Most of us who were teenagers in the 1960s knew quite a few of The Kingston Trio's songs. (They were a late '50s, early '60s folk group.) The other day, though, I came across their song, "Desert Pete," for the first time. The lyrics are a quite countrified, but don't let that put you off. There's plenty of food for thought.
Enjoy! And don't forget to prime the pump. Leave some water for the next folks, too, ya hear?
Prof. Oates
BTW, the word "fire" should be pronounced using its Texas Panhandle pronunciation, "fahr," to make the rhyme work.
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Desert Pete
Artist: The Kingston Trio (peak Billboard position 33 in 1963)
Words and Music by Billy Edd Wheeler
You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete
Spoken:
I was travellin' West a buckskin on my way to a cattle run
Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump
I took it to be a mirage at first, it'll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can
"This pump is old," the note began, "but she works so give'r a try
I put a new sucker washer in 'er, you may find the leather dry
Sung (chorus):
"You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete
Spoken:
"Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire
Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar
Now there's just enough to prime it with, so dontcha go drinkin' first
You just pour it in and pump like mad, and buddy, you'll quench your thirst"
Sung (chorus):
You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete
Spoken:
Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on "have faith my friend, there's water down below
You got to give until you get—I'm the one who ought to know"
So I poured in the jar and I started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete
Sung (chorus):
You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe
You've got to give of yourself 'fore you're worthy to receive
Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete
"Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet
Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete"
-Transcribed by Ronald E. Hontz
ronhontz@worldnet.att.net
-Lyrics downloaded from www.lyricsdownload.com .
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The song is available on iTunes as part of the album The Kingston Trio: The Capitol Years for $0.99 and on Rhapsody (free if you haven't used all your Rhapsody previews). The tune is a little reminiscent of, but not the same as "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" --CLO
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