Welcome to Bluegrass on the Rim 2026, featuring local favorite Foggy Hollow Review, plus headliners from Birmingham, Alabama, Three on a String.

Sit back and relax, and enjoy an hour of great bluegrass music on Alabama Public Television.

We'll kick it off with Foggy Hollow Review.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, Lord, carry it to the captain.

Tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

And if he asks you, was I running?

If he asks you, was I running?

Yeah, if he asks you, was I running?

Tell him I was flying.

Yeah, tell him I was flying.

Well, take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

I don't want your cold iron shackles.

I don't want your cold iron shackles.

Yeah, I don't want your cold iron shackles.

Because they hurt my legs.

Yeah, they hurt my legs.

Well, take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, Lord, carry it to the captain.

Tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

I don't want your greenback dollar.

No, I don't want your greenback dollar.

No, I don't want your greenback dollar.

Because it hurts my pride.

Yeah, it hurts my pride.

Well, take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Yeah, take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Take this hammer, carry it to the captain.

Yeah, take this hammer, Lord, carry it to the captain.

Tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

Yeah, tell him I'm gone.

Tell him I'm gone.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

I'm just so happy to see all of you out here on this beautiful day.

It's really hard to believe that this is the 13th year of the Bluegrass on the Rim.

And, I was thinking about it, Kevin, and unfortunately, I was thinking we're 13 years older, and mind you, in your case, we're about 20 years older.

We'll get Kevin to come around here and do another tune for you right now.

This is one that was popular on the radio station a few years back, I guess, in the '70s.

Yeah.

So.

About.

Well, he does a great job on this one right here.

This is written by Mr... Oh, the hat guy.

Tell me.

John Hartford.

John Hartford, that's what I said.

And recorded by Glen Campbell and made very famous.

Hope you enjoy.

It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk.

That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch.

And it's knowing I'm not shackled by forgotten words and bonds and the ink stains that have dried upon some line.

That keeps you on the back roads by the rivers of my memory, ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind.

It's not clinging to the rocks that I've been planted on some columns now that binds me.

Or something that somebody said because they thought we fit together walking It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving.

When I walk along some railroad tracks and find.

That you are waving from the backroads by the rivers of my memory.

And for hours you lay gentle on my mind.

Oh, the wheat fields and the clothes lines and the junk yards and the highways come between us.

And some other woman's crying to her mother 'cause she turned and I was gone.

Well, I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face.

And the summer sun might burn me till I'm blind.

Oh, but not to where I cannot see you walking on the backroads.

By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind.

Well, I dip my cup of soup back from the gurgling, crackling cauldron in some train yard.

My beard a roughneck coal pile and a dirty hat pulled low across my face.

Through cupped hands 'round a tin can, I pretend to hold you to my breast and find.

That you are waving from the backroads by the rivers of my memory.

Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind.

That's what keeps you on the backroads by the rivers of my memory.

And keeps you ever gentle on my mind.

There you go.

A little Glenn Campbell music for you there.

Kevin, I'm going to get you to tell them about this song a little bit here while I wet my whistler.

Well, this is an old song by Billy Joe Shaver, recently passed away.

He was one of the original country outlaws.

But I learned this song from listening to a fellow named Big Sam Frazier, who used to sing it every morning on the Country Boy Eddie Show out of WBR6 TV in Birmingham, Alabama.

Every day Big Sam sang this song, and I got pretty tired of the song, to tell you the truth.

But after I didn't hear it for 15 years, then I got to thinking, "You know, that's a pretty good song."

And now I sing it every time I play somewhere.

So I guess I'm carrying on Big Sam's tradition here.

But it has a good message to it.

I think you'll like it.

It's called "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal."

Well, I'm just an old chunk of coal.

Oh, but I'm gonna be a diamond someday.

Well, I'm gonna grow and glow till I'm so blue, pure, perfect.

I'm gonna put a smile on everybody's face.

Yeah, I'm gonna kneel and pray every day.

Unless I should become vain along the way.

Well, I'm just an old chunk of coal now, Lord.

But I'm gonna be a diamond someday.

Well, I'm gonna learn the best way to walk.

I'm gonna search and find me a better way to talk.

Well, I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough-edged self.

Till I get rid of every single flaw.

Yeah, I'm gonna be the world's best friend.

