Bluegrass Pines

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Bill Payne

One of the new songs with Robert Hunter lyrics performed by Bill Payne. This is a first shot at the lyrics - any help gratefully received.

Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Where the wide, wide river
Of whiskey wine
Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Glory in the territory
Sanctuary chimes

Wanted to tell you about a friend of mine
Whether you could call it the roving kind
Life seemed short when you left forever
Wasn't so smart, but pretty damn clever
Whiskey river in the bluegrass pines

Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Where the wide, wide river
Of whiskey wine
Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Glory in the territory
Sanctuary chimes

We both belong to the same damn chain gang
Leave my late friend, lash the roof
Wait till morning when the tide rolls out
Things we'd rather not talk about
Whiskey river in the bluegrass pines

Take away in the bluegrass pines
Where the wide, wide river
Called the whiskey wine
Flew away in the bluegrass pines
Flowing in the territory
Sanctuary chimes

Deep in the bluegrass forest at midnight
Moon turned down the softest candlelight
Mandolins stutter, the banjos frail
While the last electric stars go pale

The patter of twilight guitars creep
From under the bracken from where they sleep
Tones are strings a-tuning
Fall, climb, go forth, today

Deep away
Deep away, in the bluegrass pines
Glory in the territory
Sanctuary chimes

Set out on a 'gator boat to Lake Diane
Twelve string banjo in my left hand
Busted up sailing along the way
That's all I got left to play

Days gone by, I'm on the run
Look at all the time we've gone (note 1)
Those who die, the rest still dying
By the whiskey river in the bluegrass pines

Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Glory in the territory
Sanctuary chimes

Been on the wagon ninety nine years
Make it one more, you owe me a beer

Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Where the wide, wide river
Of whiskey wine
Deep away in the bluegrass pines
Glory in the territory
Sanctuary chimes
Notes
(1) on the Leftover Salmon recording, it sounds as if this line is "Look at all the harm we've done.

Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
     2013 Tracing Footsteps Bill Payne (DVD)
     2014 High Country Leftover Salmon

 


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