In the middle of August he came into town
As dry as a bone from the sun beating down
He walked past the tables out back to the sink
He said he was broke, but he’d kill for a drink

Young Janice the waitress she cut him some pie
She said it’s to die for and laughed in his eyes
He looked back at Janice and liked what he saw
Soon they were leaving out through the back door

The customers sat there the coffee grew cold
Young Janice was missing the owner was told
At supper that evening a posse had formed
They searched the Clinch Mountain ‘til way after dawn

The hound dogs they tracked ‘em way up to the fork
Of North Holston River on Mendota shores
They found his torn britches and Janice’s dress
And it looked like something had chewed on the rest

What happened, what happened? The people all cried
We don’t know what happened the sheriff replied
There’s pieces of people all over the place
So many you can’t tell a leg from a face

Now maybe a bear caught the lovers alone
Or some jealous sweetheart it never was known
Never a clue there was a never a trace
A Clinch Mountain mystery told to this day

- Written by: Dixie & Tom T. Hall
- Performed by: The Larry Stephenson Band