Tom Paxton
Tom Paxton (born Thomas Richard Paxton on October 31, 1937) is an American … Read Full Bio ↴Tom Paxton (born Thomas Richard Paxton on October 31, 1937) is an American singer and writer of folk music whose songs have had enduring appeal (and include modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind") known for a cynical, often political edge. In 2009, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Paxton was born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest child of Burton and Esther Paxton. The Paxton family moved to Bristow, Oklahoma in 1948, where Tom grew to adulthood and which he still considers home. He attended the University of Oklahoma and majored in drama, developing an interest in folk music.

After time in the Army Reserves, Paxton moved to New York City where he frequented the city's Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit. His early success in Greenwich Village coffeehouses led to an ever-increasing circle of work. He made his professional debut at the Gaslight, the renowned folk haunt that also issued the singer's first album. In 1962 Gaslight Records would press 2,000 copies of his debut album, I'm The Man Who Built The Bridges.

Paxton also auditioned to join the Chad Mitchell Trio, but although he failed, the group enjoyed a 1963 hit with "The Marvelous Toy," one of Paxton's early songs. Paxton performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a performance that would be recorded-and released-by Vanguard Records. Paxton would go on to record a second album with Vanguard-at the Newport Folk Festival the following year - but his association with that record company lapsed, and it would not be until the year 2000 that Vanguard once again released a Tom Paxton album, Tom Paxton: Best of the Vanguard Years. In 1964 Paxton was signed to Elektra Records for whom he recorded his best-known work. Then in 1965 he made his first tour of the United Kingdom - the beginning of a still-thriving professional relationship that has included at least one tour in each of the succeeding years.

He and his wife Midge have been married since 1963 and have two daughters, Jennifer and Kate. All three women have served as inspiration for many of Paxton's songs. He now has three grandsons, Christopher, Sean, and Peter.

In addition to songwriting, Tom Paxton has written many critically acclaimed children's books, some of which were inspired by his songs for children.

He has performed thousands of concerts around the world in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Paxton enjoys a strong relationship with fans throughout the world. His songs have experienced enduring appeal, including modern standards such as "The Last Thing on My Mind" (perhaps Paxton's best-known song, it has been recorded by dozens of artists, including Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Dolly Parton, and Porter Wagoner), "Ramblin' Boy", "Bottle of Wine", "Whose Garden Was This", "The Marvelous Toy", and "The Hostage" (which recounts the 1971 uprising at Attica State Prison).

In February 2002, Tom Paxton was honored with the ASCAP Lifetime Achievement Award in Folk Music. A few days later, he received three Wammies (Washington, DC, Area Music Awards); as Best Male Vocalist in the "traditional folk" and "children's music" categories, and for Best Traditional Folk Recording of the Year for Under American Skies (the duo album he made with Anne Hills in 2001). This was the first Paxton album to receive an award of any kind.

Paxton has been nominated four times for Grammy Awards in his career, all since 2002.

In 2004, the Martin Guitar Company introduced the HD-40LSH Tom Paxton Signature Edition acoustic guitar in his honor.

In 2005, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at BBC Radio 2's Folk Awards at London's Brewery Arts Centre.

In 2006, Paxton received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance.

On January 22, 2007, Paxton was honored with an official UK Parliamentary tribute at the British House of Commons at the start of his 2007 United Kingdom tour.

On May 3, 2008, Paxton was honored with a special lifetime tribute from the World Folk Music Association, and a concert was held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Tom Paxton Lyrics


a little bitty gun "I don′t usually pick on people who haven't asked for…
A Rumblin' In the Land If you can't come along, Love, then you must stay…
A Thousand Years The Burgher banged his fist on the table, red face…
About the Children The conversation pauses, while the waiter pours our tea, Th…
Ain't That News I've got news of the very best kind About troubles that…
All Clear in Harrisburg You may come back to your homes now citizens. You may…
All Night Long All night long, Dreaming badly, Feeling something's wrong. F…
Along the Verdigris Every where I look today everything is green Oklahoma's pret…
Anita O.J. Jesus loves Anita, or so it doth appear. Lately things are…
Annie's Going To Sing Her Song What's your hurry? Just watch this. This is one you mustn't…
Bad Old Days The gentle sound of your breathing, the murmur of the…
Billy Got Some Bad News Today Billy got some bad news today Billy better learn how to…
Bishop Cody's Last Request Bishop Cody′s last request was wired across the sea. Find my…



