Songs of the AT, sorta

[Rain Man]

I was driving down the Interstate today listening to an oldies station, when the Creedence Cleerwater Revival song, "Who'll stop the rain" was played. Even mentioned Virginia in the lyrics. Here they are below. This band could've just returned from a thru-hike, I do believe!

Anybody else got any song lyrics that remind you of something about the AT? Any good AT "ear worms?" Please post the lyrics and don't send us all on wild goose chases looking for them, okay?

=================================
Creedence Cleerwater Revival

Long as I remember The rain been comin' down.
Clouds of myst'ry pourin' Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, Tryin' to find the sun;
And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who'll stop the rain.

I went down Virginia, Seekin' shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable, I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals, Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who'll stop the rain.

Heard the singers playin', How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, Tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin', Fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, Still I wonder Who'll stop the rain.

[DebW]

James Taylor has a song called "Walkin' Man". Someone else will have to supply the lyrics. BTW, James Taylor lives near the trail in the Berkshires. His song "October Road" is names after the October Mountain State Forest through which the AT runs fairly near his house.

[Noggin]

My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me, where did you sleep last night?
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through.

Her husband was a hard-working man
Just about a mile from here
His head was found in the driver's wheel
But his body never was found.

My girl, my girl, where will you go?
I'm going where the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through.

Nirvana, 1993

[MOWGLI]

Born a poor young country boy--Mother Nature's son
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream--see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass--Mother Nature's son
Swaying daises sing a lazy song beneath the sun.

Mother Nature's son.

[Lilred]

This old gospel songs captures how I feel hiking in the mountains.

The first two verses of How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r through-out the universe displayed

Chorus

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

Chorus

[Patco]

These boots were made for walkin'
and that's just what they'll do.
One of these days these boots
are gonna walk all over you.

(Nancy Sinatra)

[Brushy Sage]

An old one from the 1960s -- don't remember who sang it: You'll never walk alone. I frequently hummed it -- mostly on level ground or going downhill.

[rickb]

I recall a Lou Reed song about a yellow blazer by the name of Holly from LA.

Not a good role model, though. Kept telling others to walk onthe wild side, even though she hitched her way across the USA.

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ....

Rick B

[steve hiker]

I recall a Lou Reed song about a yellow blazer by the name of Holly from LA.

Not a good role model, though. Kept telling others to walk onthe wild side, even though she hitched her way across the USA.

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ....

Rick B

Hey i met that girl when i hitched into NYC i told her i came off the AT in NJ and she said Well i'm from noo joisey too hot stuff, and we went to her room above the club for while then i stumble back to the trail had to hike back all the way no money left for subway

nice gurl but real bad clamp!

[hiicprn]

Walking Man by James Taylor

Moving in silent desperation
Keeping an eye on the Holy Land
A hypothetical destination
Say, who is this walking man?

Well the leaves have come to turning
And the goose has gone to fly
And bridges are for burning
So don't you let that yearning
Pass you by
Walking man, walking man walks
Well, any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walks

Well the frost is on the pumpkin
And the hay is in the barn
An pappy's come to rambling on
Stumbling around drunk
Down on the farm

And the walking man walks
Doesn't know nothing at all
Any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walks on by
Walk on by

Most everybody's got seed to sow
It ain't always easy for a weed to grow, oh no
So he don't hoe the road for no one
Oh for sure he's always missing
And something is never quite right
Ah, but who would want to listen to you
Kissing his existence goodnight

Walking man walk on by my door
Well any other man stops and talks
But not the walking man
He's the Walking man
Born to walk
Walk on walking man
Well now, would he have wings to fly
Would he be free
Golden wings against the sky
Walking man, walk on by
So long, walking man, so long

This is one of my favorite all time camping tunes. It brings back lots of memories of dark skies full of stars, warm fires and candle lanterns. My best buddies and I would sit by the fire and sing along to James Taylor's Best of disc sipping our favorite drinks until the sun came up. No, we were not the rowdy bunch that you might think, but in moments like these we were kings. Its good to be the king.

[Patco]

I locked onto this as a little challenge and asked the family to help me think of a few more. Here's the results:


The Trees
by Rush

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"These oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.


From “The Sound of Music”

Climb ev'ry mountain
Search high and low
Follow every byway
Every path you know.

Climb ev'ry mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
Till you find your dream.


THIS IS MY FATHERS WORLD
(Babcock and Sheppard)
This is my Fathers world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Fathers world;
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Fathers world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Makers praise.
This is my Fathers world;
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.


