The Kingston Trio Album

Scott Wiseman

Spoken: In the hills of North Carolina, since the times of the early settlers, a strange light has
been witnessed near the top of Brown Mountain. To this day, no one can explain the mystery of
the Brown Mountain Light.

Chorus:
High on the mountain and down in the valley below. It shines like the crown of an angel and fades as the mist comes and goes.
Way over yonder, night after night until dawn. A faithful old slave, come back from the grave (searchin')
For his master who is long, long gone.

In the days of the old covered wagon, when they camped on the flats for the night
With the stars growing dim on the old high gorge rim, they would watch for the Brown Mountain Light.

(Chorus)

Long years ago a southern planter came hunting in this wild land alone,
And here, so they say, the hunter lost his way and never returned to his home.
His trusty old slave brought a lantern and searched, but in vain, day and night.
The old slave is gone but his spirit wanders on and the old lantern still casts its light.

(Chorus)

John Stewart

Chorus:
If there's one more town, I'll be goin'. Fight for the winnin' and I'll be there.
If there's one more song, I'll be singin'. I'm always goin' but I don't know where.

I spent seventeen in West Virginia. Eight more years just for runnin' free.
But the girls back home in their blue gingham dresses only heard one thing from me.

(Chorus)

Went down to New Orleans last summer on a flat boat workin' my way.
There were well-mannered ladies and street that were shady, but for me, I never could stay.

(Chorus)

Sailed up to New York on a schooner, but I won't be stayin' there long.
There were bright city lights and girls in pink tights but their faces were all painted on.

(Chorus)

We lay my love and I beneath the weeping willow.
But now alone I lie and weep beside the tree.

Singing "Oh willow waly" by the tree that weeps with me.
Singing "Oh willow waly" till my lover return to me.

We lay my love and I beneath the weeping willow.
A broken heart have I. Oh willow I die, oh willow I die.

Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountains over the hills and ev'rywhere and you can go (go) tell it on the mountain, Jesus Christ was born.

Down in a lowly manger, Jesus Christ was born and the Lord sent down salvation that blesses Christmas morn,
You can go upon the mountain, dwell both night and day. You can ask the Lord to help you and He'll show you the way.

(Chorus)

You may be a watchman upon the city wall and if I am a Christian, if I'm the last to fall
You can go tell it on the mountain over the hills and ev'rywhere. You can go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born.

(Chorus)

When I was a little boy, my mother said to me, "Watch the new born roses grow. It's a pretty sight to see.
You, my son, shall blossom as the flower below. I will be your raindrops. You will be my rose.

Listen while I tell you of the beauty in the sky. There's a home for angels on the clouds so high.
I must be an angel. In heaven I shall stay. If you ever need me, I'll hear each word you say."

Now her raindrops fall no more. Who will take her place? Will I live to blossom full or wither into space?
Many times I wonder on the clouds above is it my dear mother who showers me with love?

When I was a little boy.

(Spoken) I remember when I rode into town that morning in December of forty-eight. Oh, bitter cold. I had on my parka, my sheepskin coat and my brown and white spectator pumps. Cut quite a figure if I do say so. Huh, cute. First thing I spied was a poster. There's going to be a dance. The second Hogsville dandy-steppin' ball and frog happin; contest. Drag.

Chorus:
Strange day. Strange day. Strange day in Hogsville, U. S. A.

I'm goin' to start off but there weren't no lady folk in sight. I figured they was all up a-primpin' for the dance and, being a man of no small charms with the ladies myself, I decided to park Old Paint and change my socks -- from him to me. (I find that extremely offensive!) So did Old Paint.

But there were no gals for miles around, not one gal in the whole darn town.
So, if you want to go dancin', just look around for the next best thing that can befound.

(Chorus)

That's right. I soon found there wasn't no women nowhere. Fellows goin' to the dance was takin' some of the strangest things. One was takin' a broom, all dressed up in a pinafore, bleached straws, looked kinda cheap to me. Another was totin' a picture of a girl. He'd been goin' with that picture so long he thought real girls folded in the middle. Now I was getting depressed, but then I spied the cutest little thing you ever saw, givin' me the eye from underneath the waterin' trough. Had little eyes, curly tail, and the dearest little pointed ears you ever seen. I grabbed her paw (What'd her paw have to say? Shut up when he's a-talkin'!) and we wobbled into the dance. The minute we get into the dance the music stopped and a feller said, "Wait a minute! That's the sheriff's gal!" (You mean?)

