IN TENT CITY

There's a place I know where the folkies meet

A town criss-crossed by muddy streets

A field of faces smiling sweet

A place they call "Tent City"

(In Tent City), mud two feet deep

(In Tent City), ya can't get no sleep

(In Tent City), stayin' up all night

to watch the sunrise creep

(It's intense in Tent City)

(In Tent City) people sharin' songs

(In Tent City) why don't you sing along

(In Tent City) you might sing right

but ya can't sing wrong

(It's intense in Tent City)

instrumental verse

Banjo, fiddle, washtub bass

Dirty hair and filthy face

Lots of tie-dye girls to chase

It's intense in Tent City

(In Tent City) what about hard knocks?

(In Tent City) y'ave to sleep on rocks

(In Tent City) you'd better take

an extra pair of socks

(It's intense in Tent City)

(In Tent City) people live like dogs

(In Tent City) down in the mud

they roll around like hogs

(In Tent City) up all night instead of sawin' logs

(It's intense in Tent City)

Instrumental verse

(In Tent City) people joinin' hands

(In Tent City) people formin' bands

(In Tent City) everyone doin' just what they can

(It's intense in Tent City)

(In Tent City) mud two feet deep

(In Tent City) ya can't get no sleep

(In Tent City) stayin' up all night

instead of countin' sheep

(It's intense in Tent City)

(It's intense in Tent City)

(It's in tents intensity)

Words & Music by Brad Riesau 1995 Brad Riesau

written in a field on Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville PA August, 1984

original 4-track version from BRAD RIESAU The Lone Arranger cassette only - rtRECORDS v32-003 released 12/25/86.

This alternate studio version was released on THE OLD POOLE HUSTLERS/PORCH CHOPS In Tent City/Daily Living cassingle rtRECORDS v32-007 - released promotionally 8/25/95, commercially 1/1/96 - This alternate version was also reissued on the CD compilation: PORCH CHOPS Vic’s Picks: Vol. 1: ROOTS SELLER – rtRECORDS v32-019 – release date: 2/20/04

NEW VERSES WRITTEN AUGUST 2011 IN HONOR OF 5o years of PHILLY FOLK FEST:

Tryin' to sleep is so absurd

Sing along just like the birds

D-man don't forget the words

It's intense in tent city.

(In Tent City) better bring a hat

(In Tent City) where's my lighter at

(In Tent City) that old moon sure is hangin' fat

(It's intense in Tent City)

(In Tent City) you just might get wet

(In Tent City) but you can't forget

(In Tent City) nothin's ever stopped us yet

(It's intense in Tent City)

Doing this for 50 years

Lots of laughs and drunken cheers

Monday brings exhausted tears

It's intense in Tent City

(In Tent City) come on, join the fun

(In Tent City) we love everyone

(In Tent City) a splendid time has just begun

(It's intense in Tent City)

(In Tent City) you can sing and play

(In Tent City) all night and day

(In Tent City) Only one thing there's left to say

(It's intense in Tent City)

(It's intense in Tent City)

(It's in tents intensity)

new lyrics (c) 2011 Brad Riesau / v32unes