Appalachian Beaver County

LYRICS – “The Forks of the Ohio”

A year past 20 and he had plenty of old get up and go
He didn’t seem to mind the Indians or the ice and snow
As George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
As George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
Now Lord Dinwiddie the royal governor of Virgin-i-a
Says George you better go west a month or so, see what the Frenchmen say
Just tell ’em that the king don’t want ’em and they had better go
So George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
So George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
Now Queen Aliquippa was the Indian skipper of a tribe down Logs Town way
George thought he better win this lady Indian and without delay
So we took her a coat and a jug of whiskey and he stayed a day or so
And he came back a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
He came back a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
He met with a trapper whose name was Christopher Gist the histories say
Who looked mighty dapper in a coonskin capper and a buckskin negligee
And George said Christopher let’s get traveling Erie’s where we’ll go
So they both went looking and a riding and a walking from the forks of the old Ohio
They both went looking and a riding and a walking from the forks of the old Ohio
Now George and Christopher kept on traveling clear to Fort LeBoeuf
George said we’ll state them an ultimatum but the Frenchmen called their bluff
When George said gentlemen be tout suite the commandant said no
So they came back a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
They came back a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
They came back down to the wide Allegheny and they built themselves a raft
But Christopher he didn’t quite get the gist of her because he thought fore as aft
and George fell smack into the water while the wintery winds did blown
And George came a swimming and a sneezing and a coughing to the forks of the Ohio
And George came a swimming and a sneezing and a coughing to the forks of the Ohio
Now if you go a ridding or a walking on a Sunday afternoon
While a walk by the river is good for the liver and you might try this tune
On the very same spot where George came traveling many years ago
When George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio
When George came a looking and a riding and a walking to the forks of the old Ohio

LYRICS – “Twenty-Inch Mill”

Come all you iron workers and listen to my song!
It’s all about the twenty-inch, I won’t detain you long,
Our troubles they are numerous, we have a noble crew;
All things go right when we’re by night, we make a gallant show.
We have roughers built like elephants
And others thin and spare,
Our catcher says it’s all the same,
Our roller’s seldom there.
We have hookers, they’re all skillful men,
Our straighteners number five,
And when we go to changing rolls,
All nature seems alive.
We have helpers; we have heaters
That sometimes burn the steel;
We have pilers too, and chargers
That help to ram the peel.
Our buggy man’s a daisy;
He’s a man that takes no sass,
But he always helps big Jumbo there
To drive them in the pass.
When we are on the night turn,
They come well-filled with beer,
It takes a big supply, you know,
To put them in good cheer.
They try like men to work again;
You may look on with pride;
The bar at last goes through the pass,
But sticks fast in the guide.
Now we can’t do much on iron rails,
On slap-jacks or on tees;
We’re no great hands on channel bars,
On posting rounds or zees;
But we’re expert hands on six-by-six,
Your orders we can fill,
And, you for your life, don’t let them go
To any other mill.
Come all you iron workers,
And listen to my song;
It’s all about the twenty-inch,
I won’t detain you long.
Our troubles they are numerous,
We have a noble crew;
All things go right when we’re by night,
We make a gallant show!

LYRICS – “He Lies in the American Land”

“You, my wife, stay here till you hear from me.
When you get my letter put everything in order,
Mount a raven black steed, a horse like the wind,
Fly across the ocean to join me here.”

But when she arrived in this strange land,
Here in McKeesport this valley,
This valley of fire,
Only his grave, his blood did she find.
Over it bitterly she cried:

“Ah my husband, what have you done to this family of yours?
What can you say to these children,
to these children you orphaned?”
“Tell them, my wife, not to wait for me,
Tell them I lie here in the American land.”

LYRICS – “Pittsburgh Town”

Pittsburgh town is a smoky ol’ town, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh town is a smoky ol’ town, Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh town is a smoky ol’ town

Solid iron from McKeesport down

Pittsburgh, Lord God, Pittsburgh

Well what did Jones and Laughlan steal? Pittsburgh

What did Jones and Laughlan steal? Pittsburgh

What did Jones and Laughlan steal?

Up an’ down the river jus’ as far as you can see

In Pittsburgh, Lord God, Pittsburgh

All I do is cough and choke in Pittsburgh

All I do is cough and choke in Pittsburgh

All I do is cough and choke

From the iron filings and the sulphur smoke

In Pittsburgh, Lord God, Pittsburgh

From the Allegheny to the Ohio, in Pittsburgh

Allegheny to the Ohio

Allegheny to the Ohio

They’re joining up in the C.I.O.

Pittsburgh, Lord God, Pittsburgh

LYRICS – “Heaven’s Mist”

In the Appalachian Mountains, heaven’s mist imposes.
Rain falls in the woodlands, brings wild flowers and roses.
Shimmering, Glimmering, the warm breath of spring,
In the Appalachian mountains, heaven’s mist does bring.

Fields of fern, hemlock and oak, swaying in the breeze.
The smell of sweet fine chives, the summer air does tease.
Voicing, rejoicing, I hear the hillsides sing.
In the Appalachian Mountains, heaven’s mist does ring.

Colors blaze in the harvest haze, cornfields turn to gold.
Rusted leaves on ancient trees, swaying majestic and bold.
Changing, rearranging to winter from fall;
In the Appalachian mountains, heaven’s mist does call.

[Instrumental] first 2 lines

…Changing, rearranging as the seasons fall;
    In the Appalachian mountains, heaven’s mist does call,
    She calls, she calls.