravans from far away bring people laughing
People come to see the sultan in Baghdad today
Scheherazade her name is known
Her tale is told
The sultan let her life be spared
The festival begins this day
To celebrate her fame
The people sing her praise
Stories sung, the crowds are dancing
To the music and the entertainment all the voices sing
The people call to see the king
The sultan smiles
His story just begun
The sultan and Sheherazade are one
Scheherazade, Scheherazade
She told him tales of sultans and talismans and rings
A thousand and one nights she sang to entertain her king
She sings, Scheherazade, Sheherazade, Scheherazade, etc.

And the woman who sang this, Annie Haslam, had a 5 octave range at her prime.

I love heroic music. Most of the best "story telling" music is also heroic. There are also some great heoric pieces without lyrics, but they still tell a story, just the same. Movie themes are a prime example, like Patton, or The Guns of Navarone.

And then there are movie themes that explicitely tell a story:

Do not forsake me, oh my darling from High Noon

Do not forsake me,
Oh my darling
On this, our wedding day
Do not forsake me,
Oh my darling
Wait,
Wait along

I do not know
What fate awaits me
I only know
I must be brave
And I must face a man
Who hates me
Or lie a coward,
A craven coward
Or lie a coward
In my grave

Oh, to be torn
'Tweenst love and duty
Suposing I lose
My fair-haired beauty
Look at that big hand move along
Nearing high noon

He made a vow
While in state prison
Vowed it would be
My life or his'n
I'm not afraid of death
But oh
What will I do
If you leave me?

Do not forsake me,
Oh my darlin'
You made that promise
As a bride
Do not forsake me,
Oh my darlin'
Although you're grieving,
Don't think of leaving
Now that I need you
By my side

Wait along, wait along,
Wait along, wait along,
Wait along, wait along,
Wait along, wait along,
Wait along.

Ned Washington - Dmitri Tiomkin

Now, for a challenge to those interested. Find the story of how this movie was almost shelved after initial screenings and how an editor and this song saved it to become one of the top 5 movies of all time.

I think Buffet is well past 50 at this point, but yes, a great song. Thanks.

Marty Robbins was a master at this.

"El Paso" ,"Big Iron" are a couple that come to mind.

but what I really want to know is..."Just who shot who, at the Copa...Copacabana..."

My daddy's favorite:

EL PASO
Marty Robbins
- words and music by Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina
Music would play and Felina would whirl

Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina
Wicked and evil while casting a spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love, but in vain I could tell

One night a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved

So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor

Just for a moment I stood there In silence
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance and that was to run

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back and away I did ride
Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything's gone; in life nothing is left
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

I saddled up and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow a bullet will find me
Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa's Cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Felina I go

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa's back door

Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I'm getting weary, unable to ride

But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen
Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

From out of nowhere Felina has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for
One little kiss, then Felina good-bye

MIDI - FAITHFULLY

From a town...small town in Iowa
Came a hero whom you ought to know
Brad Kasal would protect his men
To the end he was prepared to go

Fallujah had been a living hell as they fought for their lives
Then, oh my God, he saw that grenade
He used his own body to protect his wounded comrade
He wouldn't let him die
Sacred words for you, Brad...Semper Fi

We are blessed to have such fine young men
Men who sacrifice so willingly
They stand up proud...it's their duty, they say
Heroes for all our kids to see

He now lives in constant pain but says there's no regrets
He says that he would do it all again
This is the measure of a real Marine
He wouldn't let him die
Sacred words for you, Brad...Semper Fi

Sacred words for you, sacred words for you, sacred words for you
Sacred words...Semper Fi

(fade out)

Well, since you asked so nicely, there is

Charlie On the MTA

Let me tell you the story
Of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA Charlie handed in his dime
At the Kendall Square Station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there the conductor told him,
"One more nickel."
Charlie could not get off that train.

Chorus:
                        Did he ever return,
                        No he never returned
                        And his fate is still unlearn'd
                        He may ride forever
                        'neath the streets of Boston
                        He's the man who never returned.

Now all night long
Charlie rides through the tunnels
the station
Saying, "What will become of me?
Crying How can I afford to see
My sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

Charlie's wife goes down
To the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window
She hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.