I'm gonna go around shaking everybody's hand.

Well, I'm gonna be the cotton-picking rage of the age.

And I'm gonna be a diamond someday.

Yeah, I'm just an old chunk of coal.

Oh, but I'm going to be a diamond someday.

Well, I'm going to grow and glow till I'm so blue, pure, perfect.

I'm going to put a smile on everybody's face.

Yeah, I'm going to kneel and pray every day.

Less I should become vain along the way.

Well, I'm just an old chunk of coal now, Lord.

But I'm going to be a diamond someday.

Yeah, I'm just an old chunk of coal now, Lord.

But I'm going to be a diamond someday.

Way to go, buddy.

Thank you.

Now, we're going to A. This song was recorded by Flatt and Scruggs in the late 1950s, and it was popular when they played live, but they couldn't get it on country radio because the subject matter of the song was somewhat questionable.

It talked about marital infidelity, cheating.

And you couldn't talk about cheating on country radio in the 1950s.

It just was not done, so it didn't get on there.

But we're going to talk about it today because nowadays, you can talk about darn near anything you want to, it seems, and nobody cares.

So, we'll do this one now for you, and it's called "I'll Go Stepping Too."

Well, don't think that I'll be hanging around while you're out having fun.

Well, I won't sit here crying over you.

Yeah, from now on, when you step out, I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too.

Yeah, I'll go stepping too, my honey.

I'll go stepping too.

I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too.

Yeah, every time you come in late, we begin to fight.

And you tell me there are more fish in the sea.

Oh, but the bait ain't what it used to be, and I got news for you.

Yeah, from now on, when you step out, I'll go stepping too.

Yeah, I'll go stepping too, my honey.

I'll go stepping too.

I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too.

Yeah, every time you come in, and you won't tell where you've been.

Always your hair messed up, and your clothes don't fit you right.

Well, don't start to yell if you find lipstick on me too.

Then you would know that I have been out stepping just like you.

Yeah, I'll go stepping too, my honey.

I'll go stepping too.

I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too.

Yeah, I'll go stepping too, my honey.

I'll go stepping too.

I'll lock the door, put out the cat, and I'll go stepping too.

Kevin's going to take this one out of here right now.

This is one that's been done by several people.

It was a big hit on the country station, but you won't recognize it because we're going to do the New Grass Revival version of it.

That dancing moon is on the water.

Do you feel inclined romantically?

Well, if you do, and I think you ought to, oh, love someone like me.

There ain't no place you should be going.

Ain't no need for you to leave.

It's a lover's night, and the stars are showing.

You could love someone like me.

Well, someone else might try and find you.

But my love will set you free.

And if your heart has got a mind to, you could love someone like me.

You don't need love to find good loving, and it don't happen magically.

And tonight, oh Lord, you don't need nothing to love someone like me.

Well, you may think that love won't find you, but honey, wait right here and see.

And if your heart has got a mind to, you could love someone like me.

Yeah, you could love someone like me.

Thank you so much for having us.

We are the Foggy Hollow Review.

We got some good friends coming up.

Y'all hang around.

We'll take just a minute to get these guys set up.

Thank you.

You're watching Bluegrass on the Rim 2026 on Alabama Public Television.

Our second act of the evening returns to the Little River Canyon Center from Birmingham, Alabama.

Here's Three on a String.

Early in the morning, she hitched a ride down to Louisville.

Holding on to a hundred dollar bill.

She dressed herself like a cagey queen in New Orleans, baby.

And she looked good just like a lady.

And the Mississippi River runs like molasses in the summertime.

And me, you know I don't hardly mind.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Well, I'm sipping on a beer down on Bourbon Street, I'm taking it easy.

Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot to please me.

Folks all around make you feel kind of funny, now don't they, honey?

She just crossed her legs and looked at me funny.

And the Mississippi River runs like molasses in the summertime.

And me, you know I don't hardly mind.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Early in the morning, she hitched a ride down to Louisville.

Holding on to a hundred dollar bill.

She dressed herself like a cagey queen in New Orleans, baby.

And she looked good just like a lady.

And the Mississippi River runs like molasses in the summertime.

And me, you know I don't hardly mind.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Down on the bayou, why you never know just what you're doing.

Hey.

Thank you.

All right, thanks.

One, two, three.

