Green Briar Song

Lyrics: Robert Hunter?
Music: Robert Hunter?

This is one of the bonus tracks on the 50th Anniversary edition of Tales Of The Great Rum Runners. It features the Liberty Hill Aristocrats, with Peter Albin singing - Robert Hunter sometimes played with the Liberty Hill Aristocrats under the pseudonym Lefty Banks.

The notes with the CD don't give any information on authorship. It bears no relation to the Carter Family song "Girl on the Greenbriar Shore". There is a 1973 recording (under the title 'New Greenbriar Shore') by the Liberty Hill Aristocrats, without Robert Hunter, on an album teaching school children about types of guitar music - this is given as an example of bluegrass. It omits the "walking' in the desert" and "walking' in the furnace" verses but is otherwise identical.

I haven't found any trace online of these lyrics. While Robert Hunter registered his copyright in the other tracks on the CD, there is no evidence he copyrighted this song and the lyrics aren't included in Box Of Rain. So my attribution to him is just a guess based on the fact that it appears on this album and that he played with the Liberty Hill Aristocrats, Some phrases sound Hunter-like but it could equally be traditional.

Walkin' in the mountain singing Rock of Ages
Walkin' in the mountain where I belong
Walkin' in the mountain singing glory glory
Now get it on back where it belongs

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To have to work no more (to have to work no more)

I've been walkin' in the desert singing Rock of Ages
Walkin' in the desert which is where I belong
Walkin' in on the desert singing glory glory
Now get it back where it belongs

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To be around no more (to be around no more)

I've been walkin' in the furnace singing glory glory
Been walkin' in the furnace where I belong
Walkin' in the furnace singing Rock of Ages
Now get it on back where it belongs

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To have to work no more (to have to work no more)

I've been walkin' in the ghetto singing Rock of Ages
Walkin' in the ghetto where I belong
Walkin' in the ghetto singing glory glory
Now get it on back where it belongs

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To be around no more (to be around no more)

Walkin' on the water singing glory glory
Walkin' on the water which is where I belong
Walkin' in the water singing Rock of Ages
Now get it on back where it belongs

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To see you no more (to see you no more)

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
I'm on my way (I'm on my way)

On my way (I'm on my way)
To the green briar shore (to the green briar shore)
And I don't expect (and I don't expect)
To see you no more