rocky top became a state song in 1967.
rocky top became a state song in 1967.
when did rocky top became a state song?
1967
the song was officially adopted as the fifth tennessee state song in 1982. in the 1970s, the song achieved such popularity among bar crowds that the chapel hill, north carolina-based old-time band the red clay ramblers' national tours included a crowd-pleasing satire informally titled "play 'rocky top' (or i'll punch your lights out.)" the bryants' children currently own the rights to the song under the corporate name "house of bryant," and the song's original sheet music is on display at the rocky top village inn in downtown gatlinburg.









































section::::background.:lyrics.
rocky top
despite its fast and upbeat tempo, the song laments the loss of a way of life. in the song's opening verse, the singer longs for a place called "rocky top," where there is no "smoggy smoke" and there are no "telephone bills." the singer reminisces about a love affair he once had on rocky top with a woman "wild as a mink" and "sweet as soda pop." the song's second verse recalls a story about two "strangers" (apparently revenue agents) climbing rocky top "looking for a moonshine still," but never returning (conflict between moonshiners and "revenuers" is a common theme in appalachian culture). the song says that the soil on rocky top is too rocky to grow corn, so the people of rocky top "get their corn from a jar". in the third and final verse (which consists of just four lines), the singer again longs for the "simple" life, likening life in the city to being "trapped like a duck in a pen."
rocky top