ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS and Their Fine Group LIVE

Produced by Robin & Linda Williams Recorded by SCR Productions Hoofddorp, Hollond Recording engineer: Pieter Groenveld Digital Mastering by Audioshdio Joop Wesselius BV Holland

Recorded in De Muzeval in Emmen on May 23, 1992, The Home of Strictly Country; in Harpel on May 29, 1992 and The Colonial Country Club in Valthermond on May 30, 1992. Special Thanks to Liz Meyer, Kevin Lynch, Joke Deddens Be Holdtmon and The Colonial Country Club staff. This CD was recorded digitally direct to two-track using the Sony DTC- 1000 ES system.

Photography by Irene Young

"Live" was originally released by a Dutch label who recorded The Fine Group during their first European tour in the spring of 1992. Because of the demand and interest of radio stations and fans in the United States, Sugar Hill Records licensed and release the recording in the US. It was the first time Their Fine Group was captured on tape and it has remained a favorite of fans and radio stations since its release. It served as a wonderful introduction of Robin and Linda's music in their relatively new band setting. The album includes favorites from their repertoere of original songs, a cappella selection, old-time country and string band music. Linda's banjo playing, Robin's harmonica and lead guitar work and Kevin Maul's resonator guitar playing all shine and are driven by the rock solid bass playing former Red Clay Rambler Jim Watson. The harmony singing is so tight it is hard to believe there was no studio gimmickry wielded on "Live."


Musicians
Robin Williams: guitar, harmonica, vocals
Linda Williams: guitar, banjo, vocals
Jim Watson: bass, vocals, lead vocal on 7 ond 8
Kevin Maul: dobro, bass vocal on 5


We have been waiting for the right oppontunity to do a recording with Jim Watson and Kevin Maul for some time now. Jim, a founder and former member of the Red Clay Ramblers, had been playing full time with us for several years when Kevin left the three bands he was playing with in upstate New York to join us. We are fortunate to be able to have such fine friends and musicians to work with and we have been eager to get this first recording of the four of us under our belts.

We think this recording sounds right. We have focused heavily on the old time string band music, a cappella singing, gospel songs and country classics that are the foundation of our music and songwriting. To round out this sampling we included four of our own songs. LIVE was recorded at concerts in three towns in the northeastern portion of the Netherlands. There is nothing fancy here - no overdubs, no complex computer mixes. It's live music recorded masterfully by Pieter Groenveld. Many Thanks go to him, Johannes Bodingius, Rienk Janssen, and Jeri Goldstein.

Robin and Linda Williams
Middlebrook, Virginia

 PAN AMERICAN BOOGIE
 Alton & Rabon Delmore

Listen here folks, if you want to take a ride
Get at ticket on the train they call the L & N Flyer

CHORUS:
It's the Pan American Boogie
Lordy, lordy what a train
Takes off from Cincinnatti
And boogies down to New Orleans

With the headlights beaming from side to side
It's the best train liner that you ever will ride

CHORUS:

She boogies on down to Louisville
If the gals won't kiss you then a race horse will

CHORUS:

I've gotta little boy down in Tennessee
At the Nashville station he's a'waiting on me

CHORUS:

She boogies on down to Birmingham
That magic little city down in Alabam

CHORUS:

1st Verse again

CHORUS:


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DO YOU KNOW HIM
(Mary Lou Parker)
I know a man from Galilee
If you're in sin I know he'll set your soul free
Oh, do you know him
He's the son of David, the seed of Abraham
Stone-hewed out of the mountain
He's a meek and humble Lamb
Oh, do you know him

CHORUS:
Billows may roll, breakers may dash
I shall not fear because he holds me fast
Though dark the day, clouds fill the sky
It's all right because my Jesus is nigh
Oh, do you know him

When you're in doubt, fall on your knees
He's ever-ready to give your soul ease
Oh, do you know him
No other friend would prove kind and true
He's ever-ready to carry you through
Oh, do you know him

CHORUS:


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 MISS THE MISSISSIPPI
        William Heagney

I'm growing tired of the big city lights
Tired of the glamour and tired of the sights
In all my dreams I am longing once more
To be back in your arms on the old river's shore

I'm so sad and weary
And far away from home
I miss the Mississippi and you
Days are dark and dreary
Everywhere I roam
I miss the Mississippi and you
Roamin this wide world over
Always alone and blue, so blue
Nothing seems to cheer me under heaven's door
I miss the Mississippi and you

