Music Video
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Harry McClintock Lyrics
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains Lyrics
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains Song Lyrics
One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fires were 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
Besides the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
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
And the birds and the bees
And the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cows 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
Oh I'm bound to go
Where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall
The winds don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railway bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
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 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 Mountains.
....
I'll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
May, 07th 2014
"In the Big Rock Candy Mountains" by Harry McClintock is a folk song that paints a vivid picture of a hobo's utopia, a place free from the troubles of the real world. Written in 1928, this song became an anthem for the downtrodden during the Great Depression, embodying the dreams of a better life away from hardship and despair.The song describes a fantastical land where everything is easy and abundant. Handouts grow on bushes, the sun shines every day, and the landscape is filled with cigarette trees, lemonade springs, and a variety of whimsical creatures and features that make life carefree. This paradise contrasts sharply with the harsh realities faced by many at the time, serving as a metaphor for escape and hope.
However, beneath its whimsical surface, "In the Big Rock Candy Mountains" carries a deeper message about the social and economic conditions of the era. It reflects the desperation of people struggling to find work and shelter, yearning for a place where their worries could be washed away. The song's portrayal of a land where jails are made of tin and you can walk right out again, and where there's no need for work, highlights a collective desire for freedom from societal constraints.
Over the years, the song has been adapted and recorded by numerous artists, each bringing their own interpretation while maintaining its core message of hope and escape. It has also been transformed into a children's song, with some versions omitting references to alcohol and replacing them with more family-friendly imagery.
The enduring popularity of "In the Big Rock Candy Mountains" underscores its impact as a symbol of hope and a testament to the human spirit's desire for a place where life is fair and all can enjoy the sweetness it has to offer. Its legacy continues, reminding us of the power of music to inspire dreams of a better world.
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