Big Rock Candy Mountain
Encyclopedia
Big Rock Candy Mountain, first recorded by Harry McClintock
in 1928, is a song about a hobo
's idea of paradise
, a modern version of the medieval concept of Cockaigne
. It is a place where "hens lay soft boiled eggs" and there are "cigarette
trees." McClintock claims to have written the song in 1895 based on tales from his misspent youth hoboing through the United States
, but some believe the song, or at least aspects of it, have existed for far longer.
and The Apple-Knocker's Lament. Other popular itinerant songs of the day such as "Hobo's Paradise", "Hobo Heaven", "Sweet Potato Mountains" and "Little Streams of Whiskey" likely served as inspiration, as they mention concepts similar to those in Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Before recording the song, McClintock cleaned it up considerably from the version he sang as a street busker
in the 1890s. Originally the song described a child being recruited into hobo life by tales of the "big rock candy mountain". In later years, when McClintock appeared in court as part of a copyright dispute, he cited the original words of the song, the last stanza of which was:
In the released version this verse did not appear.
The song wasn't popularized until 1939, when it peaked at #1 on Billboard Magazine's country music charts. But it achieved more widespread popularity in 1949 when a sanitized version intended for children was re-recorded by Burl Ives
. It has been recorded by many artists throughout the world, but a version recorded in 1960 by Dorsey Burnette
to date was the biggest success for the song in the post-1954 "rock era", having reached #102 on Billboard's charts.
Sanitized versions have been popular, especially with children's music
ians; in these, the "cigarette
trees" become peppermint
trees, and the "streams of alcohol
" trickling down the rocks become streams of lemonade
. The lake of gin
is not mentioned, and the lake of whiskey becomes a lake of soda pop
. The 2008 extended adaptation for children by Gil McLachlan tells the story as a child's dream, the last stanza being:
A folk version of the song is included in the Gordon "Inferno" Collection in the Library of Congress
, under the title "The Appleknocker's Lament".
, near the Fishlake National Forest
, stands a cluster of brightly-colored hills named the "Big Rock Candy Mountain". However, the song was written before the mountain got its name; in 1928, after the song had been released, some Utah residents jokingly placed a sign at the base of the hills labeling it the "Big Rock Candy Mountain", along with a sign next to a nearby spring proclaiming it "Lemonade Springs". The Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort currently sits at the base of the hills and is a major hub in the Paiute ATV trail.
Other rock formations in the United States have also borrowed the name of the song; the largest exposed rock in the South Platte rock climbing area
of Colorado
is also called "Big Rock Candy Mountain" because of its colored stripes resembling a candy cane
. Additionally, one of the peaks in the Capitol State Forest
in Washington State is named "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
Harry McClintock
Harry Kirby McClintock , also known as "Haywire Mac," was an American singer and poet. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, "the son of a railroad cabinetmaker and nephew of four boomer trainmen. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus...
in 1928, is a song about a hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
's idea of paradise
Paradise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
, a modern version of the medieval concept of Cockaigne
Cockaigne
Cockaigne or Cockayne is a medieval mythical land of plenty, an imaginary place of extreme luxury and ease where physical comforts and pleasures are always immediately at hand and where the harshness of medieval peasant life does not exist...
. It is a place where "hens lay soft boiled eggs" and there are "cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
trees." McClintock claims to have written the song in 1895 based on tales from his misspent youth hoboing through the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but some believe the song, or at least aspects of it, have existed for far longer.
