Harry McClintock, also known as Haywire Mac, was an American folk singer, radio performer, and railroad worker born in 1882. He spent much of his early life as a hobo and union activist, which deeply impacted his music.
He was known for songs that combined humour with social commentary and tales from the road. His unique voice and colourful storytelling made him a standout in early American folk music.
About the Song
Big Rock Candy Mountain is about a hobo’s dream of a perfect, magical place where life is easy and full of simple pleasures. It describes a land with endless food, comfort, and freedom, where there are no worries or hard work.
The lyrics show wishes for a better life, using funny and happy images to create a feeling of hope and escape from tough times.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 1928 |
| Album | Haywire Mac (1972) |
| Writer | Harry McClintock |
Complete Big Rock Candy Mountain Lyrics
Verse 1
One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hikin’
And he said, “Boys, I’m not turning
I’m headed for a land that’s far away
Beside the crystal fountains
So come with me, we’ll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains”
Verse 2
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There’s a land that’s fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Verse 3
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers’ trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh, I’m bound to go where there ain’t no snow
Where the rain don’t fall, the wind don’t blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Verse 4
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railroad bulls are blind
There’s a lake of stew and of whiskey too
You can paddle all around them in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Verse 5
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
As soon as you are in
There ain’t no short-handled shovels
No axes, saws, or picks
I’m a-going to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the Turk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Outro
I’ll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Similar Songs Like Big Rock Candy Mountain
If you like fun stories and old-timey tunes like “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” you’ll enjoy these other songs with the same playful and wandering spirit.
- Hallelujah, I’m a Bum: This lively tune celebrates the hobo lifestyle with humor and dignity. It’s a catchy, lighthearted look at life on the rails.
- The Bum Song: This one stands out with its clever lyrics and carefree rhythm. It gives a glimpse into the mind of a proud drifter.
- Jesse James: A folk ballad that shows the life of the famous outlaw. It combines facts and legend in a simple and engaging storytelling style.
Similar Artists Like Harry McClintock
For fans of early American folk music, these musicians helped shape the genre with their own unique voices and storytelling.
- Woody Guthrie
Genre: Folk / Americana
Top albums: Dust Bowl Ballads (1940), Library of Congress Recordings (1940), Bound for Glory (1956), Songs to Grow On (1956) - Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Genre: Folk / Country Blues
Top albums: Jack Elliott Sings the Songs of Woody Guthrie (1960), Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (1961), South Coast (1995), I Stand Alone (2006) - Lead Belly
Genre: Folk / Blues / Work Songs
Top albums: Negro Folk Songs (1946), Lead Belly’s Last Sessions (1953), Where Did You Sleep Last Night (1996), Midnight Special (2003) - Pete Seeger
Genre: Folk / Protest Songs
Top albums: American Industrial Ballads (1956), If I Had a Hammer (1956), God Bless the Grass (1966), Rainbow Race (1971) - Cisco Houston
Genre: Folk / Western Ballads
Top albums: Songs of the Open Road (1954), I Ain’t Got No Home (1960), Cisco Houston Sings the Songs of Woody Guthrie (1960), Passing Through (1962)
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Other Artists Covered Big Rock Candy Mountain?
The song has been covered by many artists, including Burl Ives, who made a children’s version with cleaner lyrics.
Did Big Rock Candy Mountain Achieve Commercial Success?
It became widely popular, reaching #1 on Billboard’s country music charts in 1939, and gained more fame with Burl Ives’s 1949 version.
Is There a Real Big Rock Candy Mountain?
There is a real Big Rock Candy Mountain in Utah, named after the song, known for its colorful hills, and it is a popular tourist spot.
