Listen to the bark of the dogwood tree
Go into the garden take a little green pea
Just one month till the end of school
I’m an April Fool
The willow in the backyard can’t stop weepin’
Seeds in the ground are soundly sleepin’
Days are warm but the nights are cool
I’m an April Fool
Chorus
I’m an April Fool, and I’ve got to say
From the end of March to the first of May
That’s the place I’d love to stay
I’m an April Fool
Sheets on the line all wild and blowing
Cross your fingers there’s no more snowing
It froze last night in the swimming pool
I’m an April Fool
Gotta mow the grass, been nearly half a year
At nights spring peepers are all you hear
Old full moon like a shining jewel
I’m an April Fool
Chorus
The old crabgrass keeps on complaining
It’d be real dry if it’d just stop raining
Eliot said this month is cruel
I’m an April Fool
March to the beat of an April tune
We May be this way till June
Take a deep breath and I know that you’ll
Be an April Fool
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
for Zöe and Obray
John: vocal and guitar
Tim: mandolin and fiddle
Charlie: banjo
Mark: bass
Jon & Moondi: harmony vocals
Chorus
It's a dog's life as the family pet
The more you beg, the more you get
Eat like a horse, sleep like a log
It's a dog's life when you're the family dog
Letter carrier coming up the walk
Think I'll go over and have a little talk
Have you got any mail for me today?
Or are you gonna holler "Get away! Get away!"
Chorus
When we go to the mountains, when we go to the beach
They keep those kids on a mighty short leash
Mom's doggone tired at the end of the day
Just a-trying to keep all those little puppies at bay
Chorus
When they finally go to bed I'm working really hard
Howlin' at the moon and diggin’ up the yard
Dad'll start growling in the middle of the night
But his bark is a whole lot worse than his bite
Chorus
For the kids and the cat and the Pa and Ma
I've got a cold nose and a warm paw
So don't get a gerbil or a hamster or a frog
Get yourself a friend! Get a dog! Get a dog!
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal, hammer dulcimer, 12-string guitar
Michael: electric piano & organ
Pete: lap steel guitar
JT: bass
Jos: drums
Sun in the treetops
Clouds in the sky
The world’s up early
And so am I
Fish in the river
Fly on the line
Cast it on the water
In the spring time
Fly disappears
And my line goes tight
Pulling both ways
With all our might
Have I got you
Or have you got me?
Turn you loose
And we both are free
When the air gets cool
We all come out
Every salmon
Every trout
Rainbow, cutthroat
Brown and brook
Dolly Varden
Steelhead, chinook
From headwaters
Farm and town
Red, white , yellow
Black and brown
Every color
Shape and name
One great river
All the same
Sun in the treetops
Clouds in the sky
The world’s up early
And so am I
Fish in the river
Fly on the line
Cast it on the water
In the spring time
Fly disappears
And my line goes tight
Pulling both ways
With all our might
Have I got you
Or have you got me?
Turn you loose
And we both are free
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal, guitar, fiddle, and banjo
Mark: bass
Jon & JT: harmony vocals
I’m a frog on a log
In the spring, in the spring
I’m a frog on a log in the spring
I’m a frog on a log
Just walking with my dog
I’m a frog on a long in the spring
Chorus
It’s a creature double feature
It’s an animal jamboree
Post-hibernation celebration
It’s a spring jubilee
I’m a rat in a hat
In the spring, in the spring
I’m a rat in a hat in the spring
I’m a rat in a hat
Just playing with my cat
I’m a rat in a hat in the spring
Chorus
I’m a moose on the loose
In the spring, in the spring
I’m a moose on the loose in the spring
I’m a moose on the loose
Just walking with my goose
I’m a moose on the loose in the spring
Chorus
I’m a hen in a pen
In the spring, in the spring
I’m a hen in a pen in the spring
I’m a hen in a pen
Gonna fly just like a wren
I’m a hen in a pen in the spring
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
for Nancy
John: vocal
Carroll: piano
Kim: violin
Janet: violin
Chris: viola
Marcio: cello
John Smith: double bass
For most of her life she was just such a mess
Went for five years never once wore a dress
Heading for third with her baseball cap on
Now my sister’s going to the Prom
Chorus
My sister’s going to the Prom
She’s got a long, blue dress on
Isn’t it strange how a person can change
My sister’s going to the Prom
She’s done up her hair, she’s put rouge on her cheeks
She’s painted her nails, she’s been worried for weeks
She’s been dancing with Dad and been crying with Mom
My sister’s going to the Prom
They’ll go out for supper, Chinese, I think
With those little umbrellas they put in your drink
Her best friend Maisha is going along
Together they’re going to the Prom
Chorus
She says that he’s nice, she knows him from Band
She swears they’re just friends, but she’s holding his hand
I know cause I spied on them, hid in the john
My sister’s going to the Prom
I’m just so excited I can’t get to sleep
Waiting to hear their car come down the street
I heard the door open just before dawn
My sister’s home from the Prom
Chorus
I wonder how this ever happened to be
She was always so sensible, always so free
You don’t suppose these things might happen to me
My sister’s going out dancing tonight
My sister’s going...I guess it’s alright
They’ll kiss in the moonlight and dance on and on
My sister’s going to the Prom
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal
Michael: piano
Pete: electric guitar
JT: bass & harmony vocals
Jos: drums
Bobby: saxophone
Jon: harmony vocals
Can't watch any TV, can't listen to the radio
Can't play my computer, can't watch my video
Can't see my friends and my friends can't see me
I'm lonely and I'm blue as I can be (Because...)