Lord don’t move that mountain,
The Hoppers

Lord don’t move that mountain,
Just give me strength to climb.
For if you should move each mountain,
I might grow weaker every time.
Just as Your Son Jesus,
Took the cross up Calvary’s hill.
Lord don’t move that mountain,
So I may better do Thy will.

[hiicprn]

Wooot!....The Trees

[Tenacious Tanasi]

Now, I know that these are not exactly around the AT, but we loved all of his songs. Every year when my entire family goes camping, we have a John Denver concert. Everybody sings their favorite. These are mine.

John Denver-Country Road
Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains, shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

All my mem’ries, gather ’round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the mornin’ hours she calls to me
The radio reminds me of my home far a-way
And drivin’ down the road I get a feeling’
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place, I be-long
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

John Denver-Rocky Mountain High
He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin’ home to a place he’d never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hangin’ by a song
But the string’s already broken and he doesn’t really care
It keeps changin’ fast and it don’t last for long

But the colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high (high colorado) rocky mountain high (high colorado)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say he got crazy once, and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept his memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forests and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high (high colorado) rocky mountain high (high colorado)

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
I know he’d be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high

It’s a colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody’s high
Rocky mountain high (high colorado) rocky mountain high (high colorado)
Rocky mountain high (high colorado) rocky mountain high do de do

[squirrel bait]

Living on the road my friend
was going to keep you free and clean
now you wear your skin like iron
breath as hard as kerosene
weren't your moma's only boy
favorite one it seemed
she cried when you said goodby
saddled to your dreams

Pancho was a bandit boy
his horse as fast as polished steel
he wore his gun outside his pants
so all the honest world could feel
Pancho met his match you know
in the deserts down in Mexico
nobody heard his dying words
and momma that's the way it goes

Lefty he can't sing the blues
all night long like he used to
the dust that Pancho bit down south
ended up in Lefty's mouth
the day they laid poor Pancho low
Lefty split for Ohio
where he got the bread to go
ain't nobody know

The boys tell how Pancho fell
and Lefty's living in cheap hotels
deserts quiet and Cleveland's cold
so the story ends were told
Pancho we need your prayers it's true
save a few for Lefty too
he only did what he had to do
and now he's growing old

All the federales say
we could've had them anyday
we only let them slip away
out of kindness I suppose

Thank you Willie

[Miss Janet]

I’m Gonna Be Lyrics
Crash Test Dummies


When I wake up, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you

If I get drunk, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver, hey, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I’m working, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s working hard for you
And when the money comes in for the work I do
I’ll pass almost every penny on to you

When I come home, oh, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home to you
And if I grow old, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s growing old with you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I’m lonely, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who’s lonely without you
And when I’m dreamin’ well, I know I’m gonna dream
I’m gonna dream about the time when I’m with you

When I go out, well, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you
When I come home, yes, I know I’m gonna be
I’m gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I’m gonna be the man who’s coming home with you

But I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

And I would walk five hundred miles
And I would walk five hundred more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

[MOWGLI]

The Police - King of Pain

There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday
There’s a black hat caught in a high tree top
There’s a flag-pole rag and the wind won’t stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
There’s a little black spot on the sun today
That’s my soul up there
It’s the same old thing as yesterday
That’s my soul up there
There’s a black hat caught in a high tree top
That’s my soul up there
There’s a flag-pole rag and the wind won’t stop
That’s my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
There’s a fossil that’s trapped in a high cliff wall
That’s my soul up there
There’s a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
That’s my soul up there
There’s a blue whale beached by a springtime’s ebb
That’s my soul up there
There’s a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web
That’s my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
There’s a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There’s a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There’s a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There’s a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain

There’s a red fox torn by a huntsman’s pack
That’s my soul up there
There’s a black-winged gull with a broken back
That’s my soul up there
There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before in the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I always thought you could end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
King of pain
King of pain
King of pain
I’ll always be king of pain

[steve hiker]

For SOBO hikers:

Gonna ride me a southbound
All the way to Georgia now
Till the trail runs out of tracks

--Lynyrd Skynyrd

[steve hiker]

This song also comes to mind whenever I'm on the trail:

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.

Take your time... don’t live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you’ll find love,
And don’t forget son,
There is someone up above.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

Boy, don’t you worry... you’ll find yourself.
Follow you heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

--Lynyrd Skynyrd, Simple Man

[Patco]

For SOBO hikers:

Gonna ride me a southbound
All the way to Georgia now
Till the trail runs out of tracks

--Lynyrd Skynyrd

Can't you see, oh can't you see,
what that woman, she done did to me.

I always thought that song was the Allman Brothers, not Skynyrd.

[smokymtnsteve]

I thought so too