Grew up on the mountain ‘cross from Leatherwood Top,
dangling a book from my head,
I's about 10 when a box flew open
and I started seeing mirrors of the dead.
I knew my grandpa was old Jackpaw,
working at the hotel on the hill,
his imagination got me all turned over
and I met a little lady for a thrill.
Sweet as briar birds sitting in the moon,
colder than a frosty laced rose,
that dim-eyed gal shut my feelings down
when I stumbled in an ape man’s clothes.
I told her ‘bout my daddy on Leatherwood Top,
showed her all my pine sap notes,
she kissed me on the ear and put me in a squeeze,
and sent me on a Happy Book float.
Well the summer come down as big as a hog
and squashed my freedom’s dime.
Got thrown in jail for cheating and lying
and the court made a monkey out of time.
Decided to head up the Snowbird mountains,
slow down around Stecoah town,
my mind was made up and the weather was colder,
I knew I’d see Happy Book now.
Shadows of owls a shaking in the trees,
nothing but the light from a star,
Hobo Bee Joe was banging on a sistrum
when I rolled in that hotel bar.
Grew up on the mountain ‘cross from Leatherwood Top,
dangling a book from my head,
I's about 10 when a box flew open
and I started seeing mirrors of the dead.
