Harry McClintock

Harry Kirby McClintock (also known as Haywire Mac) was an American singer, songwriter and railroader. Born in Knoxville Tennessee, he would run away from home and would drift around the world throughout his life. He would work railroads in Africa and supply aid to American troops during the American-Philippine war and journalists covering the Boxer Rebellion in China.

McClintock would also work on countless railroads in the United States, where he would learn many songs and stories from folks such as Wallace Saunders and Joe Hill. He would also participate in the Tucker Utah Strike and join the IWW.

He is mostly known for his song “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” which would reach #1 in Billboard’s “Hillbilly Hits” and would be played in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”.