TROUT TRUCK’S A’COMIN—FISH FRY TONITE!
Lore & Legend from Bald Knob, KY Dr. Gary Straub. Meadow@StMatthews
The northernmost parcels of Franklin County bump up against Henry County; which bumps up against the mighty Ohio River. Here lies a desperately deserted, forgotten land— dwelling languorously in undeserved obscurity—Bald Knob, KY. Locals say the only legal thing grown in these parts is lore & legend.
The residents are quick to tell outsiders: “I worked all my life to escape these godforsaken “Hill Farms” —where the only thing God can grow is rocks and spindly cedars. Wellsir— here I STILL am!” Some believe: “this is the land that Kentucky forgot —long before Time did! We are talking about plots of real estate that remain ‘UNsold’ for generations. Some Sunday afternoon turn left out of downtown Frankfort and take a drive up 421N passing thru the brief pleasure of PLEASUREVILLE, and on up to Eminence, KY. A visitor could say, without fear of embarrassment or contradiction… the ONLY thing of note this land ever produced: a bluegrass band! Yep, the only legal export Bald Knob publicly boasts is a 4-some called “Bald Knob String Quartet.” Since their own acclaimed Golden Age occurred 3 decades previous to my decade, my authenticating sources are slightly sketchy.
What’s not in the least sketchy are the artful lyrics to my favorite folk/bluegrass tune appropriately titled:
“Trout Truck is a’Comin — there’s a Fish Fry Tonight!”
For the record: there is no record! I’ve tried to trace the origins of these haunting tunes and homemade lyrics. So far, the only origin I’ve ever traced was the humble title to a bourbon called Buffalo Trace— whose Master Distiller was an Deacon Emeritus in our First Christian Church. Beyond this legendary distillery, the lore leaves no trace.
And NOW: for your edification & listening pleasure, here are lyrics filched from the famous Bald Knob Band.
MUSICAL NOTE: Y’all will need to supply a tune from yore local holler!
TROUT TRUCKS a’COMIN—There’s a Fish Fry Tonite!
Down the road from my place there’s a fine little creek-State it stocks trout there about once a week.
When I’m all out of groceries and down my luck, I sit by my window and wait for the truck!
Trout Truck’s a coming just pulled into sight.
Trout Truck’s a coming- there’s a fish fry tonight!!!
When Trout truck rolls by, the driver he toots. I holler for momma to get on her boots,
Grab an umbrella just in case it might rain, crawl under the front porch and hunt for that sein.
Trout Truck’s a coming, just pulled down the ridge,
Trout Truck’s a coming, throws the fish off the bridge.
When we get to the creek, we’ll travel downstream to riffles beside the ol’washin machine.
Trout like it there and another good lair, Is the cool shade beside that old rusty Corvair.
Trout Truck’s a coming, we got fish in our brook,
We’ll catch‘em all —cause we know where to look!
Now a tastier fish just cannot be bought, cuz the trout they are stupid
and easily caught.
Worms, corn and crickets are baits that will please,
but they seem to bite best on that Government Cheese.
Trout truck’s a coming, the people all shout:
We get Government Cheese just to catch these State Trout
Trout Truck’s a’coming just pulled into sight
Trout Truck’s a’coming, there’s a fish fry tonite!!
TROUT TRUCK’S A’COMIN—FISH FRY TONITE!
Lore & Legend from Bald Knob, KY Dr. Gary Straub. Meadow@StMatthews
The northernmost parcels of Franklin County bump up against Henry County; which bumps up against the mighty Ohio River. Here lies a desperately deserted, forgotten land— dwelling languorously in undeserved obscurity—Bald Knob, KY. Locals say the only legal thing grown in these parts is lore & legend.
The residents are quick to tell outsiders: “I worked all my life to escape these godforsaken “Hill Farms” —where the only thing God can grow is rocks and spindly cedars. Wellsir— here I STILL am!” Some believe: “this is the land that Kentucky forgot —long before Time did! We are talking about plots of real estate that remain ‘UNsold’ for generations. Some Sunday afternoon turn left out of downtown Frankfort and take a drive up 421N passing thru the brief pleasure of PLEASUREVILLE, and on up to Eminence, KY. A visitor could say, without fear of embarrassment or contradiction… the ONLY thing of note this land ever produced: a bluegrass band! Yep, the only legal export Bald Knob publicly boasts is a 4-some called “Bald Knob String Quartet.” Since their own acclaimed Golden Age occurred 3 decades previous to my decade, my authenticating sources are slightly sketchy.
What’s not in the least sketchy are the artful lyrics to my favorite folk/bluegrass tune appropriately titled:
“Trout Truck is a’Comin — there’s a Fish Fry Tonight!”
For the record: there is no record! I’ve tried to trace the origins of these haunting tunes and homemade lyrics. So far, the only origin I’ve ever traced was the humble title to a bourbon called Buffalo Trace— whose Master Distiller was an Deacon Emeritus in our First Christian Church. Beyond this legendary distillery, the lore leaves no trace.
And NOW: for your edification & listening pleasure, here are lyrics filched from the famous Bald Knob Band.
MUSICAL NOTE: Y’all will need to supply a tune from yore local holler!
TROUT TRUCKS a’COMIN—There’s a Fish Fry Tonite!
Down the road from my place there’s a fine little creek-State it stocks trout there about once a week.
When I’m all out of groceries and down my luck, I sit by my window and wait for the truck!
Trout Truck’s a coming just pulled into sight.
Trout Truck’s a coming- there’s a fish fry tonight!!!
When Trout truck rolls by, the driver he toots. I holler for momma to get on her boots,
Grab an umbrella just in case it might rain, crawl under the front porch and hunt for that sein.
Trout Truck’s a coming, just pulled down the ridge,
Trout Truck’s a coming, throws the fish off the bridge.
When we get to the creek, we’ll travel downstream to riffles beside the ol’washin machine.
Trout like it there and another good lair, Is the cool shade beside that old rusty Corvair.
Trout Truck’s a coming, we got fish in our brook,
We’ll catch‘em all —cause we know where to look!
Now a tastier fish just cannot be bought, cuz the trout they are stupid
and easily caught.
Worms, corn and crickets are baits that will please,
but they seem to bite best on that Government Cheese.
Trout truck’s a coming, the people all shout:
We get Government Cheese just to catch these State Trout
Trout Truck’s a’coming just pulled into sight
Trout Truck’s a’coming, there’s a fish fry tonite!!