Strange day. Strange day. Strange day in Hogsville, (You know, I can still hear the little critter) U. S. A!

The anchor is weighed and sails they are set. Away, Rio!
The girls back home we'll never forget for we're bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, Rio! High away, Rio! The girls back home we'll never forget for we're bound for the Rio Grande.
Two more days, Johnny, two more days. Only two more days, Johnny, two more days.

The mainsail is up and the spinnaker's out. Away, Rio!
We'll head for Cape Horn and then pull her about for we're bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, Rio! High away, Rio! We'll head for Cape Horn and then pull her about for we're bound for the Rio Grande.
One more day, Johnny, one more day. Only one more day, Johnny, one more day.

When we get to Rio we'll drop all our pay. Away, Rio!
And young Michael Christian is countin' the days for we're bound for the Rio Grande.
And away, Rio! High away, Rio! And young Michael Christian is countin' the days for we're found for the Rio Grande.
There she lies, Johnny, there she lies. There she lies, Johnny, there she lies.

Chorus:
Pullin' away, he's pullin away. Now his wagons are loaded, he's pullin' away.

Hard luck is the fortune of all woman kind. They're always controlled. They're always confined.
Controlled by their parents until they are wives. Then slaves of their husbands the rest of their lives.

I once knew a girl and her story was sad. She always was courted by the wagoner lad.
He courted her truly by night and by day. Now his wagons are loaded. He's pullin' away.

(Chorus)

Your parents don't like me. They think I'm too poor. They think I'm not worth to enter your door.
Hard livin's my pleasure. My money's my own and if they don't like me, they can leave me alone.

Long is the road. Dark is the sky. Look over your shoulder. He's wavin' goodbye.

My wagon is loaded. My whip needs a mend. So sit down here by me for as long as you can.
My wagons are loaded. My whip's in my hand. So, fare thee well, darlin', I'm leavin' this land.

(Chorus)

She was too good to me. How can I get along now? So close she stood to me. Everything seems all wrong now.
She would have brought me the sun, making me smile that was her fun.
If she was mean to me, I'd never say, "Go 'way, now." She was a queen to me. Who's gonna light my way now?
It's only natural that I'm blue. She was too good to be true.

(Hum melody)

She would have brought me the sun, making me smile that was her fun.
If she was mean to me, I'd never say, "Go 'way, now." She was a queen to me. Who's gonna light my way now?
It's only natural that I'm blue. She was too good to be true.

Chorus:
Jane, Jane, Jane, mark my bonnie Jane as sweet as sugar in the cane, don't be ashame.
Jane cannot see. She's as blind as she can be, but the prettiest girl in all the world to me.

Jane, Jane, Jane, with the pretty, pretty face, dressed in rags she still looks like a queen.
Jane, Jane, Jane, she should be in silk and lace, the prettiest girl that you have ever seen.

(Chorus)

Jane, Jane, Jane, she has no mom or dad. She's all alone but still she is not sad.
The wild birds sing a song, her little dog tags along. To hear her laughter makes my poor heart glad.

(Chorus)

I know Jane is sweet by the sounding of her feet. I see her beauty when she speaks to me.
If she could see me now, my love to her I'd vow but I couldn't love her more if I could see.

(Chorus)

But I couldn't love her more if I could see. (Repeat)

I was born in Portland town. I was born in Portland town. Yes, I was. Oooh, yes, I was.
October third, I'm on my way. October third, I'm on my way. Yes, I am. Oooh, yes I am.

Rains came the very next day but I been gone to long. There's a gal in Portland town and she sings a marryin' song.

Goin' back to Portland town. Goin' back to Portland town. Yes, I am. Oooh, yes, I am.

I'll have children, one, two, three. I'll have children, one, two, three. Yes, I will. Oooh, yes, I will.

I was born in Portland town.

Chorus:
Fare thee well, old Joe Clark. Good-bye, Mitzi Brown. Fare thee well, old Joe Clark. I'm gonna leave this town. (Repeat last time)

Old Joe Clark used to clean the bar. Liquor was his pay. Never saved a golden eagle. Drank it all away.

(Chorus)

I don't want your old time religion or what you got to say (say) but pass me down that barley jug and I'll be on my way. A singin'

(Chorus)

Old Joe Clark walked downtown backwards. People asked him, "Why?"
I come back for one more drink while wavin' you good-bye!"

(Chorus)