ANTH 4- Folklore
The  Big Rock Candy Mountain (attr. Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock)
and The Appleknocker's Lament (Wheaton H. Brewer)
 
One sunny day in the month of May, a jocker he came hiking,
He come to a tree and "Ah!" says he, "This is just to my liking."
On the very same month on the very same day, a Hoosier's son came hiking.
Said the bum to the son, "O, will you come to the Big Rock Candy Mountains?"
 
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
 
 
VERSION 1
VERSE 1
 
Down the road one day in the month of May a burly man came hiking
As he came thru th' sugar cane he was lookin' for his likin'
 
VERSE 2
 
As he walked along he sung a song of the land of milk an' honey
Where a bum can stay for a many a day an' they don't need any money
 
VERSE 3
 
O, on the run came a farmer and his son to the hay field they were boundin'
Why don't you come said the bum to the son to the Big Rock Candy Mount'n
 
VERSE 4
 
O, the buzzin' of the bees an' the cigarette tree by the sody-water fountain
Flies the lemonade spring where the bluebirds sing in the Big Rock Candy Mount'n
 
VERSE 5
 
O, I'm goin' to where there ain't no snow where the rain don't fall
An' the wind don't blow on the Big Rock Candy Mount'n
 
VERSE 6
 
O, on they walked for many of a day they were looking for that fount'n
But they never 'rrived at the lemonade tide on the Big Rock Candy Mount'n
 
 
VERSION 2
 
VERSE 1

One evening as the sun went down, and the jungle fire was burning,
Down the track came a hobo hiking, and he said “Boys I'm not turning--
I'm headed for a land that's far away, beside the crystal fountain,
So come with me we'll go and see the Big Rock Candy Mountains.”
 
VERSE 2
 
In the big rock candy mountains, there's a land that's fair and bright,
Where the handouts grow on bushes, and you sleep out every night.
Where the boxcars all are empty, and the sun shines every day
On the birds and bees and the cigarette trees,
The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
 
VERSE 3
 
In the big rock candy mountains, all the cops have wooden legs,
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth, and the hens lay soft boiled eggs.
The farmers trees are full of fruit and the barns are full of hay,
Well I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow,
Where the rain don't flow and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
 
VERSE 4
 
In the big rock candy mountains, you never change your socks,
And the little streams of alcohol, come a tricklin' down the rocks.
The brakemen have to tip their hats, and the railroad bulls are blind,
There's a lake of stew and a whisky too,
You can paddle all around 'em in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
 
VERSE 5
 
In the big rock candy mountains, the jails are made of tin,
And you can walk right out again, as soon as you are in.
There ain't no short handled shovels, no axes, saws, or picks.
I'm a-going to stay where ya sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk who invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
 
I'll see you all this comin' fall in the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
 
 
VERSION 3
 
VERSE 1
 
One evening as the sun went down, and the jungle fires were burning
Down the track came a hobo hiking. He said "Boys I'm not turning;
I'm heading for a land that's far away, beside that crystal fountain.
I'll see you all this coming fall in the Big Rock Candy Mountains.”
 
VERSE 2
 
The Big Rock Candy Mountains, it's a land that's fair and bright
The handouts grow on bushes and you sleep out ev'ry night;
The box-cars are all empty and the sun shines ev'ry day
I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow
Where the sleet don't fall and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain
 
VERSE 3
 
Oh the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees, by the soda water fountains,
By the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings, in the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
VERSE 4
 
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains you never change your socks,
Little streams of alky-hol comes trickling down the rocks.
Oh the shacks all have to tip their hats and the railroad bulls are blind,
There's a lake of stew and whiskey too,
And you can paddle all around it in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
VERSE 5
 
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains the cops have wooden legs,
The bull-dogs all have rubber teeth and the hens lay soft-boiled eggs.
The Box-cars all are empty and the sun shines ev'ry day
I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow,
Where the sleet don't fall and the wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
VERSE 6
 
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains the jails are made of tin,
You can slip right out again as soon as they put you in.
There ain't no short handled shovels, no axes, saws nor picks.
I'm bound to stay where you sleep all day.
Where they hung the jerk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
VERSION 4
 
VERSE 1      
 
On a summer day in the month of May a burly bum came hiking,
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane; he was looking for his liking.
 
VERSE 2
 
As he roamed along he sang a song of the land of milk and honey,
Where a bum can stay for many a day, and he won't need any money.
 
VERSE 3
 
Oh, a farmer and his son; they were on the run, to the hay field they were bounding;
Said the bum to the son, "why don't you come to that Big Rock Randy Mountain?"
 
VERSE 4
 
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees and the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

VERSE 5
 
There's a lake of gin we can both jump in and the hand outs grow on bushes;
In the new mown-hay we can sleep all day, and the bars all have free lunches.

VERSE 6
 
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees and the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
VERSE 7
 
Where the mail train stops and there ain't no cops and the folks are tender-hearted,
Where you never change your socks and rocks, and your hair is never parted.

VERSE 8
 
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees and the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

VERSE 9
 
So very next day they hiked away, to the mile post they kept counting,
But they never arrived at the lemonade tide on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

VERSE 10
 
Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees and the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 
 
The Appleknocker's Lament 
 
VERSE 1
 
On a very fine day in the month of May
A great big bum (big burly) came hiking
And he seated his pratt (himself) neath a big green tree
Which was very much to his liking.
 
VERSE 2
 
On the very same day in the month of May
A farmer's lad caste hiking.
Said the bum to the son, "If you will come,
I'll show you some sights to your liking.
 
VERSE 3
 
I'll show you the bees in the cigarette trees,
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
The chocolate heights where they give away kites
And the sody-water fountains.
 
VERSE 4
 
The lemonade springs where the blue bird sings,
The marbles made of crystal.
We'll join the band of Dangerous Dan
Who carries a sword and a pistol."
 
VERSE 5
 
So the bum set out with the lad at his back.
For six long months they traveled.
Then the boy came back on the very same track
And this (sad) tale (he) unraveled:
 
VERSE 6
 
"There are no bees in the cigarette trees;
No big Rock Candy Mountains,
No chocolate heights where they give away kites,
Or sody-water fountains.
 
VERSE 7
 
No lemonade springs where the blue bird sing,
No marble made of crystal.
There is no such man as Dangerous Dan
Who carries a sword and a pistol.
 
VERSE 8
 
He made me beg and steal his eggs
And he called me his jocker
When I didn't get pies he blacked my eyes
And called me his apple-knocker.
 
VERSE 9
 
No more I'll roam from my very fine home.
I'll save my junkerino
You can bet your lid that this old kid
Won't be no one else's punkerino."
 
 
 
The boy rolled up his big blue eyes and said he to the jocker,
"Sandy, I’ve hiked and hiked and wandered too, but I ain't seen any candy.
I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore and I’ll be damned if I hike any more
...
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.”
 
 
 
 
Other variants can be seen by following th' URL provided below.

http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/1199/index.html

Any transcription errors are my own.

V 3.2
Last Updated Summer 2006
 
Copyright 
April Garwin
2001-2006
All Rights Reserved