Town Mountain: “Ruination Line”
Clip: 4/10/2025 | 4m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
Town Mountain performs “Ruination Line,” a song about times when the world appears insurmountable.
Town Mountain performs “Ruination Line,” a song that stems from mandolin player Phil Barker’s struggles with the healthcare system as a musician working two jobs.
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Town Mountain: “Ruination Line”
Clip: 4/10/2025 | 4m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
Town Mountain performs “Ruination Line,” a song that stems from mandolin player Phil Barker’s struggles with the healthcare system as a musician working two jobs.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[upbeat bluegrass music] ♪ Dust in the meadow, smoke on the mountainside ♪ ♪ There's an air of desperation ♪ ♪ Comin' cross the great divide ♪ ♪ Thunder rollin', shakin' the valley down ♪ ♪ But it ain't the second comin', man ♪ ♪ That's a drummin' up that sound ♪ ♪ Oh, it's the train of broken dreams ♪ ♪ Run on misery and woe ♪ ♪ Take the down-trodden when they aint got no place to go ♪ ♪ There'll be no mistakin' ♪ ♪ When you hear a whistle whine ♪ ♪ Left me with my chances in the ruination line ♪ ♪ Hear you, brother, I can't get no sleep ♪ ♪ There's heretics in the capitol and heroes on the street ♪ ♪ This corporate prison, what for is my bail ♪ ♪ Well, its 129 a barrel, son ♪ ♪ Your freedom is for sale ♪ ♪ Give me excuses, and they give me their word ♪ ♪ And its hard to give a damn ♪ ♪ When you're unemployed and uninsured ♪ ♪ Can't afford to pay no doctor, no ambulance ride ♪ ♪ Standin' at the station in the ruination line ♪ Hit it!
[upbeat pedal steel instrumental music] [lively fiddle solo] ♪ Well ♪ ♪ Drive your mule, boy, up that field and back ♪ ♪ Lord, you gotta earn your keep here ♪ ♪ Make no doubt about that fact ♪ ♪ Ain't no time for stallin, no time for to waste ♪ ♪ No time for your lost soul ♪ ♪ To go and try to find its place ♪ ♪ All I ever wanted was just a little peace and quiet ♪ ♪ And a stash of my own, and a good girl to hold tight ♪ ♪ Now I'm broke, dry and dirty ♪ ♪ My good love passed me by ♪ ♪ And I feel I'm primed and ready for that ruination line ♪ ♪ So I lay my head down on that rail ♪ ♪ And maybe she can ease my mind ♪ ♪ And I pray she moves me swiftly down the ruination line ♪ [uptempo mandolin solo] [upbeat bluegrass fiddle music]
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Preview: 4/10/2025 | 30s | Town Mountain pours a bit of grit and a lot of heart into a rousing country rock performance. (30s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 4/10/2025 | 4m 53s | Town Mountain performs “Comeback Kid,” a song about the challenges of working in the music industry. (4m 53s)
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Clip: 4/10/2025 | 4m 43s | Town Mountain plays “Down Low,” a song about the paranoia of being under the influence. (4m 43s)
Town Mountain: “Lines in the Levee”
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 4/10/2025 | 3m 41s | Town Mountain performs “Lines in the Levee,” a rallying cry that change is on the horizon. (3m 41s)
Town Mountain: “Struck It Rich”
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 4/10/2025 | 4m 6s | Town Mountain plays “Struck It Rich,” a song about the pursuit of wealth and ambition. (4m 6s)
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Shaped by Sound is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.