Appalachian Beaver County
Music
Folk Ballads
Telling Our Story Through Song
Song Lyrics as Folk Poetry
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.
Bluegrass
Appalachian American Roots Music
On episode 14 of the Beaver County History Podcast, we talk about bluegrass music in Beaver County with Dave Foster and Judy Foster, whose band East of Enon is part of small but vibrant community of local Americana musicians. This episode launches our Beaver County Music Heritage oral history initiative.
Recorded Live! Bluegrass at the Pig Lady Fall Folklore Celebration - New Galilee, Pennsylvania
The Foster Family of Enon Valley, Pennsylvania and northern Beaver County make up East of Enon, a traditional bluegrass, country, and gospel musical group. This was the Fosters’ first time performing at the Pig Lady Fall Folklore Celebration, entertaining the crowd with bluegrass and country standards, classics, and contemporary songs, as well as a few special selections befitting the folklore festival.
Conforming to bluegrass tradition, the Fosters perform acoustically around a single microphone, taking musical cues and inspiration from each other. This special recording produced by The Social Voice Project captures these authentic, artistic dynamics and fine nuances of music performed before a live audience. As an important example of local history and Beaver County’s Appalachian musical heritage, this performance will be inducted into the Listening Library of Beaver County and other local history archives to help educate current and future generations.
Country Radio
Wheeling! Get That Feeling

Before WBVP hit the airwaves in 1948, radio reception in Beaver County was a patchwork of mostly AM stations from Pittsburgh and regional cities skipping their high wattage signals across the night time ether as far away as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Washington DC, Nashville, and Wheeling. Older Beaver Countians might recall the radio call letters of Pittsburgh stations KDKA, WCAE, WJAS, WHOD, and KQV. But many do remember WWVA, home of the Wheeling Jamboree. As the show’s current promoters recall:
THE COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW WITH TRADITION LIKE NONE OTHER
You must be logged in to post a comment.