Memories are bringing happy days of yore
I miss the Mississippi and you
Mockingbirds are singing round my cabin door
I miss the Mississippi and you
Roaming this wide world over
Always alone and blue, so blue
Longing for my homeland on that muddy water's shore
I miss the Mississippi and you

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MY BABY'S GONE
Hazel Houser

CHORUS:
Hold back the rushing minutes
Make the wind lie still
Don't let the moonlight shine
Across the lonely hills
Dry all the raindrops
hold back the sun
My world is ended
My Baby's Gone

The milkman whistles softly
As he comes up to my door
The mailman brings the letters by
Just like he did before
They seem so busy all day lonG
As if there's nothing wrong
Don't they know my world is ended
My Baby's Gone

CHORUS:

I wake sometimes in the night
And realize you're gone
Then I fall back on my bed
Anmd wait for day to come
I try to tell my lonely heart
It must go on alone
But it cries my world is ended
My Baby's Gone

CHORUS:

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MY ROCK


MY ROCK,                 my shield,                 my Jesus                 is real
               (my rock)                 (my shield)           (my Jesus)  (is real
I can feel him                    deep within                         my soul
                   (I can feel him)                 (deep within)         (soul)
One day               he saved my soul
             (one day)                          (he saved my soul)
And he made me                          free and whole
                         (and he made me)                          (free and whole)
My Lord                 is real             I can feel it in my soul
               (my Lord)        (is real) I can feel it in my soul

One night I repented I fell down on my bended knee
Crying Lord have mercy won't you save my soul from sin
I'm walking but not alone because I'm headed straight for home
My Lord is real I can feel it in my soul

Come to Jesus, repent, get yourself on the solid rock
He's the one who can help you He will hear you when you cry
Yes Jesus my Savior he's my friend and faithful guide
My Lord he's real he will lead you to the other side

1st verse again


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   HERDING CATTLE IN A CADILLAC COUPE DE VILLE
        Jack Logan

I live in the valley, the valley which is green
I've got the finest neighbors that you have ever seen
I've got a honey pot and a fritter tree and I'm really doing well
I'm herding cattle in an air conditioned Cadillac coupe

Well a honey pot and a fritter tree is where I spend my time
Eating country ham and bisquits, drinking elderberry wine
Three cents a week is all I spend but I get my biggest thrill
Herding Cattle in and air conditioned Cadillac Coupe de Ville

I wouldn't say I'm rich, I'm just living like I should
I'm living the life of Reilly, Reilly ain't never had it so good
I like this kind of living and I guess I always will
Herding cattle in and air conditioned Cadillac Coupe de Ville

Now I've got science baffled, also the blue-eyed world
I fish when I get ready and I love to hunt them squirrel
You'll find me every morning when the sun comes over the hill
Herding cattle in and air conditioned Cadillac Coupe de Ville

I live in the valley, the valley which is green
I've got the finest neighbors that you have ever seen
I've got a honey pot and a fritter tree and I'm really doing well
I'm herding cattle in an air conditioned Cadillac coupe



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 WILD HOG IN THE WOODS
        Traditional

There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
Diddle-oh-down today
There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
That eats men and sucks their blood
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can

There comes a wild hog through yonders mash
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
There comes a wild hog through yonders mash
Diddle-oh-down today
There comes a wild hog through yonders mash
Splitting his way through the oak and ash
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can

We followed that wild hog day and night
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
We followed that wild hog day and night
Diddle-oh-down today
We followed that wild hog day and night
Swore we'd make that wild hog fight
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can

We followed that wild hog to his den
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
We followed that wild hog to his den
Diddle-oh-down today
We followed that wild hog to his den
Found the bones of a thousand men
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can

We killed that hog with sticks and knives
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
We killed that hog with sticks and knives
Diddle-oh-down today
We killed that hog with sticks and knives
Swore we'd take that wild hog's life
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can

There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
Diddle-oh-Down, Diddle-oh-day
There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
Diddle-oh-down today
There is a wild hog in yonder's woods
That eats men and sucks their blood
Kill him now, cut him down
Catch him if you can



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       SINNER'S HYMN
        Henry Hipkins

I was lost in life's cold darkness
With no light to shine for me
I am wandering through the forest
I am drifting out to sea
Silently I pray, there may be a way
I believe I will free myself some day

And I've been so wrong
So wrong will I ever be right
Oh sweet Jesus there in the night
So long since I touched his face
So long since I've known his grace

I have strayed beyond the garden
I have lost the Savior's sight
I have sinned and known the pleasures
But the pleasure's not divine
Silently I pray, there may be a way
I believe I will free myself some day

