HOT BUTTERED RUM was written by Tommy Thompson the long time heart and soul of the Red Clay Ramblers out of Chapel Hill, NC. It first appeared on their album "Chuckin' The Frizz" released by Flying Fish in 1979. That version is the same as the one sung by Bryan Bowers. It is essentially the lyrics reported above, however there are several errors so I will retype it below as it appears on the liner notes to the album. The Ramblers recorded it again on their "Rambler" CD, and Tommy made some slight changes to the last verse. I have included that also. The last I heard, Tommy Thompson was living in Carrboro, NC and suffering from a severe case of Alzheimer's disease.

HOT BUTTERED RUM
(Tommy Thompson)

When chimney smoke hangs still and low
Across the stubble - fields of snow
And angry skies reach down to seize
The sorry blackened bones of trees
In the dead of winter when the silent snowbirds come
You're my sweet maple sugar, honey
Hot buttered rum

When dreary Christmas decorations
Line the streets and filling stations
And dimestore Santas can't disguise
Their empty hands and empty eyes
In the dead of winter
When the tinsel angels come
You're my sweet maple sugar, honey
Hot buttered rum

When gloves and boots and woolen parkas
Bring cold comfort to the heart
And bitter memories freeze the tongue
And songs of love are left unsung
In the dead of winter
When those cold feelings come
You're my sweet maple sugar, honey
Hot buttered rum

(revised last verse)
When burning embers in the darkness
Bring cold comfort to the heart
And bitter memories freeze the tongue
And songs of love are left unsung
In the dead of winter
If springtime never comes
You're my sweet maple sugar, honey
Hot buttered rum

rich r