Cat. #1505 (MFH #329) - As sung by Richard Brothers, Fayetteville, Arkansas on January 1, 1974
VERSE 1
Joe Hilderbrand was his name
In Ozark Mountains he earned his fame
For it was Joe, a mountain boy
Who left th jail for freedoms joy
VERSE 2
His Pa was ill, he felt so bad
For Joe, of course, had been real bad
He robbed some folks, th simple way
VERSE 3
So, now in prison he did lie
His poor Pa ill about to die
Th Law let Joe go see his Pa
But Joe rebelled 'gainst City law
VERSE 4
Instead he took to th cool, cool woods
Forsaking all his worldly goods
But who did join him there one day
But his own true love, with him to stay
VERSE 5
Like hunted fawn an' hunted deer
-- -- -- -- -- went in constant fear
Th bloodhounds with th posse yelled
Th lovers flee, but no one tells
VERSE 6
For mountain folk know deep inside
That mountain law is bein' tried
Politicians cruel had done them in
An' covered up their deepest sins
VERSE 7
But Joe he took an honest toll
His gun, he'd not find legal scrolls
So now he's home in forest len
N' not in sight of City pain
VERSE 8
Th skies are wide an' full an' blue
Each mountain top presents a view
Of natures hope untouched by man
While he's survives th best he can
VERSE 9
Now, I don't hold to crime an' such
Joe shouldn't run around so much
An' soon behind cold prison bars
Joe looks above to freedoms stars
VERSE 10
But --- wacth an' please don't shoot
Don't harm a hair on Nicky's shoot
Four our Joe may have gone astray
But so do City folks today
VERSE 11
Why, even now in Fayetteville town
Their wrecking our hills around
An' soon there'll be no forest retreat
For all will be a City neat
VERSE 12
Joe's like a bird who goes afar
Like untamed fallin' star
An' now to do them Yankee ways
Will end for'er our mountain days