One of the most innovative and popular bluegrass groups of the 1960s and 1970s, the band took their music into new directions and gained a large audience. Among their most notable achievements were their pioneering, inventive use of amplification, twin harmony banjos, double-tracked vocals, steel guitars, and drums. They were the first bluegrass group to expand the genre's sonic palette in such a fashion.
In 2005 Sonny Osborne retired, owing to a shoulder injury, and Bobby continued to tour as Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-press.
In addition to "Rocky Top," the brothers' hit records include "Making Plans," "Up This Hill and Down," "Midnight Flyer," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Muddy Bottom," "Tennessee Houndog," "Georgia Pineywoods," "Roll Muddy River," "The Kind of Woman I Got," and "Ruby (Are You Mad At Your Man)."
Rocky Top
Osborne Brothers Lyrics
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Down in the Tennessee hills
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top
Ain't no telephone bills
Once I had a girl on Rocky Top
Half bear, other half cat
Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop
I still dream about that
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top
Lookin' for a moonshine still
Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top
Reckon they never will
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
Dirt's too rocky by far
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee
I've had years of cramped-up city life
Trapped like a duck in a pen
All I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top, Tennessee
The Osborne Brothers’ “Rocky Top” is a timeless and classic country song that has been adopted as the unofficial anthem of Tennessee. The song paints a vivid picture of life in the mountains of Tennessee, with the lyrics describing the beauty of the landscape, the simplicity of a rural lifestyle, and the struggles of living in the mountains. The song’s opening lines express a deep longing for home, as the singer sings, “Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top, down in the Tennessee hills, ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top, ain't no telephone bills.” The song speaks to the idea that the simple life in the mountains is better than the busy and complicated life in the city.
The song’s second verse tells a story of two strangers who climbed Rocky Top looking for a moonshine still, and who have never come down from the mountain. This story serves to reinforce the idea that life on Rocky Top is a simple and uncomplicated existence, where people grow and trade their own goods, and the only law is their own self-governance. The final verse of the song is a lament for a life lost to the busy rush of city life, with the singer pining for the simplicity of country living. The chorus of the song repeats throughout, professing the beauty and charm of “Rocky Top, Tennessee.”
Line by Line Meaning
Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top
I wish I was on the Rocky Top mountain in Tennessee.
Down in the Tennessee hills
Rocky Top mountain is located in the hills of Tennessee.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top
There is no pollution or smog on the Rocky Top mountain. It is clean and fresh.
Ain't no telephone bills
There are no telephones or bills to worry about on Rocky Top mountain. It is a simple life.
Once I had a girl on Rocky Top
There was a girl that the singer knew who lived on Rocky Top mountain.
Half bear, other half cat
She was a wild and unique person, like a combination of a bear and a cat.
Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop
She was both adventurous and sweet.
I still dream about that
The singer still thinks about that girl and the life on Rocky Top.
Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top
Two strangers climbed the Rocky Top mountain looking for a moonshine still.
Lookin' for a moonshine still
They were searching for a place to illegally make alcohol.
Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top
The two strangers never returned from Rocky Top mountain, indicating they may have gotten lost or worse.
Reckon they never will
It is assumed they never made it back down the mountain.
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
The soil and conditions on Rocky Top mountain are not suitable for growing corn.
Dirt's too rocky by far
The rocks in the soil make it difficult to grow crops.
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
The people living on Rocky Top mountain have to find alternative methods to get their corn.
Get their corn from a jar
They obtain their corn in the form of moonshine.
I've had years of cramped-up city life
The singer has spent a long time living in the crowded city.
Trapped like a duck in a pen
He feels confined and restricted in the city, like a duck trapped in a small pen.
All I know is it's a pity life
The singer regrets not having the simple and free life of Rocky Top mountain.
Can't be simple again
It is difficult, if not impossible, to recreate the simplicity and natural beauty of Rocky Top mountain in the city.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Rocky Top mountain will always have a special place in the singer's heart and mind.
Home sweet home to me
Rocky Top mountain feels like home to the singer.
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top mountain is a familiar and beloved place.
Rocky Top, Tennessee
Rocky Top mountain is located in the state of Tennessee.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Rick James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind