Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina

Subject: Unknown NC Song
From:
Date: 19 Jan 97 - 09:19 PM

I teach music at Shiloh Elementary School in Monroe, NC. I have been given the words to a song about North Carolina, but no one has the tune that goes with the song. I was hoping that someone might be able to help. I have tried searching the Internet, but I haven't had any success.

The title i was given for the song is "NC Song." I doubt that this is the orignal title. The song begins with a spoken dialogue. The first lines to the song are:

Way up in North Carolina, Up in North Carolina That's as far north as I want to be! There's absolutely nothing north of Carolina That I'd ever want to see.

I would appreciate any help you could give me in finding the tune to this song.

Mark A. Greene [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Unknown NC Song
From:
Date: 29 Oct 01 - 06:46 PM

There is a song with the title - "Way Up In North Carolina". Andy Griffith among others put it on a recording.

Subject: RE: Unknown NC Song-Way Up in North Carolina
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 02:11 AM

The Belltones - Way Up In North Carolina (Mercury 5692) - it's on this one-hit wonder list - but I didn't find it on any CD's.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Unknown NC Song-Way Up in North Carolina
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 02:24 PM

Penn State Library says WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA was written by Orville Campbell & Hank Beebe, arranged by Keith Textor, and published by Charles Music, 1951.

Champ Butler recorded WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA as a 78-rpm single on the Columbia label, #39533.

Gene Rayburn recorded WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA as a 45-rpm single on the Decca label.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 07:50 PM

Did you find the music? I'm looking for all the lyrics, and would appreciate any information.
Joe.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jun 10 - 01:28 PM

Allmusic.com says there are 3 CDs by Winifred Atwell that contain WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA.
"Let's Have a Party" (2005)
"Honky Tonk Boogie" (2005)
"Winifred Atwell & Her Other Piano" (2005)

I assume these are reissues of older recordings.

Winifred Atwell is mainly known as a pianist, although she did sing sometimes. I don't know whether she sang on this particular recording.

I haven't found any lyrics or sound files.

Of course it's possible that there is more than one song with the same title, so I can't guarantee than any of these are what you want.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Charles
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 05:33 PM

I once had had a record of the song. I was a kid and my sister and I just about memorized it, but alas I forgot much of it. I was looking for it when I came across this forum. Atwell's recording on Yahoo has some of the lyrics but it is not complete. There are conversational parts like, "Howdy chum. Where're you from? I'm from Alabam. Please don't let it get around but I'm from Yankee land. The guy looks sane enough to me, I wonder where he's from? I ask him where his hometown is before I run along. Are you from Chicago...No...(several city names)...you sure your from the North? Why sure I from the north. Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina (and so forth)." There is a conversation with a couple of girls as well. The guys want to know where they can pick the girls up. Of course it is up in North Carolina.

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA (from W. Atwell)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 06:44 PM

I listened to a recording by Winifred Atwell, and this is what I heard. Obviously, the whole point of the recording is to show off Atwell's piano playing, so that's mainly what you hear, but there is also this chorus:

WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA

[piano solo]

Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina,
That's as far north as I want to be.
(Tell me all about it!)
There's absolutely nothing north of Carolina that I ever want to see.
(You just can't live without it!)
They say in Pennsylvania the moon is shining bright,
But I know where the moon's shinin' every night:
Way up in North Carolina, North Carolina, my North Carolina home.

[piano solo]

Tell me all about it!

[piano solo]

You just can't live without it!

[piano solo]


[The lyrics are sung by unidentified singers dominated by one male voice. I suspect that might be Atwell's voice shouting "Tell me all about it!" and "You just can't live without it!" but I really have no idea.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Numenor (from Italy)
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:03 PM

I have a 78rpm metal disc recorded by Winifred Atwell (DECCA #16864).
The label reads exactly:
WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA
(Campbell - Beebe)
WINIFRED ATWELL and her piano
with the RAGTIME FOUR and
rhythm accompainment

No date of recording.

As far I can understand, the lyrics are exactly the ones reported by Jim Dixon; I'm convinced too that it's Atwell herself that shouts "Tell me all about it!" etc, also because she loved to turn to the audience while playing (so to show off her ability to play at such speed without even watch the keyboard...).

Out of curiosity, "Way up in North Carolina" is the side B od the record; side A is "Crazy Words, Crazy Tunes", another ragtime-ish tune recorded by Winifred Atwell.

Numenor
(from Italy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Numenor (again...)
Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:13 PM

P.S.

They have it available for download at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Way-Up-In-North-Carolina/dp/B002E8QG7M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1283292635&sr=8-2

You can even listen to a sample.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Rebecca
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 10:02 PM

I was looking for the song because it was used in a school skit when I lived in Charlotte in 1965. I hope you find it!

Rebecca

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 10:38 AM

"I was looking for the song because it was used in a school skit when I lived in Charlotte in 1965. I hope you find it!"

Rebecca, if you'd looked further up the thread you'd have seen that Jim posted the lyrics.

Hope she comes back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Laura Pilcher
Date: 17 Mar 16 - 11:37 PM

My dad use to sing this to us, every time we crossed over the state line, when we were coming home from a beach trip. It was our favorite song to sing together, on the way home.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=way+up+in+north+carolina+the+belltones&view=detail&mid=6BD2BAFAC3982D1620BD6BD2BAFAC3982D1620BD&FORM=VIRE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: GUEST,Laura Pilcher
Date: 17 Mar 16 - 11:39 PM

You'll have to copy & paste the url up above, into a new thread, but it's the whole song..."Way Up In North Carolina".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Way Up in North Carolina
From: Janie
Date: 18 Mar 16 - 12:02 AM

Several recordings up on youtube now, including the Belltones, Atwell and Butler. Here is a link to the Belltones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfDgEGX090c

Subject: Lyr Add: WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA (Campbell/Beebe)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Mar 16 - 08:24 PM

Here's my transcription from the recording on YouTube:


WAY UP IN NORTH CAROLINA
Words and music by Orville Campbell & Hank Beebe, 1951.
As recorded by the Belltones on Mercury 5692, 1951.

[The first male voice is printed in plain Roman type. The second male voice is in Italics. The women's voices are boldface. The last chorus is sung ensemble. The verses are more recited than sung.]

VERSE 1: Well, howdy, chum. Where are you from? I'm from Alabam'.
Well, jeez, don't let it get around, but I'm from Yankee land.
The guy looked sane enough to me; there must be something wrong.
I'll ask him where his home town is before I run along.
Are you from Philly? (Nah.) Chicago? (Nah.) From Boston coming forth? (Uh-uh.)
You sure that you're a Yankee boy? Why, sure, I'm from the North—

CHORUS 1: Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina,
That's as far north as I want to be. (Tell me all about it!)
There's absolutely nothing north of Carolina that I ever want to see. (You just can do without it!)
They say in Pennsylvan-I-A the moon is shinin' bright,
But I know where there's moon-shinin' ev'ry night:
Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina, my North Carolina home.

VERSE 2: Say, pal. Yeah, what's up? Say, friend, you're lookin' mighty low to be from Alabam'.
It's my doctor, son, that worries me; he says I gotta scram. (That right?)
He says the climate in the South gets me to feelin' low. (That's bad!)
And now I gotta leave the South; he says I gotta go—

CHORUS 2: Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina,
That's as far north as I gotta go. (Tell me all about it!)
Oh, the sun is always shinin' up in Carolina and I've never cared for ice and snow. (You just can do without it!)
Those Carolina joys will fill my southern heart,
And even when I'm there, I'm in the southern part,
Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina, my North Carolina home.

VERSE 3: Whoo-hoo! Say brother, will you look-a here what's comin' down the street!
Mm-hm, these gals are really somethin'! Yeah, the kind we oughta meet.
Okay, well, what's the use of sittin' here? Let's find out their address.
Just leave it up to me, old boy; you gotta use finesse. (What's that?)
Say, honey. (Yeah?) Excuse me. (Yeah?) We shouldn't interrupt. (Uh-huh!)
We'd like to take you out. (Okay.) Then where do we pick you up?

CHORUS 3: Way up in North Carolina, up in North Carolina,
From the Smokies to the sea.
If you're ever comin' north as far as Carolina that's where we'll always be.
When you die, you want to go to heaven? Gosh, no!
Tell us just where is this place you want to go.
Way up in North Carolina, North Carolina, my North Carolina home.

CHORUS 4: Way up in North Carolina, North Carolina,
North enough for me.
There's absolutely nothin' north of Carolina that I ever want to see.
You never heard a southerner say this before:
To tell you that the North won the Civil War,
But he means North Carolina, he means North Carolina, yes, indeed, my North Carolina home.