Down the road here from me, there's an old holler tree.

You lay down a dollar or two.

You go around the bend and you come back again, there's a jug full of Mountain Dew.

They call it that old Mountain Dew, and them that refuse it are few.

I'll hush up my mug, if you fill up my jug with that good old Mountain Dew.

Well, my lady June had a brand new perfume, and it gave off a powerful cue.

But to her surprise, when she had it analyzed, it was nothing but that old Mountain Dew.

They call it that old Mountain Dew, and them that refuse it are few.

I'll hush up my mug, if you fill up my jug with that good old Mountain Dew.

Go.

Well, my Uncle Don had a still on his john, he'd run off a gallon or two.

If the cops gave it a rush, he'd just give it a flush.

Down went good old Mountain Dew.

They call it that old Mountain Dew, and them that refuse it are few.

I'll hush up my mug, if you fill up my jug with that good old Mountain Dew.

They call it that old Mountain Dew, and them that refuse it are few.

I'll hush up my mug, if you fill up my jug with that good old Mountain Dew.

Bobby Horton.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Wow, what a crowd.

This is fantastic, and today has turned out to be absolutely pleasant.

Amen?

Amen.

We just came from a little function we went to this afternoon and celebrated the birthday of Jim Connor, and a lot of you know who Jim Connor is.

Yes.

Yeah.

He wrote "My Grandma's Feather Bed" and then just had a great career in music, lived in Gadsden.

And we're going to do our favorite Jim Connor song.

Been doing it for years and years, called "My Grandma's Feather Bed."

When I was a little bitty boy, just up off of the floor.

We used to go down to Grandma's house, every month's end or so.

We'd have chicken pie and country ham, and homemade butter on the bread.

But the best darn thing about my grandma's house was a great big feather bed.

It was nine feet high, six feet wide, soft as a downy chick.

Made from the feathers of 411 ducks, took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick.

It would hold nine kids and four hound dogs, and the piggy we'd stole from the shed.

We didn't get much sleep, but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed.

And after supper, we'd sit around the fire, the old folks would spit and chew.

Grandpa'd talk about the farm and the war, and my granny'd sing a ballad or two.

I'd sit and I'd listen, watch the fire, cobwebs fill up my head.

Next thing you know, I'd wake up in the morning in the middle of the old feather bed.

It was nine feet high, six feet wide, soft as a downy chick.

Made from the feathers of 411 ducks, took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick.

It would hold nine kids and four hound dogs, and the piggy we'd stole from the shed.

We didn't get much sleep, but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed.

Yeah.

Well, I love my ma and I love my pa.

I love Granny and Grandpa too.

I've been fishing with my uncle and a-wrestling with my cousin, and I even kissed Aunt Lou.

Ooh.

Okay, y'all can ooh a lot better than that.

I've been fishing with my cousin and a-wrestling with my uncle, and I even kissed Aunt Lou.

If I ever had to make a choice, I guess it ought to be said.

That I'd trade them all, plus the gal down the road, for my grandma's feather bed.

It was nine feet high, six feet wide, soft as a downy chick.

Made from the feathers of 411 ducks, took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick.

It would hold nine kids and four hound dogs, and the piggy we'd stole from the shed.

We didn't get much sleep, but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed.

We didn't get much sleep, but we had a lot of fun on Grandma's feather bed.

Yes.

Well, Bobby has figured out the perfect way to stand out at a bluegrass festival, and that's to play the trumpet.

All right.

You ready, Bob?

I think so.

One, two, three.

You got a friend in me.

You got a friend in me.

When the road looks rough ahead, and you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed.

Hey, just remember what your old pal said because you've got a friend in me.

Oh, you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

You've got troubles.

I've got them, too.

There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you.

We'll stick together, and we will see them through 'cause you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

Some folks might be a little bit smarter than I am, bigger and stronger, too.

But none of them will ever love you the way that I do.

It's you and me, boy.

And as the years go by, our friendship will never die.

You're gonna see, it's our destiny because you've got a friend in me.

Oh, you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

Hey, some folks might be a little bit smarter than I am, bigger and stronger, too.

But none of them will ever love you the way I do.

It's you and me, boy.

And as the years go by, our friendship will never die.

You're gonna see, it's our destiny because you've got a friend in me.

Yes, you've got a friend in me.

