full lyrics:


these Smokies

they don’t belong

to you and me

up in these Smokies

you’re as free

as every set of eyes ya see


this used to all be Cherokee

now on the map it’s Tennessee

someday the land

will have another name

who knows what they’ll call Rocky Top

or Rainbow Falls or Chimney Tops

but I hope the view from up there

stays the same


I’ve found I don’t get on

with everybody

though I get along just fine

with every tree

their roots reach back

beyond bright flags and treaties

to an age before

the concept “property”


there’s trails and then there’s

broken paths to nowhere

it’s sweet as silver

when you reach a summit goal

but to set off when you don’t know

or even care which way is North

that’s a freedom

feels a lot like solid gold


ask a black bear for a dime

he’ll keep on walkin

ask a forest fawn

and she’ll just prance away

you can ask a wild turkey

or any bushy tailed grey squirrel ya see

you’ll get the same spare change

from each of ‘em all day


all they care

is for that creek to keep on flowin

as they watch the leaves

turn colors unexplained

all I need’s a bit of sunshine

‘tween the thunderstorms

though even in their downpour rain

I can’t complain


these Smokies

they don’t belong to you and me

up in these Smokies

it’s a by-nobody’s-leave raw liberty