History
The song was first recorded by McClintock, also known by his "hobo" name of Haywire Mac. McClintock claimed credit for writing the song, though it was likely partially based on other ballads, including An Invitation to LubberlandAn Invitation to Lubberland
"An Invitation to Lubberland" was a broadside ballad first printed in 1685. Many believe that it inspired the hobo ballad which formed the basis of the song Big Rock Candy Mountain recorded in 1928 by Harry McClintock.-Lyrics:...
and The Apple-Knocker's Lament. Other popular itinerant songs of the day such as "Hobo's Paradise", "Hobo Heaven", "Sweet Potato Mountains" and "Little Streams of Whiskey" likely served as inspiration, as they mention concepts similar to those in Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Before recording the song, McClintock cleaned it up considerably from the version he sang as a street busker
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
in the 1890s. Originally the song described a child being recruited into hobo life by tales of the "big rock candy mountain". In later years, when McClintock appeared in court as part of a copyright dispute, he cited the original words of the song, the last stanza of which was:
- The punk rolled up his big blue eyes
- And said to the jocker, "Sandy,
- I've hiked and hiked and wandered too,
- But I ain't seen any candy.
- I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore
- And I'll be damned if I hike any more
- To be buggered sore like a hobo's whore
- In the Big Rock Candy Mountains."
In the released version this verse did not appear.
The song wasn't popularized until 1939, when it peaked at #1 on Billboard Magazine's country music charts. But it achieved more widespread popularity in 1949 when a sanitized version intended for children was re-recorded by Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....
. It has been recorded by many artists throughout the world, but a version recorded in 1960 by Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette
Dorsey Burnette was an early Rockabilly singer. With his younger brother, Johnny Burnette, and a friend named Paul Burlison, he was a founder member of The Rock and Roll Trio.-Background and early career:Dorsey Burnett was born on December 28, 1932 to Willie May and Dorsey Burnett Sr...
to date was the biggest success for the song in the post-1954 "rock era", having reached #102 on Billboard's charts.
Sanitized versions have been popular, especially with children's music
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
ians; in these, the "cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
trees" become peppermint
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
trees, and the "streams of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
" trickling down the rocks become streams of lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
. The lake of gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
is not mentioned, and the lake of whiskey becomes a lake of soda pop
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
. The 2008 extended adaptation for children by Gil McLachlan tells the story as a child's dream, the last stanza being:
- In the Big Rock Candy Mountains you're going on a holiday
- Your birthday comes around once a week and it’s Christmas every day
- You never have to clean your room or put your toys away
- There's a little white horse you can ride of course
- You can jump so high you can touch the sky
- In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.
A folk version of the song is included in the Gordon "Inferno" Collection in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, under the title "The Appleknocker's Lament".
Actual location
Just north of Marysvale, UtahMarysvale, Utah
Marysvale is a town in Piute County, Utah, United States. The population was 381 at the 2000 census. Marysvale is a trail head for the Paiute ATV Trail.-Geography:Marysvale is located at ....
, near the Fishlake National Forest
Fishlake National Forest
Fishlake National Forest is located in south central Utah, USA. Its namesake is the largest freshwater mountain lake in the state.-Geography:...
, stands a cluster of brightly-colored hills named the "Big Rock Candy Mountain". However, the song was written before the mountain got its name; in 1928, after the song had been released, some Utah residents jokingly placed a sign at the base of the hills labeling it the "Big Rock Candy Mountain", along with a sign next to a nearby spring proclaiming it "Lemonade Springs". The Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort currently sits at the base of the hills and is a major hub in the Paiute ATV trail.
Other rock formations in the United States have also borrowed the name of the song; the largest exposed rock in the South Platte rock climbing area
Climbing area
A climbing area is a small geographical region with a concentration of opportunities for climbing. The term is most commonly used of rock climbing areas, but there are also ice climbing areas that have the right combination of steepness and water to result in climbable ice during the winter.While...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
is also called "Big Rock Candy Mountain" because of its colored stripes resembling a candy cane
Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint or cinnamon; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses...
. Additionally, one of the peaks in the Capitol State Forest
Capitol State Forest
The Capitol State Forest is a state forest in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties of the U.S. state of Washington. It includes part of the unusual Mima Mounds geologic feature.The Capitol State Forest is managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources...
in Washington State is named "Big Rock Candy Mountain".