You've got a friend in me.

Thanks.

Well, we'd like to take a minute and go back in Three on a String history, if we may.

I tell you, this song it's a local song.

It was written by Steve Young over in Gadsden, same as Jim Connor.

And we love this song.

We play it everywhere we go.

And one night, a guy was in years ago from California, and he heard Three on a String play this song, and he liked it, and he took it back to California with him and showed it to his band, and they liked it, and they recorded it.

But they messed it all up.

I mean, they messed it up really bad, so bad they made about $20 million off of it because they were the Eagles, you see.

But this is kind of the way it was originally written and kind of the feel it had, and we hope you recognize it.

It's called "Seven Bridges Road."

There are stars in the southern sky.

And southward as you go.

And there is moonlight and moss in the trees.

Down the Seven Bridges Road.

I have loved you like a baby.

Like some lonesome child.

And I have loved you in a tame way.

And I have loved you wild.

And sometimes there is a part of me, wants to turn from you and go.

Running like a child beneath warm stars.

Down the Seven Bridges Road.

There are stars in the southern sky.

And if ever you decide to go.

There's a taste of time sweetened honey.

Down the Seven Bridges Road Down the seven bridges road.

When the sun goes down over Dublin town, the colors last for hours.

Oh, the lights come on, and night's a song, and the streets all turn to gold.

A gentle mist, all heaven-kissed, like teardrops off an angel's wings.

And don't you know you'll cleanse your soul with a walk in the Irish rain.

Oh, Catherine, take my hand, I got three pounds and change.

I'll sing you a song of love again, and when I get too drunk to sing, we'll walk in the Irish rain.

Forevermore, I've stepped ashore.

My sailing days are over.

Oh, through time and tide and by your side, together we'll grow old.

I threw my sea bag in the bin and brought these pretty flowers home.

So kiss me, Kate, we'll celebrate before the bloom is gone.

Oh, Catherine, take my hand, I got three pounds and change.

I'll sing you a song of love again, and when I get too drunk to sing, we'll walk in the Irish rain.

A tinker and a tailor and a drunken old sailor, they all get together and they start to play.

Time stands still while they sing their fill, shout to the break of day.

A sweet little lady with a glass of stout, sipping it down till the foam runs out.

She helped her old man home again with a walk in the Irish rain.

Oh, Catherine, take my hand, I got three pounds and change.

I'll sing you a song of love again, and when I get too drunk to sing, we'll walk in the Irish rain.

What shall we do with the drunken sailor?

What shall we do with the drunken sailor?

What shall we do with the drunken sailor early in the morning?

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises early in the morning.

Shave his belly with a rusty razor.

Shave his belly with a rusty razor.

Shave his belly with a rusty razor early in the morning.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises early in the morning.

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter.

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter.

Put him in the bed with the captain's daughter early in the morning.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises early in the morning.

Put him in the longboat till he's sober.

Put him in the longboat till he's sober.

Put him in the longboat till he's sober early in the morning.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises early in the morning.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises.

Way hay, up she rises early in the morning.

That's what we do with a drunken sailor.

That's what we do with a drunken sailor.

That's what we do with a drunken sailor early in the morning.

Yeah.

All right, thanks.

We'd like to do a couple of work songs if we can.

The first was recorded years ago, and we've always liked this song since we first heard it.

And it's about the coal mining days up in West Virginia and Kentucky, all up around in there, about losing your job and being dependent on the union and that kind of thing.

It's called "The Coal Tattoo."

You ready?

Ready?

No.

No?

Here.

I got it.

Ready?

No.

Ready.

Ready!

Ready?

Yes.

Okay, here we go.

Two, three, go.

Traveling down to Coaltown Road.

Listen to my rubber tires whine.

Goodbye to buckeye and white sycamore.

I'm leaving you behind.

Well, I've been a coal man all my life.

Laying down tracks in the hole.

Got a back like an ironwood bent by the wind.

But veins are blue as the coal.

My blood veins are blue as the coal.

Somebody said, "That's a strange tattoo you've got on the side of your hip."

I said, "That's the mark of the number nine coal.

Little lower and I'd be dead."

Oh, I love the rumble and I love the dark.

I love the cool of the slate.

But it's running down to Spoon Road looking for a job.

This traveling and looking I hate.