Born On The Fourth Of July As a schoolboy I played with a plastic grenade It…
Bottle Of Wine Ramblin' around this dirty old town Singin' for nickels and …
Bound for the Mountains and the Sea If you can't come along, love, then you must stay…
Buy a Gun for Your Son Hallelujah, Dads and Mommies, Cowboys, Rebels, Yanks and Co…
Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound It's a long and a dusty road It's a hot and…
Cindy's Cryin' Cindy's cryin' but it ain't no use - She's got a…
Clarissa Jones Clarissa Jones got bit on the heel by a rat…
Corrymeela I was angry with myself. I was lost and confused. There…
Daily News Civil rights leaders are a pain in the neck Can't hold…
Dance in the Kitchen I love the candle light, I love the soft violin I…
Dance in the Shadows Back in the trees, where I learned to say "Please",…
Did You Hear John Hurt It was a frosty night. It was beginning to snow, And…
Don't Slay That Potato Don't Slay That Potato By Tom Paxton How can you do it?…
Don't You Let Nobody Turn You 'Round It's a long, long journey to your old home, Where your…
Every Time Every time I hear a sweet bird singin', I think of…
Fred I have a dog, and his name is Fred. Poor old…
Georgie on the Freeways The summer sun was beating down, Oh pity would it show Geo…
Goin' to the Zoo Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, Zoo tomorrow, zoo tom…
Hand Me Down My Jogging Shoes I was out for a stroll, just a-walking a pup Checking…
Harper Father, Father build me a cabin fine. There I'll go at…
High Sheriff Of Hazard Now the High Sheriff of Hazard is a hard-working man. To…
Hold on To Me Babe As my aching head is begging for a sleep that…
Home to Me Tell the rose not to bloom, the stream to flow, Tell…
Homebound Train When I was a boy, just ten years old, Fishing with…
How Beautiful Upon The Mountain How beautiful upon the mountain Are the steps of those who…
I Am Changing My Name to Chrysler Oh, the price of gold is rising out of sight, And…
I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound It's a long and dusty road, a hot and a…
i don't want a bunny wunny "I though we would do a little song now for,…
I Give You the Morning Ever again the morning creeps across your shoulder Through t…
I Like The Way You Look I like the way you look when you don't know…
I Thought You Were an A-Rab "We had a terrific political scandal at home a couple…
I'm Bound for the Mountains and the Sea If you can't come along, love, then you must stay…
Introduction By Pete Seeger He was a pal and a friend always We rambled 'round…
Jennifer Rabbit Jennifer's Rabbit (Tom Paxton) Jennifer slept in her little …
Jennifer's Rabbit Jennifer slept in her little bed With dreams of a rabbit…
Jennifers Rabbit Jennifer's Rabbit (Tom Paxton) Jennifer slept in her little …
Jimmy Newman Get up Jimmy Newman the morning is come The engine's are…
Johnson I got a letter from L.B.J It said, "This is your…
Katy Oh, I have a little daughter and my daughter's name…
Lament For a Lost Election Shit!…
Leaving London With a dark and rolling sea Between my love and me I…
Let's Go To Michael Jackson's House Let's go Michael Jackson's house The party never stops Be …
Looking for the Moon My heart is in the mountains, while my body's on…
Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation I got a letter from L.B.J It said, "This is your…
Morning Again Morning Again Words and Music by Tom Paxton Someone's mo…
Mr Blue Good morning Mister Blue, we've got our eyes on you. The…
Mr. Blue Good morning Mister Blue, we′ve got our eyes on you. The…
My Dog's Better Than Your Dog My dog's bigger than your dog, My dog's bigger than yours, M…
My Lady Some ladies are foolish Some ladies are gay Some ladies are …
My Son John My son, John, was a good boy and good to…
No Time to Say Goodbye It was a phone call in the night- The kind you…
Now That I've Taken My Life Now that I've taken my life, hiding the dampenings Scouring …
