"Ballad of Purvis Greene"(hoopiejohn original)

From my "outlaw country" period.

Since many have complained about my wearing bibbed overalls all the time, I decided to perform this in my "county issues", which seem more appropriate for this piece anyhow.

Interesting Links:

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition: http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

Tennessee Property Seizure Laws: http://tennessee.gov/sos/acts/100/pub/PUBC0979.htm

Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/HIDTA/appalachia.html

Tennessee Governor's Task Force on Marijuana Eradication(A paramilitary force that includes the National Guard): http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/divisions/did_progs.htm

Penalties for Cultivation(Tennessee): http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4565&wtm_view=penalties

Statistics on Domestic Marijuana Production, Top Ten States: http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr2/domstprod.html

News: http://current.com/items/89112545/tennessee_marijuana_growers_back_in_force.htm

Note: I wear the ski mask so I won't get busted.

Played finger style on my 6-string National steel-bodied "ResoRocket Deluxe" resonator guitar.
**************************************************
Lyrics and "Liner" Notes (for my Italian Friend, Melarancida):

First some explanation. I live in the Southern Appalachian mountains, one of the poorer geographical regions of the United States. There is a long tradition of some of the people here doing illegal things to supplement a meager standard of living. One such tradition is that of making "moonshine", an illegal and untaxed corn whiskey. Another more recent activity is that of growing marijuana.

The climate is temperate and well-suited to this activity, and the terrain here is rugged and forested, making concealment of "gardens" easy, and access difficult.

Anti-drug enforcement includes a paramilitary force comprised of state, and federal authorities, and even elements of the National Guard complete with patrolling helicopters. (Sort of like a combined force of the Polizia di Stato, Carabinieri, and the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, in your country).

This song is about our poor "hillbilly" (a derogatory term for Appalachian people) who tried to supplement his modest living by growing this plant, but got "busted" and a farm that had been in his family for generations, seized by state authorities.

"Ballad of Purvis Greene"

Way up on the mountain not far from here,
There's some vegetation growing that the People fear,
Cause it makes you laugh,
And the laws forbid this weed to have.
Yes, it makes you laugh,
And the laws forbid this weed to have.

I promised my folks before they died,
That I'd keep the family farm and I've always tried,
But when money's low,
You know what crop this poor man grows.
Yes when money's low,
You know what crop this poor man grows.

Made just enough to stay ahead of broke,
Without that crop there'da been no hope;
You know it's awful hard,
To make a living off a worn-out hillside farm;
Yeah, it's awful hard,
To make a living off a worn-out hillside farm;

I never thought it was a serious crime,
To help your family and your farm survive;
Cause it hurts no one,
For them that use it, harmless fun.
Cause it hurts no one,
For them that use it, harmless fun.

Off my back porch I seen helicopters buzz,
And the back road's blocked by the swat team fuzz,
All to do me harm,
Imprison me, and take my farm.
All to do me harm,
Imprison me, and take my farm.

Seized and sold for half its price,
They took my land and my way of life,
And for all they done,
You know locking me up didn't stop it none,
And for all they done,
You know locking me up didn't stop it none.

Well marijuana smoke ain't blowin' away,
I'm here to tell you its around to stay;
So I wanna know,
Why can't they just leave us alone?
So I wanna know,
Why can't they just leave us alone?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 6-string
• resonator
• National
• steel-bodied
• ResoRocket
• guitar
• fingerstyle
• acoustic
• blues
• country
• marijuana
• eradication
• NORML
• 199th
• light
• infantry
• brigade

[brownie830419]

Is it standard tuning or eadf#be? Cool track anyway!

[hoopiejohn]

@brownie830419 Standard tuning. I'm not blest with a lot of skill in the various ways of tuning a guitar. For me, its the hardest thing about playing one. I only know two: Standard and Open "D"(Vestapol).

Thanks for your comment.

[Melarancida]

Nice tune man!! I really dig it!

Could you post the lyrics? I would love to learn this and sing it, but since I'm Italian there are bits and pieces I can't quite catch. Thanks in advance! Keep up the good work!!

[hoopiejohn]

@Melarancida I have added lyrics and "liner" notes to this video's description. Look for them far at the bottom. Best wishes.

Ciao

[Fruscianteistheman]

hahahahahhahahaha

holy shit its funny cause you are really fucking good and look clutch as can be.

GOOD JOB GOOD JOB!!!!

[hoopiejohn]

@Fruscianteistheman One of the best compliments I ever got was from (a bitch) who said

"For a serious musician, you don't take anything seriously!"

[texbekka69]

i like them all ! you should sell some cd s i would buy one. i love the song about the coonhound .i am a coon hunter and that song is just awsome reminds me of my POPSwho died last year(a coon hunter)

[leandeganis]

2:03 even the cat liked the music

[leandeganis]

well u play and sing great! you mask-man . lol

[bigdaddy35504]

Awesome! Also like rye whiskey!!!

[oldnrone]

monstergood.....in every way!

[earthchilled]

Man oh man, That's a nice tune. 5*

[Melarancida]

@hoopiejohn Wow! Thanks for the prompt reply!! I really appreciated the liner notes you wrote, now the song makes much more sense to me! In Italy there still is an on going debate about the legalization of marijuana, even though I don't think it will ever happen anytime in the near future (we still have a long road to go). There are far worse things in this world than marijuana!

Thanks again! Now I'm gonna learn this song!!

Have a nice day!