Rocky Top - wikipedia Rocky Top This article is about the song. For other uses, see Rocky Top ( disambiguation ). `` Rocky Top '' Single by Osborne Brothers Released December 25, 1967 Genre Bluegrass, country Length 2 : 35 Label Decca / MCA Songwriter ( s ) Felice and Boudleaux Bryant `` Rocky Top '' Single by Lynn Anderson Released 1970 Genre Bluegrass Length 2 : 39 Label Chart Songwriter ( s ) Felice and Boudleaux Bryant `` Rocky Top '' is an American country and bluegrass song written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967 and first recorded by the Osborne Brothers later that same year. The song, which is a city - dweller 's lamentation over the loss of a simpler and freer existence in the hills of Tennessee, is one of Tennessee 's ten official state songs and has been recorded by dozens of artists from multiple musical genres worldwide since its publication. In U.S. college athletics, `` Rocky Top '' is associated with the Tennessee Volunteers of the University of Tennessee ( UT ), whose Pride of the Southland Band has played a marching band version of the song at the school 's sporting events since the early 1970s. The Osborne Brothers ' 1967 bluegrass version of the song reached No. 33 on the U.S. Country charts, and Lynn Anderson 's 1970 version peaked at No. 17 on the U.S. Country charts. In 2005, The Atlanta Journal - Constitution ranked `` Rocky Top '' number seven on its list of 100 Songs of the South. Contents 1 Background 1.1 Lyrics 1.2 College fight song 1.3 Location of Rocky Top 1.4 Operation Rocky Top 2 Notable covers 3 See also 4 References Background `` Rocky Top '' was written by married songwriting duo Boudleaux Bryant ( 1920 -- 1987 ) and Felice Bryant ( 1925 -- 2003 ) in 1967. At the time, the Bryants were working at The Gatlinburg Inn in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on a collection of slow - tempo songs for a project for Archie Campbell and Chet Atkins. Writing the fast - paced `` Rocky Top, '' which took about 10 minutes to write, served as a temporary diversion for them. While the song became a staple of the Osborne Brothers concerts in the late 1960s, the song did not achieve mass popularity until the early 1970s, when Lynn Anderson 's version reached number seventeen on the Billboard Country Top 100. In 1972, UT 's Pride of the Southland Band first played the song as part of one of its drills, the idea and arrangement being primarily the work of band arranger Barry MacDonald. The song was deemed popular enough to be played at a halftime country music show at a game against Alabama in October 1972, gaining fans ' attention. UT recognized the song 's appeal and the band started playing Rocky Top at every game. Longtime band director W.J. Julian stated that if Rocky Top was ever not played, then there would be a mutiny among Vol fans, reflecting the song 's deep - rooted foundation in UT sports. The song was officially adopted as the fifth Tennessee state song in 1982. In the 1970s, the song achieved such popularity among bar crowds that the Chapel Hill, North Carolina - based old - time band the Red Clay Ramblers ' national tours included a crowd - pleasing satire informally titled `` Play ' Rocky Top ' ( or I 'll Punch Your Lights Out. ) '' The Bryants ' children currently own the rights to the song under the corporate name `` House of Bryant, '' and the song 's original sheet music is on display at the Rocky Top Village Inn in downtown Gatlinburg. Lyrics Despite its fast and upbeat tempo, the song is actually a lament over the loss of a way of life. In the song 's opening verse, the singer longs for a place called `` Rocky Top, '' where there is no `` smoggy smoke '' and there are no `` telephone bills. '' The singer reminisces about a love affair he once had on Rocky Top with a woman `` wild as a mink '' and `` sweet as soda pop. '' The song 's second verse recalls a story about two `` strangers '' ( apparently revenue agents ) climbing Rocky Top `` looking for a moonshine still, '' but never returning ( conflict between moonshiners and `` revenuers '' is a common theme in Appalachian culture ). The song says that the soil on Rocky Top is too rocky to grow corn, so the people of Rocky Top `` get their corn from a jar ''. In the third and final verse ( which consists of just four lines ), the singer again longs for the `` simple '' life, likening life in the city to being `` trapped like a duck in a pen. '' College fight song With its good - natured regional references to a carefree lifestyle, the singing of `` Rocky Top '' by UT students, alumni, and fans at sports venues such as Neyland Stadium and Thompson -- Boling Arena is well established. House of Bryant has granted the University of Tennessee a perpetual license to play