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Live 25 Oct 1980 version
[Spoken intro:] We got a special song, we learned it just for Portland. Somebody told me that that mountain is only 40 miles away. So I wanna ???. I hope, I hope you got a sense of humor like we got (chuckles). Lookout, I think it's erupting now. Steve!
A one two three four, one
Come on Big Man!
On top of Old Smokey, all covered in snow
I heard that she's smoking, I hope she don't blow
On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow
I heard that she's smoking, I hope she don't blow
Alright, your turn!
On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow
I heard that she's smoking, I hope she don't blow
Once more, come on!
On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow
I heard that she's smoking, I hope she don't blow
Just once more, then we're gotta rock it!
On top of Old Smokey, all covered with snow
I heard that she's smoking, I hope she don't blow
The bridge now! The bridge!
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY is a traditional American song.
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY is a traditional folk song of the United States. It is catalogued as Roud Folk Song Index No. 414. Using an arrangement by Pete Seeger, The Weavers recorded a version which reached the pop music charts in 1951.
The above lyrics are for the live 25 Oct 1980 performance of ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR, during The River Tour. The song consisted of the first verse only, repeated several times. This was the only time that Bruce Springsteen covered the song. He performed it in reference to the major volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens which happened five months earlier.
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY is known to have been performed at least once during The River Tour (138 dates, October 1980 to September 1981), on 25 Oct 1980 in Portland, OR. A few of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during The River Tour, but that's very unlikely.
List of available versions of ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY on this website:
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY [Live 25 Oct 1980 version]