And I've been so wrong
So wrong will I ever be right
Oh sweet Jesus there in the night
So long since I touched his face
So long since I've known his grace

I believe I will free myself
I believe I will free myself
I believe I will free myself
Some day, some day I will free myself
I believe I will free myself
Oh, some peaceful day


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THE DEVIL IS A MIGHTY WIND
        Robin & Linda Williams, Jerome Clark

What am I doing this dark night
Drawn to the flame and not the light
Wanderin' around in the storms of life
When I've got a home and a loving wife

CHORUS:
Man is tinder, woman is fire
And the Devil Is A Mighty Wind

In a motel room in my mind
There's a woman there I'm sure I'll find
I know she's waiting there for me
In some place I should not be

CHORUS:
I walk up to the door and I knock
I hear her cross the floor and undo the lock

Then I wake up next to the one
I vowed to love 'til life was done
She doesn't know that in my dreams
I hear a mighty wind that screams

CHORUS:


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LEAVING TRAIN
Robin and Linda Williams


Mama's coming home today but she ain't coming home to stay
There's no work in our town.  Everything's near 'bout closed down
The Company's come and gone and all the new folks moved on
Empty stores on empty streets.  Empty bed where Mama sleeps.

CHORUS:
Someday soon I'm gonna ride
On THE LEAVING TRAIN by Mama's side
There's a broken link in the family chain
And it's all because of THE LEAVING TRAIN

When Friday comes I go back down to the train depot
She's running way behind and Friday haunts my mind
It's been a week since the train stopped here, one week since she held me near
Too soon THE LEAVING TRAIN will carry her off again

CHORUS:

Living without Mama hurts but I don't know which is worse
Her being gone away or having just one day
To feel her loving touch when itÕs what I want so much
But one day I will go because Mama told me so.

CHORUS:

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DON'T LET ME COME HOME A STRANGER
R. Williams, J. Clark

As I walked out one evening to breathe the air and sooth my mind
I thought of friends and the home I had and all the things I left behind

As silent stars shone on me, my eyes sought the far horizon
As if to pierce this veil of time, and escape this earthly prison

CHORUS:
Will there come a time when the memories fade
And pass on with the long, long years?
When the ties no longer bind. Lord save me from this darkest fear
Don't Let Me Come Home A Stranger
I couldn't stand to be a stranger

In this place so far from home, they know my name but they don't know me
They hear my voice, they see my face; but they can lay no claim on me

CHORUS:

As I walk this universe, I free my mind of time and space
I wander through the galaxies but never do I find my place

CHORUS:

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ACROSS THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

One morning, one morning, one morning in May
I heard a married man to a young girl say
Go dress you up pretty Katy and come go with me
Across the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny

I'll buy you a horse, love, and a saddle to ride
I'll buy myself another to ride by your side
WeÕll stop at every tavern, we'll drink when we're dry
Across the Blue Mountains go my Katy and I

Well, up spoke her mother, and angry was she then
Saying Daughter, oh dear Daughter, he's a married man
And there's young men a'plenty more handsome than he
Let him take his own wife to the Alleghey

Oh Mother, oh Mother, heÕs the man of my heart
And wouldn't it be a dreadful thing if we should have to part
For I'd envy every woman who I'd ever see
Go cross the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny

We left before daybreak on a buckskin and a roan
Past tall shivering pines where mockingbirds moan
Past dark cabin windows where eyes never see
Across the Blue Mountains to the Allegheny

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STONE WALL COUNTRY
Robin & Linda Williams

I make my home in Stone Wall Country
Down a crooked lane
Where the fields steep and rocky
Took such toil to claim
Now the plows run deep in Stone Wall Country
The ground gives back good yields
And the rocks that blocked the furrows
So worrisome to wield
Stand in fences 'round the field

CHORUS:
I may leave the Shenandoah
But she'll never leave my heart
Stone Wall Country clear-eyed daughter of the stars
Stone Wall Country clear-eyed daughter of the stars

Since I left my home in Stone Wall Country
I have but one concern
That I will never get back home 
To see the seasons turn
Or the sun go down in Stone Wall Country
Pink and flaming red
With the trees all silhoutted
Against the mountain's crest
Just over to the west

CHORUS:

I hope to quit this world in Stone Wall Country
And as the years roll 'round
My bones will turn to limestone
And my soul will look down
On the blue-haze hills of Stone Wall Country
And the Valley green
To watch the golden fields of autumn
Turn to winter white and clean 
And then blossom into spring

CHORUS:

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