Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Brown Mountain Light

Brown Mountain Light

Brown Mountain Light
(Scott Weisman)

In the days of the old covered wagon,
Where they camped on the flats for the night,
With the stars shining dim o'er the old canyon rim,
They watched for that Brown Mountain light.

CHO: High on a mountain, down in the valley below
     It shines like the crown of an angel,
     Fades as the mist comes and goes.
     Way over yonder, night after night until dawn,
     A lonely (faithful) old slave comes back from the grave,
     Searching for his master who's long, long gone.

Many years ago, a southern planter
Came hunting in this wild world alone.
Then, so they say, the hunter lost his way,
And never returned to his home.

His trusting old slave brought a lantern,
And searched but in vain day and night.
Now the old slave has gone but his spirit lingers on,
And the lantern still cast its light.

[As sung by the Kingston Trio (1960's) and by
the Country Gentlemen (1980's). The Brown Mountain
Lights are a phenomenon observed in the Blue Ridge
Mountain region of North Carolina between Blowing Rock
and Linville Gorge. RR]

DR
oct00