On The Road From Srebrenica On the road from Srebrenica, I saw a woman with two…
One Million Lawyers Humankind has survived some disasters, I'm sure. Like locus…
One Time and One Time Only I spent my hungry young years running wild There was so…
Only A Game While stopping one innocent afternoon For paper and magazine…
Out On The Ocean I left the harbor at break of day, shook out…
Outward Bound Outward bound upon a ship that sails no ocean Outward bound,…
Peace Will Come Peace, Peace will, Peace will come, And let it begin…
Phil I opened the paper, there was your picture, Gone, gone,…
Presbyterian Boy I've been drinkin' a little too much I've been accused…
Ramblin' Boy He was a man and a friend always. He stuck with…
Rambling Boy He was a man and a friend always. He stuck with…
Reason To Be My love lies beside me breathing soft and slowly Deep in…
She Sits on the Table She sits on the table in a dress made of…
So Much For Winning I left a window open all night long, And I got…
Standing on the Edge of Town I was born in the middle of this old town, About…
Talking Pop Art Talking Pop Art Words and Music by Tom Paxton Well I went…
Talking Vietnam Pot Luck Blues (Acoustic guitar intro) Spoken: "Ahhh... Let's do that agai…
Talking Vietnam Potluck Blues Spoken: "Ahhh... Let's do that again Do you believe that…
Talking Watergate I was coming home pretty late one night Singing a song…
Thank You Republic Airlines "This is a... This is a song that I wrote…
The Last Thing on My Mind It's a lesson too late for the learning Made of sand,…
The Bravest The first plane hit the other tower, right after I…
The Death of Stephen Biko Stephen Biko lay in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress In …
The Death of Steven Biko Stephen Biko lay in shackles on a urine-sodden mattress In…
The First Song Is for You I sit down each morning and I start to move…
The Honor Of Your Company When I find myself with a song to write, I remember…
The Hooker Where do you go at night? Where do you go at…
The Hostage I'm a guard in the great iron prison, at least…
The Iron Man The orders came, the midnight rain Was driving down the win…
The Last Thing On My Mind It's a lesson too late for the learning Made of sand,…
The Love of Loving You The Love Of Loving You By Tom Paxton In an unexpected moment…
The Marvelous Toy The Marvelous Toy Words and Music by Tom Paxton When I was…
The Perfect Bomb Some friends and I have worked for years in deepest…
The Thought Stayed Free A thought was born in the mind of a man And…
The Willing Conscript Oh sergeant, I'm a draftee And I've just arrived in camp I'v…
There Goes The Mountain There goes the mountain, father of fir trees Home for the…
This World Goes 'Round And 'Round This world goes round and round Green leaves must turn to…
Train for Auschwitz (Tom Paxton) I see a long train comin′ Across the Polish pl…
Victoria Dines Alone Victoria dines alone, she skips the potatoes. Victoria begin…
What a Friend You Are What a friend you are If I had a golden star…
What Did You Learn In School Today What did you learn in school today, dear little boy…
When Annie Took Me Home Late at night, somewhat tight Guardian angels put to flight …
When Princes Meet When princes meet The poor little men must tremble In judgme…
When We Were Good When we were good she had a way with me She'd…
Whose Garden Was His Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely. Did it have…
Whose Garden Was That Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely. Did it ha…
Whose Garden Was This Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely. Did it have…
Wish I Had A Troubadour Words and Music by Tom Paxton Wish I had a troubadour…
You Are Love You are the light in children's eyes You are the hope…
You Can Eat Dog Food Quit your bellyachin', bub Sayin' you can't afford your gru…
Yuppies In The Sky One night as I was walking down Columbus Avenue The sushi…


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