He came from kentucky least ways that's what i've been told
me and fate had left that state before his corpse got cold
he'd been killed for gold hhen california could be sold
to any fool who had been told bbout the punkin center barn dance
mama had the fever and my daddy sold his soul
to someone called the devil that he'd met along life's road
dad would stop to drink a toast and mom was looking like a ghost
was gonna beat us to the coast and the punkin center barn dance
at the punkin center barn dance that's where everyone would be
dancing to virginia's reel and the waltz of tennessee
when the roll is called up yonder you can hear the angels sing
at the punkin center barn dance god is gold the grass is green
[ fiddle ]
yeah i left california just before the grateful dead
told the truth about the gold i'd searched for in my head
like my dad i'd roamed the land and mom could never understand
how lucifer could bring a man to the punkin center barn dance
well times are changin' poets say since mom and dad both passed away
but some things in this life will never change
the poets write of things to come the earth will melt into the sun
and you and i will be the ones at the punkin center barn dance
at the punkin center barn dance...
at the punkin center barn dance...