500 Miles - (Peter Paul and Mary cover) by Terry Harrison

This is a song that I have wanted to record for many years. I'm glad that I finally got the chance........I first heard this song from the great folk group Peter Paul and Mary when I was a kid but according to some sources this song had its origins in several other songs going all the way back to around the mid 1800's.
Several sources say that this song was sort of "disstilled" from the following earlier songs. "Reubens Train" "900 miles" "The Railroaders Lament" and "A Hundred Miles". One source that I saw said that Woody Guthrie may have added his two cents to the song in the late 1930's or early 1940's. It seems that a woman by the name of Hedy West heard some version of this song from her Grandmother as a child and remembered it. In 1961 she wrote down her version and published it. Some say that John Phillips or Curly Williams may have helped her with it. It was recorded in 1961 by the Journeymen. Shortly arter that The Kingston Trio recorded it as did Peter Paul and Mary. It was eventuly recorded by many others including The Seekers, Hoyt Axton, Peter and Gordon, The Highwaymen and the Hooters. In 1963 Bobby Bare re-wrote the words and recorded it as "500 miles away from home". (By the way I have a cover version of that version on my channel as well)
I had forgotten all about this song untill I saw a lovely young lady named Claudia on youtube singing it. I must have watched it a hundred times. You must stop by her channel and see her version. Here is a link to her version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFtn4i272iI Then I recently found a backing track for it and here is my version of this wonderful old song..

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 500
• miles
• five hundred miles
• a hundred miles
• Reubens
• train
• civil
• war
• songs
• 900 miles
• nine hundred miles
• peter
• paul
• and
• mary
• covers
• The Hooters
• Peter and Gordon
• The Highwaymen
• The Seekers
• The Kingston Trio
• Hoyt Axton
• Hedy West
• Bobby Bare
• John Phillips
• 1960s
• folk
• musicl
• protest music from the 60s
• ballad
• Terry
• Harrison
• Gypsy
• singers
• RCA
• 74b
• microphone
• 1800's
• mountain music
• hillbilly music
• 19th century songs

[55Dudester]

Absolutely outstanding cover !!! I am subscribing to your channel. I look forward to hearing more songs from you. Great job Sir. You've given me some great song ideas for recording myself, so thank you for that. God Bless.

[terrisonb]

@55Dudester Thank you very much. I hope you will check out some of my other covers. I have over 70 songs posted now. I stopped by your channel. Very nice. You have some great songs there. I have subbed your channel also.

[RichardRolled]

Even though i'm just 16 i grew up listening to Peter, Paul, and Mary so it has a special place in my heart and this brings back so many memories. Listening to it again sung with a great voice like yours was truly uplifting. If you get the chance please do a cover of Blowing in the wind or Puff the magic dragon.

Thank you from Richard~

[terrisonb]

@RichardRolled Thank you very much Richard. I love to hear from young people who appreciate this classic music. Odd that you should mention those other two songs. I have been working on covers of both of those songs for quite a while. I have not been able to ger a performance recorded of either song that I like though. I intend to keep trying. I hope you will check out some of my other cover songs sonetime as well. Thanks again.....Terry

[JCtribute]

Wonderful interpretation. You have a special voice.

[terrisonb]

@JCtribute Thank you very much. I am glad you liked it. I hope you will visit again.

[terrisonb]

@TheMissouripicker Thank you very much Larry. I appreciate your visit.

[TheMissouripicker]

Excellent job, my friend. You have a "classic" sound. I like it a lot.

[terrisonb]

@yanwji Thank you very much. I think this is a great old song.

[yanwji]

good job ^^ I also love  the old song ....