As his train rolled on
underneath Greater Boston
Charlie looked around and sighed:
"Well, I'm sore and disgusted
And I'm absolutely busted;
I guess this is my last long ride."

Now you citizens of Boston,
Don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for Walter A. O'Brien
Fight the fare increase!
And fight the fare increase
Vote for George O'Brien!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA.

Chorus: Or else he'll never return, No he'll never return
And his fate will be unlearned
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man (Who's the man)
He's the man who never returned.
He's the man (Oh, the man)
He's the man who never returned.
He's the man who never returned.

And then as an Auburn fan, my all-time favorite is
The Birmingham Bear Chase.

'Twas on November 29th
Ole Jordan blew his horn,
He loaded up his gun for Bear
And he left that Saturday morn
He called upon his boys in blue, the finest in the land
And on that day the made their way
To the town of Birmingham.

Birmingham, Birmingham
War damn Eagle, damn,
When we get there, we're gonna chase that Bear
All over Birmingham.

Love your choices! The first time I heard "Edmund Fitzgerald", I thought it was about an old time shipwreck. Had no idea it had only happened a few years before the song came out!

The one that always gets me fahklempt is "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelberg, cause it reminds me of my Daddy.

There's lots of great story-songs from Harry Chapin - I love "W.O.L.D.", "Taxi", "A Better Place To Be" and "Mr. Tanner", but the following is my all-time fave:

SNIPER

It is an early Monday morning.
The sun is becoming bright on the land.
No one is watching as he comes a walking.
Two bulky suitcases hang from his hands.

He heads towards the tower that stands in the campus.
He goes through the door, he starts up the stairs.
The sound of his footsteps, the sound of his breathing,
The sound of the silence when no one was there.

I didn't really know him.
He was kind of strange.
Always sort of sat there.
He never seemed to change.

He reached the catwalk. He put down his burden.
The four sided clock began to chime.
Seven AM, the day is beginning.
So much to do and so little time.

He looks at the city where no one had known him.
He looks at the sky where no one looks down.
He looks at his life and what it has shown him.
He looks for his shadow it cannot be found.

He was such a moody child, very hard to touch.
Even as a baby he never smiled too much. No no.No no.

You bug me, she said.
Your ugly, she said.
Please hug me, I said.
But she just sat there
With the same flat stare
That she saves for me alone
When I'm home.
When I'm home.
Take me home.

He laid out the rifles, he loaded the shotgun,
He stacked up the cartridges along the wall.
He knew he would need them for his conversation.
If it went as it he planned, then he might use them all.

He said Listen you people I've got a question
You won't pay attention but I'll ask anyhow.
I found a way that will get me an answer.
Been waiting to ask you 'till now.
Right now !

Am I ?
I am a lover whose never been kissed.
Am I ?
I am a fighter whose not made a fist.
Am I ?
If I'm alive then there's so much I've missed.
How do I know I exist ?
Are you listening to me ?
Are you listening to me ?
Am I ?

The first words he spoke took the town by surprise.
One got Mrs. Gibbons above her right eye.
It blew her through the window wedged her against the door.
Reality poured from her face, staining the floor.
He was kind of creepy,
Sort of a dunce.
I met him at the corner bar.
I only dated the poor boy once,
That's all. Just once, that was all.

Bill Whedon was questioned as stepped from his car.
Tom Scott ran across the street but he never got that far.
The police were there in minutes, they set up baricades.
He spoke right on over them in a half-mile circle.
In a dumb struck city his pointed questions were sprayed.

He knocked over Danny Tyson as he ran towards the noise.
Just about then the answers started comming. Sweet, sweet joy.
Thudding in the clock face, whining off the walls,
Reaching up to where he sat there, answering calls.

Thirty-seven people got his message so far.
Yes, he was reaching them right were they are.

They set up an assault team. They asked for volunteers.
They had to go and get him, that much was clear.
And the word spread about him on the radios and TV's.
In appropriately sober tone they asked "Who can it be ?"

He was a very dull boy, very taciturn.
Not much of a joiner, he did not want to learn.
No no.No no.

They're coming to get me, they don't want to let me
Stay in the bright light too long.
It's getting on noon now, it's goin to be soon now.
But oh, what a wonderful sound !

Mama, won't you nurse me ?
Rain me down the sweet milk of your kindness.
Mama, it's getting worse for me.
Won't you please make me warm and mindless ?

Mama, yes you have cursed me.
I never will forgive you for your blindness.
I hate you!

The wires are all humming for me.
And I can hear them coming for me.
Soon they'll be here, but there's nothing to fear.
Not any more though they've blasted the door.

As the copter dropped the gas he shouted " Who cares ?" .
They could hear him laughing as they started up the stairs.
As they stormed out on the catwalk, blinking at the sun,
With their final fusillade his answer had come.

Am I ?
There is no way that you can hide me.
Am I ?
Though you have put your fire inside me.
Am I ?
You've given me my answer can't you see ?
I was !
I am !
and now I Will Be
I WILL BE !!!

"Battle of New Orleans" [Johnny Horton]

Two from Tom T. Hall, one funny one sad:

A Week in a Country Jail

One time I spent a week inside a little country jail
And I don’t guess I’ll ever live it down
I was sittin’ at a red light when these two men came and got me
And said that I was speeding through their town

Well, they said, tomorrow morning you can see the judge then go.
They let me call one person on the phone
I thought I’d be there overnight so I just called my boss
To tell him I’d be off but not for long

Well, they motioned me inside a cell with seven other guys
One little barred up window in the rear
My cellmates said if they had let me bring some money in
We ought to send the jailer for some beer

Well, I had to pay him double ’cause he was the man in charge
And the jailer’s job was not the best in town
Later on his wife brought hot bologna, eggs and gravy
The first day I was there I turned it down

Well, next morning they just let us sleep but I was up real early
Wonderin’ when I’d get my release
Later on we got more hot bologna, eggs and gravy
And by now I wasn’t quite so hard to please

Two days later when I thought that I had been forgotten
The sheriff came in chewin’ on a straw
He said, where is the guy who thinks that this is Indianapolis?
I’d like to talk to him about the law.

Well, I told him who I was and told him I was working steady
And I really should be gettin’ on my way
That part about me bein’ who I was did not impress him
He said, the judge’ll be here any day.

The jailer had a wife and let me tell you she was awful
But she brought that hot bologna every day
And after seven days she got to lookin’ so much better
I asked her if she’d like to run away

The next mornin’ that old judge took every nickel that I had
And he said, son, let this teach you not to race.
The jailer’s wife was smilin’ from the window as I left
In thirty minutes, I was out of state.

Homecoming

I guess I should’ve written, Dad, to let you know that I was coming home
I’ve been gone so many years, I didn’t realize you had a phone
I saw your cattle coming in, boy they’re looking mighty fat and slick
I saw Fred at the service station, he told me that his wife is awful sick

You heard my record on the radio, oh, well it’s just another song
But I’ve got a hit recorded and it’ll be out on the market ’fore too long
I got this ring in Mexico, no, it didn’t cost me quite a bunch
When you’re in the business that I’m in, people call it puttin’ up a front

I know I’ve lost a little weight, I guess I am looking kind of pale
If you didn’t know me better, Dad, you’d think that I’d just gotten out of jail
No, we don’t ever call them beer joints, night clubs are the places that I work
You meet a lot of people there, but no, there ain’t much chance of gettin’ hurt

I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there with you all when Momma passed away
I was on the road and when they came and told me it was just too late
I drove by the grave to see her, boy, that really is a pretty stone
I’m glad that Fred and Jan are here, it’s better than you being here alone

Well I knew you’s gonna ask me who the lady is that’s sleeping in the car
That’s just a girl who works for me and, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar
We worked in San Antone last night, she didn’t even have the time to dress
She drove me down from Nashville and to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest

Well, Dad, I gotta go, we got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight
Let me take your number down, I’ll call you, and I promise you I’ll write
Now you be good and don’t be chasin’ all those pretty women that you know
And by the way if you see Barbara Walker tell her that I said hello.

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

You’ve painted up your lips
And rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating
Going out somewhere
The shadow on the wall
Tells me the sun is going down
Oh ruby
Don’t take your love to town

It wasn’t me
That started that old crazy asian war
But I was proud to go
And do my patriotic chore
And yes, it’s true that
I’m not the man I used to be
Oh, ruby I still need some company

Its hard to love a man
Whose legs are bent and paralysed
And the wants and the needs of a woman your age
Ruby I realize,
But it won’t be long I’ve heard them say until I not around
Oh ruby
Don’t take your love to town

She’s leaving now cause
I just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I’ve heard it
Some 100 times before
And if I could move I’d get my gun
And put her in the ground
Oh ruby
Don’t take your love to town

Oh ruby for god’s sake turn around

Johnny Reb

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

Saw you a-marchin' with Robert E. Lee
You held your head high tryin' to win the victory
You fought for your folks, but you didn't die in vain
Even tho' you lost they speak highly of your name, 'cause

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

I heard your teeth chatter from the cold outside
Saw the bullets open up the wounds in your side
I saw the young boys as they began to fall
You had tears in your eyes 'cause you couldn't help at all, but

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

I saw Gen'ral Lee raise a sabre in his hand
Heard the cannons roar as you made your last stand
You marched in the battle of the Grey and the Red
When the cannon smoke cleared, took days to count the dead, 'cause

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

When Honest Abe heard the news about your fall
The folks thought he'd call a great vict'ry ball
But he asked the band to play the song Dixie
For you, Johnny Reb, and all that you believe

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
Yeah, you fought all the way, Johnny Reb

You fought all the way
Johnny Reb, Johnny Reb
You fought all the way, Johnny Reb

Ghost Riders In The Sky

An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw
A'plowin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky

Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breaths he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky

Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, and shirts all soaked with sweat
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
They've got to ride forever in that range up in the sky
On horses snortin' fire, as they ride on, hear their cry

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky

As the riders loped on by him, he heard one call his name
"If you want to save your soul from hell a' ridin' on our range"
"Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride"
"A-tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies."

Yi-pi-yi-ay, Yi-pi-yi-o
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky

Don't Take Your Guns To Town

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out

Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He laughed and kissed his mom
And said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode away

Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again

Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers words

Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

Filled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered 'round
And wondered at his final words

Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

The Ballad Of Paladin

Have Gun Will Travel reads the card of a man.
A knight without armor in a savage land.

His fast gun for hire meets the calling wind.
A soldier of fotune is the man called Paladin.

Paladin, Paladin
Where do you roam?
Paladin, Paladin,
Far, far from home.

He travels on to where ever he must
a chess knight of silver is his badge of trust
There are campfire legends that the plainsmen spin
of the man with the gun
of the man called paladin

Paladin, Paladin
Where do you roam?
Paladin, Paladin,
Far, far from home.
Far, far from home.
Far, far from home.

North To Alaska

North to Alaska
Go north, the rush is on
Big Sam left Seattle in the year of ninety-two
With George Pratt, his partner and brother Billy, too
They crossed the Yukon River and found the bonanza gold
Below that old white mountain, just a little southeast of Nome

Sam crossed the majestic mountains to the valleys far below
He talked to his team of huskies as he mushed on through the snow
With the northern lights a runnin' wild in the land of the midnight sun
Yes Sam McCord was a mighty man
in the year of nineteen-one

Where the river is windin'
Big nuggets they're findin'
North to Alaska
Go north, the rush is on

George turned to Sam with his gold in his hand
Said, "Sam, you're lookin' at a lonely, lonely man
I'd trade all the gold that's buried in this land
For one small band of gold
To place on sweet Jenny's hand

'Cause a man needs a woman to love him all the time
You know Sam, a true love is so hard to find
I'd build for my Jenny a honeymoon home
Beneath that old white mountain
Just a little south of Nome."

Wolverton Mountain

They say don’t go on wolverton mountain
If you’re looking for a wife
’cause clifton clowers has a pretty young daughter
He’s mighty handy with a gun and a knife.

Her tender lips are sweeter than honey
And wolverton mountain protects her there
The bears and birds tell clifton clowers
If a stranger should wander there.

All of my dreams are on wolverton mountain
I want his daughter for my wife
I’ll take my chances and climb that mountain
Though clifton clowers, he may take my life.

Her tender lips are sweeter than honey
And wolverton mountain protects her there
The bears and birds tell clifton clowers
If a stranger should wander there.

