The Big Rock Candy Mountains” is a well-known American folk song about a hobo’s dream of a “perfect place” where life is easy and worries don’t exist.
First recorded and copyrighted in 1928 by Harry McClintock (also called “Haywire Mac”), the song is packed with funny, over-the-top images like hens that lay soft-boiled eggs and “cigarette trees” to show what a hard-working person might wish life could be.
Because it’s a folk song, the lyrics have changed over time, and lots of artists have recorded their own versions.
Some recordings keep the older, rougher hobo-style lines, while others use cleaner, kid-friendly words like Burl Ives’ popular 1949 version that swaps out things like cigarettes and alcohol for sweeter, safer ideas.
Here you can find the lyrics and also compare different adaptations, so it’s easier to pick the version you want to sing, share, or quote.
The Big Rock Candy Mountains Lyrics by Harry Mc Clintock
[Verse 1]
One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fire was burning
Down the track came a hobo hikin’
And he said, “Boys, I’m not turning
I’m headed for a land that’s far away
Beside the crystal fountains
So come with me, we’ll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains”
[Verse 2]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
There’s a land that’s fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
[Verse 3]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers’ trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh, I’m bound to go where there ain’t no snow
Where the rain don’t fall, the wind don’t blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
[Verse 4]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railroad bulls are blind
There’s a lake of stew and of whiskey too
You can paddle all around them in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
[Verse 5]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again
As soon as you are in
There ain’t no short-handled shovels
No axes, saws, or picks
I’m a-going to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the Turk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
[Outro]
I’ll see you all this coming fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
Song Credits
Here are the essential details about the folk standard “The Big Rock Candy Mountains”, especially the Harry McClintock original and a few well-known later versions.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Song title | “The Big Rock Candy Mountains” |
| Original artist | Harry McClintock (credited as “Mac”) |
| Recorded | September 6, 1928 (Hollywood, California) |
| Release date | November 16, 1928 (single) |
| Label | Victor Talking Machine Company |
| Writer | Harry McClintock |
| Performance (original recording) | Vocal with guitar |
| Song type | American folk / “hobo paradise” tall-tale song |
| Notable adapted version | Burl Ives recorded a cleaned-up, kid-friendly version (released as a Decca single; later popularized widely around 1949) |
BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN (1942) – Harry McClintock with Hal Borne & His Orchestra
Starring Harry McClintock himself as the dreamy hobo. This powerful live performance captures the authentic energy of the song.
The Big Rock Candy Mountains Lyrics by Burl Ives
[Intro]
Oh, the buzzin’ of the bees in the cigarette trees
The soda water fountain
Where the lemonade springs and the bluebird sings
In that Big Rock Candy Mountain
[Verse 1]
On a summer day in the month of May
A burly bum came a hiking
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane
He was looking for his liking
As he strolled along he sang a song of the land of milk and honey
Where a bum can stay for many a day
And he won’t need any money
Oh, the buzzin’ of the bees in the cigarette treesThe soda water fountainWhere the lemonade springs and the bluebird singsIn that Big Rock Candy Mountain
[Verse 2]
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain
The cops have wooden legs
The bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers’ trees are full of fruit
The barns are full of hay
I want to go where there ain’t no snow
Where the sleet don’t fall and the wind don’t blow
In that Big Rock Candy Mountain
Oh, the buzzin’ of the bees in the cigarette treesThe soda water fountainWhere the lemonade springs and the bluebird singsIn that Big Rock Candy Mountain
Other Notable Versions of “The Big Rock Candy Mountains”
Because this is a folk song, different artists have recorded it in their own style, and the lyrics can change from version to version
1. Burl Ives: Kid-friendly version
Burl Ives helped make the song widely popular again with a sanitized, children’s version in 1949.
In many kid-friendly takes, things like “Whiskey fountains” are swapped for sweeter ideas (like soda fountains), and “streams of alcohol” become lemonade, so the song feels more family-safe while keeping the same dreamy idea.
2. Pete Seeger: Folk revival recording
Pete Seeger recorded a well-known folk version connected to his American Favorite Ballads collection.
His style is simple and clear, which makes it easier to follow the story and sing along, great if you want a more traditional folk sound.
3. Dorsey Burnette: Rock/Pop Twist
In 1960, Dorsey Burnette put out a more rock-and-roll / pop-leaning version as the B-side to “Hey Little One.”
This tune even showed up on Billboard’s charts, which is pretty rare for an old folk song, proving that the tune can work in newer styles, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Original Version People Mean by “Harry Mc Clintock Lyrics”?
Most mean McClintock’s 1928 recording/copyrighted release (artist name “Mac”), which became the best-known early source for the song’s lyrics.
Which Version Is Easiest to Sing Along To?
The chorus stays similar in most recordings, so start with the refrain, then pick a version whose verses match your audience (original vs cleaned-up).
Was the song used in O Brother, Where Art Thou??
Yes, sources note the song appears in the film (and the soundtrack references the vintage McClintock track).