This traveling and looking I hate.

I stood for the union.

I walked in the line.

I fought against the company.

I stood for the U.M.W.

of A. Who's going to stand for me?

Well, I got no job and I got no pay.

I just got a worried soul.

And a blue tattoo on the side of my hip.

Left by the number nine coal.

Left by the number nine coal.

Someday when I'm dead and gone, to Heaven, the land of my dreams.

I won't have to worry about losing a job to hard times and big machines.

Well, I ain't going to pay my money away on dues and hospital plans.

I'm going to pick coal while the blues have the trouble, and sing with the angel band.

And sing with the angel band.

All right.

Thank you.

They're really nice.

You need to say nice stuff to them.

Yeah, they are very, very nice.

They're very nice.

They're very nice indeed.

Yeah.

Do you want to do that?

I was going to do "Ryder" but- Okay.

Okay, Bobby.

Oh, well, he's geared up for that.

So this is kind of our bluegrass number here coming up, and this is also a work song.

It's about back in the old slave day.

By the way, you notice most of the songs we do are old.

Go figure.

No kidding.

This is called "Rider."

Well, I know you, Rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone.

Well, I know you, Ryder, gonna miss me when I'm gone.

Gonna miss your true loving daddy rolling in your arms.

Well, I ain't got a nickel, Lord, I ain't got a lousy dime.

I ain't got a nickel, Lord, I ain't got a lousy dime.

But I got a long way to go before the end of my time.

Takes a red-headed woman make a long-time man feel bad.

Takes a red-headed woman make a long-time man feel bad.

Because it makes him remember the long hard road that he's had.

Y'all clap for Bobby.

That's good.

The sun gonna shine in Sycamore someday.

Yeah, the sun gonna shine in Sycamore someday.

And the wind from the willows will blow my blues away.

Blow my blues away.

Well, I know you, Rider, gonna miss me when I'm gone.

Well, I know you, Ryder, gonna miss me when I'm gone.

Gonna miss your true loving daddy rolling in your arms.

Well.

I said, well I said, well, this train is bound for glory.

This train, this train is bound for glory.

This train, this train is bound for glory.

Try to get right.

Try to get holy.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

Now, this train got the Holy Spirit, this train.

This train got the Holy Spirit, this train.

This train got the Holy Spirit.

Can I get an amen?

Can I get a witness?

This train got the Holy Spirit, this train.

Now, this train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

Yeah, this train is bound for glory.

Try to get right.

Try to get holy.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel?

No.

I'm going to let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel?

No.

I'm going to let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel?

No.

I'm going to let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Now, do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Look away beyond the blue.

I took Jesus as my savior, you take him too.

I took Jesus as my savior, you take him too.

I took Jesus as my savior, you take him too.

Look away beyond the blue.

Well, I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Then Jesus came like a thief in the night.

Do Lord, oh, do Lord, oh, do remember me.

Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

Everybody, come on.

I saw the light, I saw the light.

No more darkness, no more night.

Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight.

Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

Well, just like a blind man, I wandered alone.

Worries and fears I claimed for my own.

But now I've traded the wrong for the right.

And praise the Lord, I saw the light.

I saw the light, I saw the light.

No more darkness, no more night.

Now I'm so happy, no sorrow in sight.

Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

Praise the Lord, I saw the light.

Thank you so much, folks.

It was a pleasure being with you.

Thank y'all.

"More!

More!"

they cry.

Okay, we'll do another one.

Well, Andy wrote this song years and years ago, and we still like to close our shows with it because it's such a poignant, meaningful song to us.

And it just speaks of how we feel about you guys when you come out and... And one day soon, I know we'll meet to sing our songs again.

It seems so close to paradise, just being with you friends.

We know even best of friends must sometimes be apart.

And we'll always keep your memory in our heart.

But now it's time to say goodbye.

We wish that we could stay.

Your memory remains with us until another day.

And we know even best of friends must sometimes be apart.

And we'll always keep your memory in our heart.

Yes, we'll always keep your memory in our heart.

God bless you folks.

Thank you.

Thanks, everybody.

Thank you.

Good night.

Thanks for joining us for Bluegrass on the Rim 2026.

Do you want more?

Full-length performances of each of our featured bands are available to stream at aptv.org/bluegrass/2026.

And of course, thanks to all that made this show possible.