Tiger Whitehead
Tiger Whitehead's Legacy: A Mountain Tale of Bears, Love, and Ghostly Pursuits
Lyrics
Wild blackberries bloomin' in the thickest on the mountain
Wild blackberries blooming on the mountain, symbolizing nature's abundance.
Sheep shire and water cress are growin' round the fountain
Sheep shire and water cress growing around a fountain, depicting a picturesque scene.
Where a big black bear is drinkin' lappin' water like a dog
A big black bear drinking water like a dog, showcasing a wild and untamed environment.
Tiger Whitehead's in the bed sleepin' like a log
Tiger Whitehead sleeping soundly in bed, introducing the central character.
Tomorrow he'll see bear tracks seven intches wide
Tiger anticipates seeing bear tracks seven inches wide the next day.
And by sundown he'll be bringin' in the hide
He plans to bring in the bear hide by sundown, suggesting his skill as a hunter.
Pretty Sally Garland comin' down the mountain side
Pretty Sally Garland appears, descending the mountain, introducing a romantic subplot.
Where Tiger Whitehead's tryin' to nap a mill at the mill
Tiger is trying to nap at the mill while Sally expresses interest in him.
She sits down on a bearskin and she says you'll be my man
Sally invites Tiger to be her man, aiming to have the best bearhunter as her partner.
I'll have me the best bearhunter in the hills
She sees potential in Tiger's hunting skills and wants him as her man.
A wild child was Tiger Whitehead and they say he killed
Tiger Whitehead is described as a wild child who allegedly killed ninety-nine bears.
Ninety-nine bears before he went to rest went to rest
He rests after his prolific bear-hunting career.
Once he left two bearcubs orphaned but he brought 'em right on home
Tiger once left two bear cubs orphaned but brought them home, cared for by Sally.
And Sally nursed the two bearcubs upon her breast
Sally nursed the bear cubs on her breast, emphasizing her nurturing nature.
Tiger now is eighty-five and he lay upon his bed
Tiger, now aged eighty-five, reflects on his achievements and lays on his bed.
And the bears he killed now numbered ninety-nine ninety-nine
The count of bears he killed stands at ninety-nine, a significant number in his life.
Some fellers trapped the bears but Tiger said just let him go
Tiger prefers bears running wild, indicating his respect for untamed nature.
If he ain't running wild he won't be mine
When the wind howls, a mysterious ghostly figure, the old grey-headed Tiger, is said to run after his hundredth bear.
But at night when the wind howls cross eastern hills of Tennessee
Nightly, people claim to see this ghostly apparition in the eastern hills of Tennessee.
And when the lightnin' flashes there's the strange thing that the people say they see
During storms, strange phenomena occur, adding an element of mystery to Tiger's legacy.
An old grey headed ghost runnin' through the mountains there
An old grey-headed ghost, representing Tiger, runs through the mountains in pursuit of his hundredth bear.
It's Tiger Whitehead after his one hundreth bear
Tiger's ghostly pursuit symbolizes an eternal quest for achievement.
Wild blackberries bloomin' in the thickest on the mountain
Repetition of the earlier scene, emphasizing the cyclical nature of Tiger's life.
Sheep shire and water cress are growin' round the fountain
Reiteration of the picturesque scene from the beginning.
Where a big black bear is drinkin' lappin' water like a dog
The big black bear drinking water, reminiscent of the untamed wilderness.
Tiger Whitehead's in the bed sleepin' like a log
Tiger Whitehead, now back in bed, reinforcing the cyclical theme.
Tomorrow he'll see bear tracks seven intches wide
Anticipation of seeing bear tracks again, underscoring Tiger's enduring passion for hunting.
And by sundown he'll be bringin' in the hide
The cycle repeats as Tiger plans to bring in the hide, emphasizing his lifelong commitment.
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