Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell (Bob Zentz)

Subject: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell
From: Arkie
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 07:07 PM

I consider "Beaucatcher's Farewell" to be one of the most beautiful tunes that I have ever heard. I know that it was written by Bob Zentz who has commented on Mudcat from time to time. I am curious if there is a story behind the song. I was told years ago that the song was written when Beaucatcher Mountain in Ashville, NC was butchered to make way for a road or housing or some such thing, but as far as I know the mountain is still there. When I lived in the tidewater area of Virginia I would see Bob at the coffee house, the Ramblin' Conrad shop and at festivals and we even exchanged words (pleasant words) on occasion but I did not hear "Beaucatcher's Farewell" until I had left the area, and had bought a Tony Elman recording so there was not a chance to ask. I still think of the tune and just pulled it up again to add to my current playlist.

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell
From: kendall
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 07:15 PM

I believe they changed their minds about tearing it down.

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 08:18 PM

The correct title is Beaucatcher Farewell (track 7) according to his CD tray on the CD of that name. That may help any searches for info.

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 03 Oct 12 - 09:04 PM

Beaucatcher Tunnel is on the East side of Asheville (built 1929), and carries US 70/US 74 under and through Beaucatcher Mountain.

Bob Zentz tells the story of being caught in a traffic jam in the tunnel--a two-lane bottleneck at the entrance to the city in the middle of what is otherwise a 4-lane road. While he was in the tunnel, the tune came to him. Shortly after he wrote the tune, the state of North Carolina began construction of I-240, not without considerable controversy, which passes through Beaucatcher Mountain via a giant road-cut 800 feet wide and several hundred feet deep--the mountain was removed in the path of the highway. The new road doesn't have the bottleneck of a narrow tunnel--it has no tunnel at all. The road cut is just a little to the north of the tunnel, but the tunnel is still intact, and you can drive through it today if you choose to use the old historic road rather than the interstate expressway.

He writes in the notes to his Folk Legacy album "Beaucatcher Farewell" that we shouldn't go tearing down mountains until we've gotten all the songs out of them.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell (Bob Zentz)
From: Arkie
Date: 04 Oct 12 - 10:15 AM

Thanks all.   My curiosity is satisfied and glad to have the title correction. Sorry to admit that my eyes and brain have become a little lazy and careless over the years. I've been through that tunnel.   And was caught in a traffic jam. Did not know the name of the mountain at the time. Though having been through Ashville a few times I don't think I ever stopped. Except for traffic in the tunnel.

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell (Bob Zentz)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Oct 12 - 11:02 AM

Nice to get the rest of the story.

Charley Noble, adrift in the Old Virginia Lowlands.

Subject: RE: Origins: Beaucatcher's Farewell (Bob Zentz)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Oct 12 - 01:55 PM

Good, Arkie. As a btw: "Sorry to admit that my eyes and brain have become a little lazy and careless over the years." I know the feeling. Take care, buddy.