Back to Hancock County

[JC JACK]

Pete Goble wrote this song, it's a really great old tune. Does anyone have a source for the words, or know them? #It was recorded by the Traditional Grass sometime ago and maybe others too. #Thanks in advance.

[Bobbie Dier]

Something about rabbits in the hills and moonshine in the stills. Squirrels barking in the trees. Hounds that run all night and girls to hold you tight. Back in Hancock County Tenn. Is that the one you are talking about? I will need to find my tape of it. That could take awhile.

[JC JACK]

imapickin that's it! if you can find the tape that would be great.

[Bobbie Dier]

I'm searching right now. I have a lot of tapes.

[red7flag]

One day I was picking my banjo in my room at the Executive Inn during IBMA at Owensboro, KY. A man and a woman poked their head in and asked if they could come in. They came in. I played a few numbers for them and shared a soda with them. The man complimented me on my playing (was not very good, but loved hearing it). He introduced himself as Pete Goble as he walked out. I was stunned. I realized what a gracious man he is. Bill Emerson, who played banjo with him on a number of Webco albums, I am not.
Tony Huber

[Bobbie Dier]

JC Jack,
I am so sorry! I looked for two hours almost and I don't know where the tape went. It was on a "bluegrass mix" tape I made from the radio a few years ago. I made it when Russ Jordon was still on the radio at WNCW. It was funny hearing him talk on the tapes just like old times. Hi Russ. I plowed through about 20 tapes and I can't find it. Maybe someone else knows the words.
I remember one verse is about sparking good old Sally Larkin what she showed you you can't learn in Sunday school. I can't remember the rest . Good luck I hope you find it. Maybe ask WDVX or WNCW to play it online for you. They are usually pretty good about doing that. The bluegrass show is on Saturday starting at noon on WNCW till 6pm. They take requests.
Ima not much help

[JC JACK]

Imapickin thanks so much for your efforts! the words you have given help alot and I appreciate you looking for it. There's a real problem finding words to some of these songs, Bluegrass Lyrics aside. I was at a festival recently and asked Josh Williams about the words to "You Can Keep Your 9 LB Hammer," which he recorded. That's another Pete Goble gem. I asked Josh what he would have done to get the words to the song if he hadn't known them already, and he said "I'd call Pete Goble and ask him". I've got the Webco Classics album with both these songs on there, quality is not good, but if i can figure out the words, i'll put them on the cafe. Two great songs. Maybe i'll just hum' um. Thanks again, Imapickin!

[olgraypat]

Don't know the words, but my work occasionally takes me to Hancock County, Tennessee, which is one of the most rural counties in the country. There are some real rural Appalachian scenery, folks and history in Hancock County. Jimmy Martin was a native of Hancock County, made his way over the mountain to Morristown, and as I understand it got fired from his job in the furniture factory there before approaching Bill Monroe in the alley behind the Grand Ol' Opry and asking for a job....So, the song is probably a Jimmy Martin song, I'd be interested in hearing the words.....

[Bobbie Dier]

I've been running that song through my head all day. I think there is another line in the song that talks about riding around in a "pickup truck bearly fit to run". I'm on a mission now. I'll get it for you unless somebody finds it first.

olgraypat,
I live a few counties over from Hancock county. It sure is a remote area. I hope it stays that way for it's own good. This place around here (Tri Cities, Greeneville area)is growing in leaps and bounds.
I've heard Ralph Stanley talk about Sneedville ,Tenn that is in Hancock County. Clinch mountain is pretty close too. He probably had to do the Clinch Mtn Backstep to get to Nashville from Sneedeville. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[JGWoods]

Back to Hancock County


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Luther, I've been thinking
How the whole damn world is sinking
You and I ain't even like we used to be
We used to be like brothers
Now we hardly know each other
It's a shame how people change, don't you agree

Remember when we traveled
Down the country roads of gravel
In a pickup truck just barely fit to run
The dust and all the clatter
Sure did make the chickens scatter
Just country boys out to have some fun

Chorus
There was moonshine in the stills
Rabbits in the hills
Squirrels a' barking in the trees
Hounds to run all night
Girls to hold us tight
Back in Hancock County, Tennessee

We had a time a' sparking
With good old Sally Larkin
What Sally taught us, they don't teach in country school
I'd give my last ten dollars
To be back in the holler
Sipping on a jug of mountain dew

But time sure is passing
And we ain't got time for lasting
We got more worries than our heads can hold
Before we're gone forever
Let's go have some fun together
Like we did before we started growing old

Chorus

Chorus
Back in Hancock County, Tennessee

is that it?
found in a quick google search

[Bobbie Dier]

Hey! Where did you find that? I did a googly search and couldn't find it. That is it. Now I can rest. Thanks JGWoods. Which site did you find it on? I bet they have lots of good stuff on there.

[JGWoods]

I found it here (http://home.comcast.net/~barb923/lyrics/i_B.htm) by doing a search for "back to hancock county" lyrics
with back to hancock county in quotes so google keeps the word order. Looks like lots of stuff on that website.

[Bobbie Dier]

JGWoods,
Thanks! I had to bookmark that page. Wow what a great resource.

[JC JACK]

JG Woods and Imapickn- #Thanks for posting the words. #You beat me to it. #With the help of my dear wife we finally got them off the old webco album. #The only discrepancy is in 2nd verse, #I think it is "Sunday School" instead of country school. #We also went ahead and did "You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer" which I'll include here. #I'm continually amazed at the resourcefulness of the folks on this board, and very appreciative too. #Anyway, Imapickn, here's Pete Goble's "You Can Keep Your Nine Pound Hammer."
There's a cabin in the mountain oh so many miles from here.
Where they sit and wait there for me, dear old dad and mother dear.
They don't know I'm here in prison, living in a six foot square.
Though these shoes of mine keep walking, I ain't getting anywhere.

Take away these iron bars, and take back your suit of gray,
I won't need your nine pound hammer if I ever get away.

At nine o'clock the lights go out and then there's not a sound.
Except old Mike the prison guard, as he makes his rounds.
But someday it will be different, I pray it won't be long.
When they'll look into an empty cell and find that I am gone.
CHORUS
If you're ever down in Eddysville, and you want to call on me.
It's the big house on the corner, just ask for 203.
I've got six more years to stay here, then brother I'll be gone.
Back to mom and dad, and that little cabin home.
CHORUS