I think YaleChick85 is probably right.
The song is almost definitely historical, Harrisburg isn't exactly the type of place you write a song about unless it has some sort of historical reference. Also he had a self-created major in college titled "American History Through Narrative Folk Music" so this song is probably historic.
While I think YaleChick85 is right the song could also be related to the underground rail road/ slavery.
Harrisburg is far enough away from the mason dixon line and across the Susquehanna that it was a relatively large stop on the underground rail road.
I think YaleChick85 is probably right. The song is almost definitely historical, Harrisburg isn't exactly the type of place you write a song about unless it has some sort of historical reference. Also he had a self-created major in college titled "American History Through Narrative Folk Music" so this song is probably historic.
While I think YaleChick85 is right the song could also be related to the underground rail road/ slavery. Harrisburg is far enough away from the mason dixon line and across the Susquehanna that it was a relatively large stop on the underground rail road.