Recordings
- The song was used in the 1987 movie IronweedIronweed (film)Ironweed is a 1987 film directed by Argentine-born Brazilian Héctor Babenco.The picture is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by William Kennedy and concerns the relationship of a homeless couple: Francis, an alcoholic, and Helen, a terminally ill woman during the Great...
and sung by Tom WaitsTom WaitsThomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
. - In 2000, inclusion in the popular soundtrackO Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the soundtrack of music from the 2000 American film of the same name, written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Goodman....
for the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely...
brought the song to a modern audience. The version in the film, sung by Harry McClintockHarry McClintockHarry Kirby McClintock , also known as "Haywire Mac," was an American singer and poet. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, "the son of a railroad cabinetmaker and nephew of four boomer trainmen. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus...
, includes the original references to "cigarette trees," "streams of alcohol," and the lake of whiskey as well. - Lisa LoebLisa LoebLisa Anne Loeb is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She launched her career in 1994 with the song, "Stay ". She was the first artist to have a number one single in the United States while not signed to a recording contract.Loeb's efforts now include music, film, television, voice-over...
sang a clean version of the song on her 2004 children's release, Catch the MoonCatch the MoonCatch the Moon is an album by Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell released in 2003 by Artemis Records. The album is a collection of children's music played in a folk music style. It comes in the form of a child's cardboard storybook written by Erin Courtney and illustrated by Bonnie Brook Mitchell...
, re-released in 2007. - The song was used in a 2005 Burger KingBurger KingBurger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
commercial, although the lyrics are changed to reference the foodTendercrispThe TenderCrisp is a chicken sandwich sold by Burger King, an international fast-food restaurant chain. It is one of their "indulgent" products....
being promoted. In the commercial almost all of the promises of the song are shown in detail. Darius RuckerDarius RuckerDarius Rucker is an American musician. He first gained fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld and Dean Felber...
(of Hootie and the Blowfish) is shown as a cowboy singing the song. Brooke BurkeBrooke BurkeBrooke Burke Charvet , better known by her maiden name, Brooke Burke, is an actress, dancer, model and television personality...
also appears in the commercial as a cowgirl. - A recording of the song was used as background music in a 2010 L.L. Bean commercial for the outdoor apparel maker.
- A version of the song was recorded by the punk band The Restarts
- The song was sung by Harry Dean Stanton in his role as Roman Grant in the HBO series "Big Love"
Other uses
- In 1943, Wallace StegnerWallace StegnerWallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
published an autobiographical novel titled The Big Rock Candy Mountain. He published a further autobiographical work in 1992 entitled Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs, a reference to a line in the song. - In 1945, George OrwellGeorge OrwellEric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
parodied this phrase in the book Animal FarmAnimal FarmAnimal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell published in England on 17 August 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II...
with an animal version of heavenHeavenHeaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
named Sugarcandy Mountain. - A 1963 animated cartoonAnimated cartoonAn animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
, Hobo's Holiday, features the adult lyrics which appear on screen with a bouncing ball. - The song is also discussed in depth in the book The Areas of My ExpertiseThe Areas of My ExpertiseThe Areas of My Expertise is a satirical almanac by John Hodgman. It is written in the form of absurd historical stories, complex charts and graphs, and fake newspaper columns. Among its sections are a list of 700 different hobo names and complete descriptions of "all 51" US states...
by John HodgmanJohn HodgmanJohn Kellogg Hodgman is an American author, actor, and humorist. In addition to his published written works, such as The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That Is All, he is known for his personification of a PC in contrast to Justin Long's personification of a Mac in...
, and performed by Jonathan CoultonJonathan CoultonJonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
in the audiobook. - In the 1970s, Big Rock Candy Mountain was made into an environmental fairytale, published on an LP intended for children with the namesake and addition songs. It is the story of a goose, a crawdad, a family of rats, a whangdoodleWhangdoodleThe Whangdoodle is a fanciful creature, as described in folklore and children's literature, most notably used by British authors Roald Dahl and Julie Andrews....