Chorus
I'm grounded
Can't have any fun
Can't see anyone
Guess I'll get that homework done
Because I'm grounded
Trapped here in my room
It's quiet as a tomb
I'm grounded
Can't have any special treats, can’t go out and play
It’s brussel sprouts and tofu for three square meals a day
While other kids live lives of ease and I live a life of crime
It’s four grey walls and skateboards on my mind
Chorus
I look out of my window and watch the kids have fun
Thinking ‘bout my future and all I could have done
I guess I've learned my lesson, next time I won't be bad
Or at least I won't get caught by Mom and Dad (And wind up...)
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP)
for Peter & Charlie
John: vocal and guitars
Michael: piano & organ
Pete: electric guitar
JT: bass & harmony vocals
Jos: drums & percussion
Kevin: percussion
Bobby: saxophone
Jon: harmony vocals
When the signs went up
Me and Eddie went down
To the county park
On the southside of town
We gathered at the diamond
All fresh and green
At the tryouts for my little league team
Eddie and me, we been playin’
Ever since we was four
Soon as I was big enough, man,
I was out the door
Dad would get home
From the factory
In time to have a catch
With Eddie and me (and he said,..)
Chorus
Always give it your best
No matter what you do
I hope I make it
I hope I make it
I hope I make it
I hope you make it, too
I take my number
And I take my place
Eddie’s at short
I’m at second base
The so ball’s fast
Hope I remember what to do
Eddie’s says he’s scared
And I am too (But I tell him,...)
Chorus
Bridge
I’ve seen it in my dreams
About a hundred times
A hard ground ball
Down the third base line
The air is sweet, the new birds sing
I close my eyes
And take a swing
Planted here in the bleachers
How my memories return
To this same green field
Waiting for my turn
My fingers sweat, my stomach aches
As she shoulders her bat and she steps to the plate (But I told her...)
Chorus
Always give it your best
No matter what you do
I hope she makes it
I hope she makes it
I hope she makes it
I hope she makes it
I hope she makes it
I hope I make it, too
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal, guitar and banjo
Andy: tuba
Bobby: clarinet
Jon & JT: harmony vocals
Here comes Pat, the person that
Always brings us something good
Across her back is a great big sack
Of mail for our neighborhood
You're hoping hard for a letter or a card
Something to remind you
Of a friend or relation off on a vacation
But all you ever seem to find
Chorus
Is junk mail
The way to ruin a perfect day
There's more and more spilling on the floor
Just so you can haul it away
Where does it come from? Where can it go?
Everybody hates this stuff
I've just about had enough
Junk mail
Do you have what it takes?
Are you in the sweepstakes?
Can't afford to wait and see
Interrupt your dinner
You may be a winner
Send in $19.95 for free
There goes Mom with her work gloves on
Trying hard to sort the mail
Special sales and catalogs straight into the box
Bills go right into the pail
Flyer after flyer, higher and higher
Now we're really out of luck
Piled on the hall floor, we can't use the front door
'Til someone comes to get it with a truck
Chorus
15 coupons 25 samples
Don't you need another magazine?
Grownups spending all their cash
Generating trash
Don't you think it's time that they came clean?
Here is one solution to all of this pollution
Don't you think it's fair that they should pay?
For mail that causes trouble the postage should be double
Now that would clear the mess up right away
But if there's something real to send to a neighbor or a friend
To say you're where you really want to be
If you're having a good time it'll only cost a dime
And love letters go for free
Chorus
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal
Michael: piano
Scott: bass
Jos: drums
D’earth: trumpet
When it snows in April
Everything turns white
Flowers poking through the snow
On a warm and moonlight night
When it snows in April
All the earth’s surprised
The lamb lays down w/the lion
Right before our eyes
Let the stars set early
Let the sun shine strong
All the flowers tremble
If the snow stays too long
Small birds fly for cover
Squirrels hover in the nest
The spring that came to us so early
Takes a midnight rest
Let the stars set early
Let the sun shine strong
All the flowers tremble
If the snow stays too long
When it snows in April
All the earth’s surprised
The lamb lays down w/the lion
Right before our eyes
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
John: vocal & acoustic guitars
Michael: electric piano & organ
Pete: electric guitar
JT: bass & harmony vocals
Jos: drums
Kevin: percussion
D’earth: trumpets
Bobby: saxophones
Jon: harmony vocals
“Spring cleaning, spring cleaning!” my Dad loudly shouts
“Let’s clean out your closet and throw it all out!”
Spring cleaning, spring cleaning it’s April, I guess
I open the door and I’m buried in mess
Where did it come from where can it go?
Didn’t I do this just one year ago?
Dad says he’ll help me but he’d never know
What stuff should stay and what stuff should go
He laughs when he sees me laid out on the floor
Buried in junk, two feet deep or more
“I just can’t imagine why you keep these things
“You put your decisions off till the spring”
“Dad, don’t you remember when you were a little kid
“All of the things that you treasured and hid?
“In fact, come with me,” and I led him stairs
To the attic and what do you s’pose we found there?
Three broke-down bicycles, twelve tamborines
Thirty complete years of Mad magazine
Bazooka Joe comics, an ashtray I made
An old Boy Scout jacknife with one broken blade
A moth-eaten sweater, six empty cans
An old pocket watch without any hands
A pot of dead aloe, a broke fishing pole
And one leather boot with a hole in the sole
He grinned kind of sheepish and said, “Guess it’s true
“A treasure to me might look like trash to you”
So we filled up the closet and nailed up the door
Went out to play catch, no spring cleaning no more
©1998 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP) & Joe Hill Music (ASCAP)