the song as much and as often as success on the field dictates. Longtime director W.J. Julian created a marching band arrangement that was first played at the Vols ' October 21, 1972 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Over the years, `` Rocky Top '' has become so closely associated with UT that many people believe it to be the school 's fight song. However, UT 's official fight song is `` Down the Field. '' Location of Rocky Top Rocky Top and the Appalachian Trail While the Bryants never indicated that `` Rocky Top, Tennessee '' refers to a specific place, some have suggested that a 5,440 - foot ( 1,660 m ) barren summit known as `` Rocky Top '' -- located in the Great Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee - North Carolina border -- is the best fit, due in large part to its proximity to Gatlinburg, where the song was written. Rocky Top is a subpeak of Thunderhead Mountain, which overlooks Cades Cove, and is traversed by the Appalachian Trail. Rocky Top appears on maps of the western Smokies as early as 1934, and has been a popular hiking destination since the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created during the same period. The name `` Rocky Top '' is sometimes used as a nickname for East Tennessee, the city of Knoxville, and the University of Tennessee ( especially its two major athletic venues, Neyland Stadium and the Thompson -- Boling Arena ). `` Rocky Top '' is also a popular name for East Tennessee businesses, among them a real estate agency and a chain of convenience stores. In 2014, Lake City, Tennessee changed its name to Rocky Top, Tennessee after an effort by the House of Bryant to enjoin the city was denied by a federal court. Operation Rocky Top `` Operation Rocky Top '' was the FBI 's code name for a public corruption investigation into the Tennessee state government in the late 1980s which resulted in the eventual suicide of the Tennessee Secretary of State, Gentry Crowell, and the incarceration of several other individuals, most notably state House Majority Leader Tommy Burnett. The focus of the investigation was the illegal sale of bingo licenses. Notable covers Phish played `` Rocky Top '' regularly from 1987 to 2003 and, after reforming, again in 2009. There have been additional cover versions of the song by artists such as The Schwag, Dillard and Clark and country artists such as Buck Owens, Lynn Anderson, Dolly Parton, John Denver, Albert Lee, Conway Twitty, Billie Jo Spears, and John Stewart. Columbus, Ohio - based all - female rock trio Scrawl, included a cover of the song on their Nashville - recorded 1988 album `` He 's Drunk ''. Many contemporary groups and artists have performed the song while performing in Knoxville, including Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Dierks Bentley. The country rock group the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band tackled the song on their 1976 compilation album Dirt, Silver and Gold. The 2011 pilot episode of NBC 's sitcom Up All Night featured Christina Applegate and Will Arnett singing `` Rocky Top. '' See also Good Old Mountain Dew References Jump up ^ `` State Songs ''. tn.gov. tn.gov. Retrieved 29 July 2014. ^ Jump up to : Bill Williams, Our Stories : Rocky Top. WBIR.com, 19 November 2008. Retrieved : 20 September 2009. Jump up ^ `` Rocky Top ''. Tennessee Volunteers Fever. August 21, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2014. Jump up ^ Bryan Perry ( producer ), Shane Harrison, Sonia Murray, Nick Marino, and Soyia Ellison, 100 Songs of the South. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Exactly when and how the `` woo '' was added to the chorus of `` Rocky Top '' is a bit of a mystery ``. Origin.wbir.com. 2011 - 02 - 04. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ `` University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site ''. Utsports.com. Archived from the original on 2015 - 09 - 05. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ Heidi Hill ( 10 October 2014 ). `` Grand Marshal Del Bryant returns `` Home Sweet Home '' ``. The Daily Beacon. Retrieved 28 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` Music of the Red Clay Ramblers ''. Originalredclayramblers.com. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived May 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Clay Carey, `` ' Rocky Top ' Clip Puts Network A&E in Court. The Tennessean, 26 August 2009. Retrieved : 20 September 2009. Jump up ^ Beth Haynes, `` Rocky Top Penned at Gatlinburg Inn. '' WBIR.com, 4 September 2009. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ For discussion of moonshining in Southern Appalachia, see Horace Kephart 's Our Southern Highlanders ( 1922 ) and Joseph Dabney 's Mountain Spirits ( 1974 ). Jump up ^ Tom Mattingly, The University of Tennessee Trivia Book ( Hill Street Press, 2007 ) ISBN 1588181383 Jump up ^ University of Tennessee -- Songs of Tennessee. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ Robert Silvers, `` Hit Song Born at Gatlinburg Inn. '' Saturday Evening Post, 26 June 2009. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ Peakbagger.com, Rocky Top, North Carolina / Tennessee. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ `` TN landforms topo ''. Tnlandforms.us. Retrieved 2015 - 10 - 30. Jump up ^ United States Geological Survey, `` Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina, '' 1934. Retrieved : 2009 - 09 - 20. Jump up ^ Laura Thornborough, Great Smoky Mountains ( Knoxville, Tenn. : University of Tennessee Press, 1942 ), p. 143. Jump up ^ Scott, Mary ( June 26, 2014 ). `` Home sweet home : Lake City changes name to Rocky Top ''. WBIR. Retrieved June 26, 2014. Lynn Anderson Studio albums Ride, Ride, Ride Songs That Made Country Girls Famous Rose Garden You 're My Man How Can I Unlove You Cry Listen to a Country Song Keep Me in Mind Top of the World Smile for Me What a Man My Man Is I 've Never Loved Anyone More All the King 's Horses Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man I Love What Love Is Doing to Me / He Ai n't You From the Inside Outlaw Is Just a State of Mind Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Back What She Does Best Cowboy 's Sweetheart The Bluegrass Sessions Holiday albums The Christmas Album Home for the Holidays Live albums Live at Billy Bob 's Texas Compilations The World of Lynn Anderson Greatest Hits 16 Biggest Hits Singles `` If I Kiss You '' `` Promises, Promises '' `` Big Girls Do n't Cry '' `` I 've Been Everywhere '' `` Rocky Top '' `` Rose Garden '' `` It Was n't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels '' `` You 're My Man '' `` How Can I Unlove You '' `` Cry '' `` Listen to a Country Song '' `` Fool Me '' `` Keep Me in Mind '' `` Top of the World '' `` Talkin ' to the Wall '' `` What a Man My Man Is '' `` Paradise '' `` Wrap Your Love All Around Your Man '' `` I Love How You Love Me '' `` Sea of Heartbreak '' `` You 're Welcome to Tonight '' `` Under the Boardwalk '' Related articles Discography Tennessee Volunteers football Venues Waite Field ( 1892 - 1920 ) Shields - Watkins Field ( 1921 - 1962 ) Neyland Stadium ( 1962 -- present ) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Alabama : Third Saturday in October Auburn Florida Georgia Georgia Tech Kentucky Vanderbilt Culture & lore History Smokey `` Rocky Top '' Pride of the Southland Band Battle at Bristol Porter Cup People Head coaches Starting quarterbacks NFL draftees Seasons 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1998 2017 2018 National championship seasons in bold Tennessee Volunteers basketball Venues Alumni Memorial Gym ( 1934 -- 1958 ) Stokely Athletic Center ( 1958 -- 1987 ) Thompson -- Boling Arena ( 1987 -- present ) Rivalries Kentucky Culture & lore History Smokey `` Rocky Top '' People Head coaches Retired jerseys NBA draftees Seasons 1908 -- 09 1909 -- 10 1910 -- 11 1911 -- 12 1912 -- 13 1913 -- 14 1914 -- 15 1915 -- 16 1916 -- 17 1917 -- 18 1918 -- 19 1919 -- 20 1920 -- 21 1921 -- 22 1922 -- 23 1923 -- 24 1924 -- 25 1925 -- 26 1926 -- 27 1927 -- 28 1928 -- 29 1929 -- 30 1930 -- 31 1931 -- 32 1932 -- 33 1933 -- 34 1934 -- 35 1935 -- 36 1936 -- 37 1937 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 43 1943 -- 44 1944 -- 45 1945 -- 46 1946 -- 47 1947 -- 48 1948 -- 49 1949 -- 50 1950 -- 51 1951 -- 52 1952 -- 53 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball Venues Stokely Athletic Center ( 1974 -- 1987 ) Thompson -- Boling Arena ( 1987 -- present ) Rivalries Connecticut Culture & lore History Smokey `` Rocky Top '' People Head coaches Retired jerseys Seasons 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 AIAW and NCAA national championships in bold ; AIAW and NCAA Final Four appearances in italics 33 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rocky_Top&oldid=810800110 '' Categories : 1967 singles 1970 singles Appalachian culture Southeastern Conference fight songs Osborne Brothers songs Lynn Anderson songs Music of East Tennessee United States state songs Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers Tennessee culture Songs written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant Songs about Tennessee Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2011 Webarchive template wayback links Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Français Edit links This page was last edited on 17 November 2017, at 14 : 43. 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Question: when did rocky top became a state song
Answer: 1982