, and two hobos who journey to the fabled mountain in search of a home. There they find Pollution Pete, Cement Sam, and a construction crew damming the rivers, cutting down forests, and turning the mountain into suburbia. The animals steal shovels, paint them with glow-in-the-dark paint, and use them to scare away the crew so that the mountain can be returned to its pristine state. - In the Cormac McCarthy novel All the Pretty HorsesAll the Pretty HorsesAll the Pretty Horses is a novel by U.S. author Cormac McCarthy published in 1992. Its romanticism brought the writer much public attention. The novel was a bestseller and won the U.S. National Book Award as well as the National Book Critics Circle Award...
, John Grady Cole comments on how much the Mexican Tavern keeper loves America by saying "He made that Country sound like the Big Rock Candy Mountains." - In Glen CookGlen CookGlen Cook is a contemporary American science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his fantasy series, The Black Company. Cook currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.-Biography:...
's 1982 novel Shadowline, first in the Starfishers trilogy, a planet named the Big Rock Candy Mountain is the location for several scenes of the story. - The children-friendly version of the song was also used in the Rankin Bass stop-motion video "The Easter Bunny is comin' to town".
- In 1990, Jane WiedlinJane WiedlinJane Marie Genevieve Wiedlin is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known as the rhythm guitarist of the all-female New Wave band The Go-Go's.-Early life:...
recorded a song with the same title on her album Tangled. - The theme song to the TV series The Marvelous Misadventures of FlapjackThe Marvelous Misadventures of FlapjackThe Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is an American animated television series produced for Cartoon Network that premiered on June 5, 2008 and ended on August 31, 2010...
draws heavy inspiration from this song. In fact, some of the lines in the theme song are lines from this song with a few words changed to include more references to candy (for example, "little streams of alcohol come'a tricklin' down the rocks" became "sody pop come tricklin' down the rocks.", or even more starkly "come with me, we'll go and see the Big Rock Candy Mountains" became "come with me, we'll go and see a place called Candied Island") Episodes of the series often tell the story of an adventure Flapjack and Captain K'nuckles have while searching for the legendary Candied Island. In many ways, the series itself could be a huge allusion to the song, as K'nuckles tells incredibly tall tales about lands much like the one in the song to convince Flapjack to go adventuring, and both characters appear to live poor, hobo-like lives. - In Mur Lafferty's HeavenHeavenHeaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
audiobook series, the Big Rock Candy Mountain is portrayed as the hobo afterlife. - Grammy-winning artist Bruce Hornsby used the song as an intro to his song Candy Mountain Run at the Biltmore show in Asheville, NC on July 25, 2009 - and possibly in other venues on other dates.
- The song "Candy Mountain Cave", from the popular video "Charlie the UnicornCharlie the UnicornCharlie the Unicorn is a Flash animated short film and viral video directed, produced, animated, and written by Jason Steele of independent film company FilmCow...
", parodies this song. - In 1978, country singer Mel Tillis released the single "Ain't No California." Contained in the song are the lyrics, "Ain't no Big Rock Candy Mountain."
- In his 2004 album, The Nifty Mervous Thrifty, Muck StickyMuck StickyMuck Sticky is an American musician, songwriter, actor and artist. Muck Sticky has self-released ten albums since 2004, and was featured on the MTV web series, $5 Cover.-Career:...
made a cover of this song.
Further reading
- Jack Goodman, "Life-Size Model of a Hobo Paradise," New York Times, June 11, 1950, p. 273.
- Ron F. Carlson, "Encounter: Stranded at Rock Candy Mountain," New York Times, Oct. 17, 1976, pp. 29–30.
- Hal Rammel, Nowhere in America: The Big Rock Candy Mountain and Other Comic Utopias (Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 1990).
- Photo the BRCM in Utah