Catalog

The Big Rock Candy Mountain and Other Mountain Songs

Tom Glazer

This collection of three popular “mountain” folk songs was recorded by Tom Glazer for Young People’s Records in 1951. On “The Big Rock Candy Mountain,” Glazer revises the tune’s traditional lyrics to make it more approachable and appropriate to young audiences while maintaining its original, fantastical sentiment. Also included are “Springfield Mountain,” a folk song which had long been a favorite in nursery schools, and “Sourwood Mountain,” a popular Appalachian tune which often accompanied square dances. By inviting his listeners to sing and dance along with him throughout the record, Glazer allows them to freely participate in some of America’s longest-standing musical traditions.