The other day The Deer Hunter said something that reminded me of the old song Gonna to Catch a North Wind.
The song was a minor hit for Charlie Louvin and Jim & Jesse McReynolds back in the day.
Pap and Paul learned it from the trio.
Gonna Catch a North Wind
Grass won’t grow on concrete You can’t catch fish on main street The stream of traffic ain’t no place to swim Some folk love the city Those neon lights are pretty But this ole boys done had enough of them
So I’m going to catch a North wind do a little drifting Going to see the best friend I’ve ever known Going to catch a North wind do a little living Going where my hearts been I’m a going home
There’s clear pure water flowing in the valleys where I’m going and only snow capped mountains scrape the sky There’s still wide open spaces The eagles don’t live in cages And the air you breath is enough to get you high
So I’m going to catch a North wind do a little drifting Going to see the best friend I’ve ever known Going to catch a North wind do a little living Going where my hearts been I’m a going home
Momma’s frying chicken on the old wood stove I can smell the gravy in the pan Going to tell my Susie that I love her so and I’ll never ever leave again
Going to catch a North wind do a little drifting Going to see the best friend I’ve ever known Going to catch a North wind do a little living Going where my hearts been I’m a going home Going where my hearts been I’m going home
I’m not sure who wrote the song, but I do know that Pap and Paul’s version is my favorite by far.
I love the little smile Pap gives at the end of the video. He always said he couldn’t understand why the song didn’t hit the top of the charts. I agree it’s a dandy.
Pap also said his favorite lines in the song were Grass won’t grow on concrete You can’t catch fish on main street The stream of traffic ain’t no place to swim.
I love those lines, but my favorite would have to be the end of the chorus: Going where my hearts been I’m a going home. I’m beyond blessed to live where my heart is at home.
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I’ve just been to the city to visit with a friend who lost her mother last Wednesday, and that song made me cry. Such a perfect ending to a life gone on.
That’s was beautiful Tipper! It brought thanksgiving up in my heart. Over 11 years ago I lost my homestead due to a divorce. Divorce is hard, but losing my place of refuge was also hard. But God finds away to heal us and restore us. I was pretty much left with nothing. Had to sell my animals and most of my stuff to rent a small house without land. I had 2000 dollars left to my name. I had this idea about building a tiny house (my children are grown).
Well that 2000 turned into a beautiful mortgage free home on 12 acres that my parents let me build in the woodlands. At the same stroke of the Masters hand, returned to me chickens, dairy goats, and a large garden plot. My parents needed the help, the are nearing 80. I am truly blessed right out of a mess. I always look forward to your posts!
Such a lovely meaningful song done beautifully!
Thanks for sharing ❤️
Beautiful song and beautiful rendition. The words kinda remind me of the type of song Roger Miller would pen. Thanks for sharing….God Bless
I loved hearing that song because Paul and Pap both sing it so beautifully. The harmony is outstanding! I can hear where your family get their talents from. You are blessed you have these videos to hear your father’s voice again. Thank you for sharing!
They have the most beautiful harmonies I think I’ve ever heard! 🙂
No matter how many times I hear it, I’m always surprised by that beautiful, clear tenor voice coming from Pap!
Great song beautifully performed.
Thanks, Tipper.
Haven’t heard this before. Beautiful song. May favorite part is the same as yours.
We had our first dip into the 30’s last night.
Oh what a beautiful song!!
That’s a wonderful old song, beautifully played and sung. Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz may have said it best, there’s no place like home.
Absolutely beautiful! If you are blessed to live in the place you were raised in, then you are doubly blessed. My home that I was raised in sadly burned down 34 years ago. I was living just down from it and watched it and I can tell you, to this day, when I happen to be in that area and drive by there, I still feel the loss, but I have the wonderful memories. Home is where the heart is for sure. I live in the town I am from but I still long for the country but too many subdivisions have ruined the land.
I live within 200 feet of the home were I was raised. I now live on the exact spot of my grandparents home . It burned in 1984. I often think of the many good times I enjoyed in that old home. We all know it, but I don’t think we really understand it unless we experience it. That is how quick a lifetime of work and treasures can be taken away in a matter of minutes due to fire or natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes or floods. In just a few seconds nothing left but memories. I am sorry for you.
Beautiful, heart-warming song!!!!
