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.
I'm Bound for the Mountains and the Sea
Tom Paxton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're bound to say farewell to me
I must bid you goodbye, though I hate to see you cry
But I'm bound for the mountains and the sea
Fare thee well, bound for the mountains and the sea
It's so hard to explain, why I'm leaving once again
It ain't nothing that I haven't done before
Is rambling this land from shore to shore
In this land, rambling this land from shore to shore
I have walked, I have thumbed, I've rode buses, I've rode trains
I've ridden a time or two in a silver plane
When I think of where I've been, I just have to go again
Just to see if everything is still the same
In this land, see if everything is still the same
So fare well, my dear, and I must be on my way
There's many a thing I must do and see
I'm a mighty restless man in a mighty restless land
And I'm bound for the mountains and the sea
Fare thee well, bound for the mountains and the sea
In Tom Paxton's song "I'm Bound for the Mountains and the Sea," the singer is explaining to his love why he must leave again. If she can't come with him, then she must stay behind. And though it pains him to see her cry, he must bid her goodbye as he is bound for the mountains and the sea. He has done this before, as he explains, "It ain't nothing that I haven't done before," but the thing he loves the best is traveling across the land from shore to shore. He has traveled by foot, hitchhiking, buses and trains. He's even ridden in a silver plane. But Paxton explains that the motivation behind his constant movement is to see if everything is still the same. He adds that it's hard to explain why he's leaving once again but it's the restlessness in his heart that compels him to explore more.
Line by Line Meaning
If you can't come along, love, then you must stay behind
If you can't join me on my journey, then unfortunately you'll have to remain behind.
You're bound to say farewell to me
You must bid me farewell, as it's time for me to depart.
I must bid you goodbye, though I hate to see you cry
I regret having to say farewell, as it pains me to see you upset.
But I'm bound for the mountains and the sea
However, I am committed to traveling to the mountains and the sea.
Fare thee well, bound for the mountains and the sea
Goodbye, as I'm headed towards the mountains and the sea.
It's so hard to explain, why I'm leaving once again
It's difficult to articulate why I must depart once again.
It ain't nothing that I haven't done before
It's something I've done many times previously.
It ain't nothing much, I guess, but the thing I love the best
I suppose it's not particularly significant, but it's what I enjoy the most.
Is rambling this land from shore to shore
Traveling this vast country from one coast to another is what I find most fulfilling.
In this land, rambling this land from shore to shore
Traveling around this country is the activity that brings me the most joy.
I have walked, I have thumbed, I've rode buses, I've rode trains
I've employed various methods of transportation, including walking, hitchhiking, taking the bus, and riding the train.
I've ridden a time or two in a silver plane
I've also taken a flight or two in a silver plane.
When I think of where I've been, I just have to go again
Recalling the places I've visited motivates me to revisit them once more.
Just to see if everything is still the same
I undertake these journeys to confirm whether or not the places I visited previously remain unchanged.
In this land, see if everything is still the same
I travel to various parts of this country to assess if they've altered since my prior visits.
So fare well, my dear, and I must be on my way
So goodbye, my love, as I must now depart.
There's many a thing I must do and see
There are many activities and sites I wish to experience.
I'm a mighty restless man in a mighty restless land
I possess an insatiable desire to traverse this vast and dynamic country.
And I'm bound for the mountains and the sea
I'm headed towards the mountains and the sea, as they're the destinations I crave.
Fare thee well, bound for the mountains and the sea
Goodbye, as I'm headed towards the mountains and the sea, the locations I'm excited to experience next.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM PAXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind