[Intro] [Male Lead: Playful Southern/Appalachian voice; grinning, conversational.] Well, I'm going up to Cripple Creek... Going to see my gal... Come on now! [Verse 1] [Male Lead: Bright, playful storytelling with easy mountain swing.] Goin’ up to Cripple Creek, gonna see my gal She’s the sweetest little lady in the holler, pal Got a fiddle in the corner and a fire burning bright When she starts to smile, everything feels right Everybody’s laughing, dancing in the square Boot heels hitting boards and music everywhere Ain’t nobody counting how the hours disappear When the whole town’s swinging, you forget about your cares [Chorus] [Male Lead: Energetic, catchy, joyful; let the band answer each phrase.] Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, everybody dance along Spin your partner, stomp your boots, sing the mountain song Laughter in the timber, fiddle wails so sweet Let the banjo roll and feel the tapping of your feet Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, let the good times roll Mountain air and music putting fire in your soul Round and round we go until the moon hangs high Cripple Creek is calling and we’re dancing through the night [Rap Verse 1] [Male Lead: Playful rhythmic Southern cadence; relaxed swagger.] Rolling up the ridge, toes tapping on the boards Mountain rhythm pumping like a freight train through the chords Sun hits the valley, laughter in the breeze Dancing with the shadows of the old oak trees Fiddle on my left, banjo on my right Everybody moving when the rhythm hits just right Got my gal beside me and the whole town in the flow If you came looking for a party, well, you already know [Verse 2] [Male Lead: Warm, mischievous storytelling.] Saw my gal by the creek with a smile shining bright She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into the night We sang and we danced while the fiddles rang She laughed so hard that the whole hillside sang Old folks tapping time, children running free Everybody finding their own little melody The moon came up silver through the branches overhead And nobody went home ’til the last fiddle said [Chorus] [Male Lead: Bigger and more exuberant.] Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, everybody dance along Spin your partner, stomp your boots, sing the mountain song Laughter in the timber, fiddle wails so sweet Let the banjo roll and feel the tapping of your feet Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, let the good times roll Mountain air and music putting fire in your soul Round and round we go until the moon hangs high Cripple Creek is calling and we’re dancing through the night [Rap Verse 2] [Male Lead: Faster playful flow; smiling delivery.] Kickin’ up the dust, hands up in the air Banjo rolls, fiddle sings, music everywhere Laughing on the porch, dancing in the street Every little heartbeat falling into the beat Moonlight on the water, shadows on the hill Nobody standing still and nobody ever will You can hear that mountain rhythm all the way down below Cripple Creek is alive tonight, so let the good times roll [Bridge] [Male Lead: Warm and reflective but still joyful; groove briefly opens.] Sun sinking low, shadows dancing on the creek Voices carry stories that the old mountains speak Every heart is lifted, every foot taps the ground Cripple Creek’s a kingdom when the music comes around Tomorrow brings the work and another rising sun But tonight belongs to everybody having fun So give that fiddle room and let that banjo ring There ain’t nothing sweeter than a mountain evening [Final Chorus] [Male Lead: Full joyful intensity; raw exuberance without shouting.] Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, everybody dance along Spin your partner, stomp your boots, sing the mountain song Laughter in the timber, fiddle wails so sweet Let the banjo roll and feel the tapping of your feet Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, let the good times roll Mountain air and music putting fire in your soul Round and round we go until the moon hangs high Cripple Creek is calling and we’re dancing through the night Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, hear that fiddle cry Stomp your boots together till the morning lights the sky Cripple Creek, Cripple Creek, one more round for me We’ll keep that mountain dancing down beside the creek [Outro] [Male Lead: Laughing, breathless, gradually softer.] Well, Cripple Creek... You sure know how to keep a body moving... Fiddle’s still singing... Banjo’s still rolling... And the mountains dance tonight... [Male Lead: Soft chuckle.] See you down at the creek.
