I Write What I Know: Trail Songs
By Marie Seymour
While I realize that outdoor adventurers and travelers have recorded and shared their experiences via song for centuries, I believe my perspective and work also deserves an audience. Lately, a few trail friends have also encouraged me to share, so here we are!
I grew up camping with my family, in a tent (once!), then in a series of travel trailers. As a young adult, I day hiked and dabbled in guitar playing, and wrote poetry and songs. In my 40’s I discovered geocaching, which led me to the amazing community of the AT. After being laid off in 2016, I started section hiking on the ‘15 year plan’ as I called it, and am still going strong, while once again working full time.
The challenge of section hiking far from home while employed is that often weather or other circumstances result in running out of time to complete the planned hike and travel.
In 2021, after a few days in Hot Springs sharing torrential rain and music with other hikers, my new buddy and I gave it one more try but soon got off trail. My account of my time in town, the people I met, and how the hike ended prompted a friend to say it all sounded like a country song. This started my autobiographical trail lyric career, with Lightning, Bears and Pee, to the tune of Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson. Most of my lyrics are to tunes written by others, as song parodies are. Lyrics I have written include Snakes and Rocks and Game Lands Rules, Paint It Green, The Hiker, SOBO Smokies, AT Shelter, and On Top of Bald Mountain.
I would like to share the full lyrics of what I consider my two greatest hits; the first, about hiking North Carolina/Tennesee to the tune of 16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford, the second an original waltz inspired by recently working ‘my’ trail in SNP.
16 Miles
Some people say a hiker’s made outta meat
Ramen spam jerky tortillas of wheat
Tortillas of wheat
All you can eat
A wallet that's weak
And a body that's strong
You hike 16 miles
Whatta you get
Another day older and
deeper in debt
Mount Katahdin don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the REI store
I started hiking one morning when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my pack and I walked the state line
I did 16 miles of PUDs
My buddy said Man, my poor aching knees!
You hike 16 miles
Whatta you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the REI store
I started hiking one morning in the drizzling rain
Trench foot and blisters are my middle name
I was raised on a mountain
Born in a cave
Total exhaustion is the feeling I crave
You hike 16 miles
Whatta you get
Another day older
And deeper in debt
Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the REI store
Now you see me shopping you best step aside
A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died
One cart of oatmeal
Another of socks
All of it's going
In my resupply box
You hike 16 miles
Whatta you get
Another day older
And deeper in debt
Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the REI store
Up On Pass Mountain
My name is Marie and from yonder I hail
I'm not very young but I'm not very frail
I went up Pass Mountain to clear me a trail
But the trees were the coffin
And the ivy the nail
Pass Mountain Pass Mountain
I can't hug your trees
Cause the rash that they gave me
Brought me to my knees
I went up Pass Mountain with a smile and a saw
But my cheerful demeanor
Was my fatal flaw
When I saw all the blowdowns
I threw down my pack
Now I'm up on Pass Mountain
And I'm not coming back
Pass Mountain Pass Mountain you brought me to tears
I cannot maintain you
There aren't enough years
If you go up Pass Mountain
You might see my gear
And if you hear me cussing
You'll know that I'm near
Now I cleared all those blowdowns
I don't mean to boast
But now up on Pass Mountain
I'm merely a ghost
Pass Mountain Pass Mountain
Please bury me there
Cause I'm done with Pass Mountain
And I don't have a care
Yes I'm done with Pass Mountain
And I don't
Have
A care
Thanks for listening!
