Look at that bug all full of sin I ain’t never seen one so big as him if they get that big beyond the grave a-crawlin on down to satan’s cave I’ll say my prayers I’ll pass the plate If it get me on through that pearly gate

My wife she get too blamed bossy when I’s settin with my possy. Claim we’s castin spells at night— (an by gum by gum she right!) She-folk know the coven’s rule’s are clear an plain ‘bout meddlin fools: “Allys’ fore morn as Moonman flecks, revenge the shifter how they’d least expect.” ‘Baccy, drink, and magic’s through, so head I home after speakin news (dumpin stew) The dag-blamed possy, as I climb in bed come flyin out the cracks in our chimney-head —done spread our floors with lichen and mold, and the windows and doors with cotton bolls. Trees grow tall them oaks and ash, an ‘ccosionly my honor must be ‘nacted (music enacting of honor) possy they get too blamed ripe when I’s settin with my wife claim I’m tellin all their tales of the night an by gum by gum they right

Well I walked on south to the edge of town where my fathers bones are beneath the ground There were all these bugs in the moon lit night And I saw them dancin on the burial site See, all bug legs like to twist and turn and if a bug don’t got em he do the squirm Now the bones jumped out, they danced and reeled did one step two step clicked the heel Showed them bugs how to stomp in time now all them legs gonna hop in line (chorus) Them bones oh! them bones Them bones oh! them bones Once you held my father’s soul now he’s flown, you’re on your own Once you held my fathers soul now he has flown, you’re on your own Well the crickets won’t really much have a go but they brung their fiddles to start the show The grasshopper’s ready, think he knows it all but them bones brought steps from the devil’s ball Those steps been seen by demon hoards where the devil goes a cloggin on fiery boards And the clogs is made of dragon bone and the soles is carved of diamond stone So grasshopper get yeself down to groove cuz you aint ever seen that pair of shoes chorus See the devil don’t dance for the living at all he only goes a cloggin at the skeleton ball Tonight them bones brung a special treat if you’re watchin all the hoppin of them lil bug feet!

When Old Winter did turn his weathered head, pulling up his covers, from underneath spread daffodils yellow and dandelion sprigs brightening our festival with budding heads When father old and grey did rest his weary eyes, from his covers did fall petals bright With the freshest of mornings to season where we sat with our pewter cups and wooden bowls at this age-old repast Yessir I’d say that Spring has come to the low grounds

(1st chorus) Yes indeed, around the rock we gather for a merry feast We’re giving thanks for root and sprig the thaw-wind’s left a handsome rig Of buds and spice about this spinney bring the fiddle and jig-board quickly All beneath our firmament can be a Country Engagement Now begins each and every man to approach his seat with cup in hand Then come all the women too to join the toasting of the brew Stand you all behind your seats as we begin this joyous meet Across the table, raise thy mug Point it to the midday sun (2nd chorus) Cuz this here’s a Country Engagement Listen as we tell you about it There aint no work nor travelin’ while sippin’ wine and singin’ hymns Across the green the church-clock chime washes us in measured time Calling every humbled soul Set the table for the lord Set the table for the lord 1st chorus And once we drank to all thats green, and those great hands which shaped and preened the hollowed ground we together share we passed about our kitchen-fare So Brother Bird now call your flock There’s pickins at this rustic jaunt Our tater skins and cumber seeds we left for you upon the green 2nd chorus So remember well for every fest good country folk give due respect to saffron coats and nature’s brothers petaled picks and shaded bowers When food is passed by neighbor hands there’s praise that’s due these fruitful lands and to the Lord who molded every peaceful spot out in our country

Hawthorne is good and Hawthorne is free Mother Earth in her kindness she gave it to me She gave me my cabin, my pipe and its case And she’ll give me my final resting place When my time comes, my door shall open wide I’ll make a place at the table and let him inside He brings with him darkness, but it scares me no more For twice in my life I’ve met him before First time he came on Harvestman’s Eve The wheat from the fields tremb’ling in their sheaves He came to my cabin, he opened the door And took my own gard’ner to the grey-sanded shore She was to go under, she was to fall in But she said “I shan’t go with all that I’ve sinned And turned from him there and left the shore And he watched her in silence ’till she was no more Her time was over, she should not come back Her skin became white, her eyes they turned black Spoke only in whispers, touched not with her hand And left all her love on the shore in the sand And so in this state did she dwell on this earth Wand’ring by my cabin while I lay in my berth It pained me to see her all like a husk Advancing but seeing nothing in the dusk I swore to find the one who took her that night I’d ask him how I could save this wight How I could lead her back to the grey shore And free her spirit forevermore. I roved every hollow, I searched them through All through the mountains, every one that I knew I asked all my neighbors, I asked all my kin But they said no one ever went looking for him I searched every sinkhole, each one I could find When I found him I hoped for a peace of mind Each one I entered was deeper than the last And the night crept closer with each deepening shaft I searched every cavern and every cave Led by the will for her soul to save Through every chamber never touched by the sun At last I found him in the deepest one Surrounded by silence, before him I stood I told him I’d walked every county and wood His gaze made me quaver, but I would not rest Until I delivered to him my request And when he had heard it, he spoke not a word And I began to think I’d not be assured Then he told me to plant a hawthorne seed And once it had grown, that she would be free I gave him my gratitude for answ’ring my plea I came out from the dark to plant the seed And while it grew, she stayed to haunt me And the sight of her still made me very weary Years went by, and then the tree bloomed She could walk to the shore where she had been doomed Of right mind and vision, she knew she was done So she stepped in the water and then was gone So I was assured that she had passed But I became weary and I could not last I’d roamed the earth up to his very door And now I did not want to see it anymore Hawthorne is good and Hawthorne is free And now I haste Death for to come and take me Soon I’ll leave my cabin and pipe in its drawer and be led down forever to the grey shore.

Give me a paddle, give me a lathe, I’m gonna dig me outta this grave. I’m gonna take this body to town cuz my skeleton honey want a wedding gown. Twarnt no room to dig us separate, so they threw us all and the hog in one big group pit. There I met my skeleton honey and a while down der she looked at me never saying a single word, but keeping on actin like she was happy plain as rain drops I however could see that dripped from her hollow, she wern’t happy at all seems I should wed her in church-preacher weddin do, an maybe she’ll have reason to keep living on (an teach her how to keep happy living on) Thank you for rain, thank you for sun, thank you for plates of yellow sweet-gum. I don’t want to kill my wife again, but I want to know why she is not a perfect woman. She sits on her chair in the sun-room thinking about what she doesn’t want to do in her daily schedule knowing that tomorrow is coming quickly too. I’m gonna dig me outta this grave and I’m gonna take this body to town hire a horseman quick strong on the whip cuz my skeleton honey want a wedding gown