Breedloves's Folk Songs

ROCKY TOP

  • ROCKY TOP
    “Rocky Top” is one of seven official state songs of the state of Tennessee, as well as the
    unofficial fight song for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The two best-known
    versions of the song are by the Osborne Brothers and Lynn Anderson. The Osborne
    Brothers first had a regional hit with the song in 1967, however, it was Lynn Anderson‘s
    version that was the mainstream country hit in 1970. The song was written by a married
    couple, songwriters Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. They wrote “Rocky Top” in only ten
    minutes in 1967. The Bryants were working in Gatlinburg on a collection of slow-tempo
    songs for a project for Archie Campbell and Chet Atkins. Writing the fast-paced “Rocky
    Top” served as a temporary diversion for them. Recorded by the Osborne Brothers in
    1967, the song was a top 40 hit on the country music charts in early 1968.
    Wish that I was on Ole Rocky Top,
    Down in the Tennessee Hills.
    Ain’t no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top,
    Ain’t no telephone bills.
    Once there was a girl on Rocky Top,
    Half bear the other half cat.
    Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
    I still dream about that.
    (Chorus)
    Rocky Top, you’ll always be
    Home sweet home to me.
    Good ole Rocky Top,
    Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
    Once two strangers climbed on Rocky Top,
    Lookin’ for a moonshine still.
    Strangers ain’t come back from Rocky Top,
    Guess they never will.
    Corn won’t grow at all on Rocky Top,
    Dirt’s too rocky by far.
    That’s why all the folks on Rocky Top
    Get their corn from a jar.
    (Chorus)
    Now I’ve had years of cramped up city life,
    Trapped like a duck in a pen.
    Now all I know is it’s a pity life,
    Can’t be simple again.
    (Chorus)
    Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
    Yeah Rocky Top Tennesee eee eee eee

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