"The Mountain Whippoorwill" (published in Century magazine, 1925), tells the heroic come-from-behind victory of an unknown youth over the reigning lords of the community, or, as Benét's subtitle puts it, "How Hill-Billy Jim Won the Great Fiddlers' Prize" away from Old Dan Wheeling, Big Tom Sargent, and Little Jimmy Weezer at the game they think is their own. As Steve Martin put it, "John cultivated the piece, adding flowing banjo riffs - unlike me, John was able to play and recite at the same time - and it became an audience-captivating performance piece that has been a staple in his show ever since". Come with us to the Essex County Fair and witness a contest for the ages.