I’m going up on wolverton mountain
It’s too lonesome down here below
It’s just not right to hide his daughter
From the one who loves her so

Her tender lips are sweeter than honey
And wolverton mountain protects her there
The bears and birds tell clifton clowers
If a stranger should wander there

But I don’t care about clifton clowers
I’m gonna climb up on his mountain
I’m gonna take the girl I love
I don’t care about clifton clowers
I’m a gonna climb up on that mountain
And I’ll get the one I iove
I don’t care about clifton clowers,
I’m gonna find the one I love,
I don’t care about clifton clowers
I’m gonna find the one I love

The Edmund Fitzgerald is a great song and ballad. My only complaint is the phrase: "The ship was the pride of the American side Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin".

There are no mills in Wisconsin. The ship was loaded with Taconite ore in either Duluth, MN or Superior, WI. There are great loading docks in these two cities that load ships with train loads of iron ore from the Minnesota iron range.

The ships then carry the ore from Lake Superior, through the Mackinac Straits either into Lake Huron to Detroit and into Lake Erie, or, most likely, the Fitzgerald was headed down the Lake Michigan side to the mills in Gary, Indiana.

The logic that the ship was coming from a mill fully loaded always seemed confusing. Ore ships sail to mills fully loaded and leave mills empty.

I do like Gordon Lightfoot's songs, especially "The Edmund Fitzgerald" and I know that he had a home on Lake Superior, on the Canadian side and probably had first hand knowledge of the goings and comings of freighters on that body of water.

Grandpa wore his suit to dinner
Nearly every day
No particular reason
He just dressed that way
Brown necktie and a matching vest
And both his wingtip shoes
He built a closet on our back porch
And put a penny in a burned out fuse.

Chorus:
Grandpa was a carpenter
He built houses stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
And hammered nails in planks
He was level on the level
And shaved even every door
And voted for eisenhower
’cause lincoln won the war.

Well, he used to sing me blood on the saddle
And rock me on his knee
And let me listen to radio
Before we got t.v.
Well, he’d drive to church on sunday
And take me with him too!
Stained glass in every window
Hearing aids in every pew.

Repeat chorus:

Now my grandma was a teacher
Went to school in bowling green
Traded in a milking cow
For a singer sewing machine
She called her husband mister
And walked real tall and pride
And used to buy me comic books
After grandpa died.

Repeat chorus:

Definitely The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and....

The Ballad Of Casey Diess - Shawn Phillips

Twas a man of youthful features
Twas a boy of sorrowful eyes
Watching out but looking inwards
Tall and stately and full of life

In his life he spoke so rarely
In his mind he cried for light
Painting perceptions trying to capture
That which he saw in his questioning strife

Once in lisbon, twice in london
Travelling around for all of his time
Looking for and finding a goddess
He took diana to be his wife

Of the children they'd begotten
Two had died without knowing life
And the third i know not whereof
But if she lives she will yet be kind

Casey had a mark of simple value
He had a star between his eyes
In his hands he held an axe blade
The greek symbol of thunder and fire

On a night when the heavens were crying
He went out and took his blade
Chopping wood to warm his hearthside
The lightening came and my brother died

Bring him no wine from far away vineyards
Tell him no tales of the canyon's might
But wish him peace and eternal wisdom
For he has died and he died by light

Over the Hills and Far Away

They came for him one winter's night.
Arrested, he was bound.
They said there'd been a robbery,
his pistol had been found.

They marched to the station house,
he waited for the dawn.
And as they led him to the dock,
he knew that he'd been wrong.
"You stand accused of robbery,"
he heard the bailiff say.
He knew without an alibi,
tomorrow's light would mourn his freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
for ten long years he'll count the days.
Over the mountains and the seas,
a prisoner's life for him there'll be.

He knew that it would cost him dear,
but yet he dare not say.
Where he had been that fateful night,
a secret it must stay.
He had to fight back tears of rage.
His heart beats like a drum.
For with the wife of his best friend,
he spent his final night of freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
he swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and the seas,
back in her arms he swears he'll be.
Over the hills and far away.

Over the hills and,
over the hills and,
over the hills and far away.

Each night within his prison cell,
he looks out through the bars.
He reads the letters that she wrote.
One day he'll know the taste of freedom.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms she swears she'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
he swears he will return one day.
Far from the mountains and the seas,
back in her arms he swears he'll be.

Over the hills and far away,
she prays he will return one day.
As sure as the rivers reach the seas,
back in his arms is where she'll be.

Over the hills,
over the hills and far away.

Over the hills,
over the hills and far away.