Discover the story of the song > Desert Pete – The Kingston Trio

The protagonist is trekking across a desert and comes across an old water pump. There's a note that says he has to prime the pump (i.e., pour a little water into it), and then he'll have plenty of water to drink. He follows the instructions and is rewarded with lots of water to drink. The moral of the song is that you need to be generous and give of yourself before you can expect to receive.