Only snow topped mountains scrape the sky – eagles don’t live in cages – what beautifully descriptive lyrics! I think it’s one of my new favorite songs.
Beautiful! There is no place like home. Take care and God bless ❣️
Beautiful song and wonderful performance! What a treasure for you to see and hear Pap in the recordings and videos.
Love it! You’re blessed in so many ways…one of them is being able to relive these moments. So glad you have them to share! Your Dad & brother Paul both have fine voices!
I was never so homesick as when I was far away from my mountain home. I longed for even the bad days such as getting snowed in for days, being chased by yellow jackets, or the thunder and lightning that seemed to be too near for comfort. The song and those great voices are a reminder
OUTSTANDING!
I’ve lived in or visited at least 45 of our 50 states. My wife said, “Pick a place to stay put. I don’t like this constant moving.” We now live on a mountain top in NC. Trout streams nearby, wildlife all around and the area is QUIET. We were snowbound for almost two weeks last Winter and I loved it.
Absolutely beautiful singing!! I love Pap and Paul’s harmony!! The Way the Truth and the Life was shown to me by my parents and my growing up home filled with Love always drew me back like a magnet to that little Northern town. Even years later when I had moved from it and my husband and I had started our own family home, at Christmas my heart always went Home to where my parents were living even when they retired and moved back south. If you have the LOVE of family those roots do run deep. Tipper, you are so blessed that you have been able to live close to Pap and Granny. God bless and have a great day!
A great song indeed with that universal theme of a longing for a home where the heart will rest. And very well sung and recorded to. There are several memorable turns of phrase, among them the take on ‘skyscrapers’ with the line “where only the mountains scrape the sky”.
I am so glad for you and all others whose heart can rest where they are and sympathetic to those who cannot say so. Contentment is rather rare in this old world and greatly to be treasured when found.
Randy, ever notice how the end walls of subdivision design houses are blank with no windows? There are other things that demonstrate the same thing but I won’t get started. The same idea in that song unfortunately fits to those development in the country you mention. Those of us who grew up rural just can’t fit well into suburbia. My Dad’s saying was, ” I’d rather live under a cliff.” And there were plenty of those and a few people did live under them.
Ron, i didn’t say what I did with the intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. But after being raised and living all my life in the country where you might not be able to see your neighbors rooftop, it would be hard or impossible for me to live in a city , town or subdivision. The nearest town to me is 13 miles away. Everyone does not like the same thing.
I saw that little smile at the end, it’s as beautiful as the song!
I think your dad was a really fine tenor and when I look at his face, I see a lot of your resemblance, Tipper, especially the windows of the soul- your big brown eyes. I too thought the little grin he gave after finishing this dang good song was priceless. You’ve got the sweetest memories all on video for a long time to come! What a treasure chest! I’d say your cup truly runneth over with wonderful blessings!!! Sometimes I’d like to run off ( catch me a wind) but I got no idea where I’d go or what I’d do when I got there… so I reckon I’ll just stay on here… lol songs let us live vicariously I do think.
Love that song!!! Expresses my sediments to a “T”.
I’m pretty sure I’d heard Jerry and Paul sing the son before and loved it, but thanks to your background narrative I’ve paused and pondered the lyrics more this time around. Their rendition is first-rate and the song’s message is powerful and poignant.
Quite often when I am doing some kind of public presentation or maybe a book signing I say that the Smokies are the home of my heart, and that’s the Gospel truth. There’s something about them that draws me with great allure. I’ve been bountifully blessed in a lot of ways, but none of them can touch what you have. Namely, roots running deep and strong where you belong. You are wise to recognize and appreciate it.
Beautiful!
wow! I ‘ve never heard that song before but I will always remember it now. Paul and Pap did a great job, thanks for sharing .
I live on 30 acres of land in the most rural area still left in my county. The land has been passed down through generations of my family. It would kill me to live in a city or even worse one of these housing developments that are popping up everywhere around my area today. You have no privacy at all. The homes are so close to one another the roofs almost touch. The words of this song are so true to me. I think there was a country music song out a few years ago that had a similar message, the title or some words were “Where Corn Don’t Grow.”
In the words of the old Shaker hymn:
‘Tis a gift to be simple
‘Tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift to come down
Where you ought to be.
You’re doubly blessed in that you’ve come down where you ought to be and you know it to boot.
And great job by Paul and Pap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTeDISYpq4s