brown mountain light

in the hills of north carolina

since the times of the early settlers

a strange light has been witnessed near the top of brown mountain

to this day

no one can explain the mystery of the brown mountain light

high on the mountain and down in the valley below

it shines like the crown of an angel and fades as the mist comes and goes

way over yonder

night after night until dawn

a faithful old slave

come back from the grave

for his master who is long

long gone

in the days of the old covered wagon

when they camped on the flats for the night

with the stars growing dim on the old high gorge rim

they would watch for the brown mountain light

high on the mountain and down in the valley below

it shines like the crown of an angel and fades as the mist comes and goes

way over yonder

night after night until dawn

a faithful old slave

come back from the grave

for his master who is long

long gone

long years ago a southern planter came hunting in this wild land alone

and here

so they say

the hunter lost his way and never returned to his home

his trusty old slave brought a lantern and searched

but in vain

day and night

the old slave is gone but his spirit wanders on and the old lantern still casts its light

high on the mountain and down in the valley below

it shines like the crown of an angel and fades as the mist comes and goes

way over yonder

night after night until dawn

a faithful old slave

come back from the grave

for his master who is long

long gone