MAGGIE

Away up in the mountains,
Each livin' thing that grows
Has room enough to come into its own.
A man can be a monster.
A man can be a prince.
But you don't know which until he's left alone,
Way out back and beyond.
Way out back and beyond...

HAZEL

They say that in the cities
They's fallen on hard times.
Well, we ain't ever knowed another kind.
We carry on as ever.
Don't ask nobody's help.
We got no time to gripe about the daily grind.
We gotta tend that wheel,
Sweat for every meal.
It's the same old deal—we don't mind.
'Round here we're all inclined to livin'...

Way out back and beyond.
None but our sorry selves can we depend upon.
But I reckon we'll stay put, because truth be told, we're fond
Of the mountain way,
Way out back and beyond.

J.M.

In Nineteen Hundred Twenty,
This nation made a law
That banned the sale of alcoholic brews.
It's near a decade later
Since the country done gone dry,
But folks around these parts ain't heard the news.
Now there is some say all us
Mountain men is wild and lawless.
They's free to call us what they choose.
But we still got our booze!

We're livin' way out back and beyond,
Free from the shackles of the lawman and his bond.
And though it may not be a lot to look upon,
Don't you know we'll stay
Way out back and beyond.

CLAY

Miles of track stretch before me as I run,
Hounds of hell behind me.
No way back from this wickedness I done.
Gotta get where none will ever find me.

ALL

Freight train runs through the valley down below,
Railroad ties that bind us.
Lonesome nights hear that distant whistle blow.
Who knows if God hisself can find us?

Livin' way out back and beyond,
In the dark of a holler or the murk of a muddy pond.
Who can say what devils might be spawned
And hide away...

MAGGIE

Pitch black night through a dirty windowpane...

ALL

 They hide away...

CLAY

Golden light from a window far away...

ALL

They're livin' way out back and beyond,
In the dark of a holler or the murk of a muddy pond.
Who can say what devils might be spawned
And hide away...
Way out back and beyond.


© 2009 by Peter Mills