The Legend of Wooley Swamp

Last updated
"The Legend of Wooley Swamp"
The Legend Of Wooley Swamp - Charlie Daniels.jpg
Single by Charlie Daniels
from the album Full Moon
B-side "Money"
ReleasedAugust 11, 1980
Genre Country
Length4:18
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Charlie Daniels
Tom Crain
Joel DiGregorio
Fred Edwards
James W. Marshall
Charles Hayward
Producer(s) John Boylan
Charlie Daniels singles chronology
"In America"
(1980)
"The Legend of Wooley Swamp"
(1980)
"Carolina (I Remember You)"
(1980)

"The Legend of Wooley Swamp" is a song written, composed, and recorded by the Charlie Daniels Band. It was released in August 1980 as the second single from the album Full Moon, which was later certified platinum. [1]

Contents

Daniels was inspired to write another song similar to his 1979 hit "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". While searching for ideas, Daniels remembered Woolie Swamp, an actual place in Bladen County, North Carolina where he used to night hunt as a youngster. Recalling how swamps can take on a whole different personality at night, Daniels mused that Woolie Swamp "just seemed like the kind of place a story like that could happen". [2]

Content

The song tells of a man who, after hearing a fable about a ghost in a place called Wooley Swamp, stubbornly decides to confirm the story on his own, only to come away with the knowledge that, "there's some things in this world you just can't explain"; these words are repeated in the chorus between the two verses and then spoken at the very end of the song.

The second verse tells of Lucius Clay, who lived in Wooley Swamp, a darkened quagmire hidden “way back in Booger Woods”. Clay was an elderly recluse and a miser who cared only about his money that he kept sealed in Mason jars and buried in various spots around the shack where he lived. Clay did little more than dig up the jars "on certain nights if the moon is right" and pour all of the money out on the floor of his shack just to run his fingers through it.

The third and longest verse introduces the Cable boys, three sinister white trash brothers who live in nearby Carver's Creek. One night, the eldest brother decides that they are going to kill Lucius Clay and steal his money. The three meet later in Wooley Swamp, sneak up to the shack, and find Clay with a shovel and "thirteen rusty Mason jars" he had just dug up. The three young men beat Clay unconscious then kill him by throwing him in the swamp, laughing as they watch his body sink into the mire. They grab his money from the shack and try to escape only to become trapped in quicksand. The brothers scream for help and futilely struggle to free themselves, and right before they meet their own deathly comeuppance, they hear Clay "laughin' in a voice as loud as thunder".

The final stanza of the second verse closes the story, saying that even though the myth is fifty years old (as of 1980), if you go by the shack on certain moonlit nights, "you can hear three young men screamin', an' you can hear one old man laugh".

Success and reception

Although the song stalled at number 80 on the Billboard country charts, it was more successful on the U.S. pop charts as it peaked at number 31 in the fall of that year. Billboard Magazine said that the song is a "rousing country /rock saga" which "builds up pressure with bold use of drums and guitar" and whose lyrics present an "irresistible, folklore tale." [3] It receives occasional airplay to this day, and has become one of Daniels' signature songs.

Chart (1980)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles80
U.S. Billboard Hot 10031
Canadian RPM Country Tracks57

Lyrical references

The lyrics mention Carvers Creek, a small community in Bladen County, North Carolina. The community is just down the road from the Wooley Swamp, which is located near Elizabethtown, North Carolina. While the places are real, Daniels said the story and the character of Lucius Clay were his own creation. [4]

Other versions

Daniels re-recorded the song with the group Smokin' Armadillos on their 1996 self-titled album.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jars of Clay</span> American Christian rock band

Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The members met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. They consist of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars. Although the band has no permanent drummer or bass guitarist, Jeremy Lutito and Gabe Ruschival of Disappointed by Candy fill these roles for live concerts. Past tour band members include Aaron Sands, Scott Savage, and Joe Porter. Jars of Clay's style is a blend of alternative rock, folk, acoustic, and R&B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Daniels</span> American musician (1936–2020)

Charles Edward Daniels was an American singer, musician, and songwriter. His music fused rock, country, blues and jazz, pioneering Southern rock. He was best known for his number-one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Much of his output, including all but one of his eight Billboard Hot 100 charting singles, was credited to the Charlie Daniels Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucius D. Clay</span> United States Army general (1898–1978)

Lucius Dubignon Clay was a senior officer of the United States Army who was known for his administration of occupied Germany after World War II. He served as the deputy to General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1945; deputy military governor, Germany, in 1946; Commander in Chief, United States Forces in Europe and military governor of the United States Zone, Germany, from 1947 to 1949. Clay orchestrated the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949) when the USSR blockaded West Berlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Devil Went Down to Georgia</span> 1979 single by Charlie Daniels

"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a song written and recorded by American music group Charlie Daniels Band and released on their 1979 album Million Mile Reflections.

<i>The Werewolf of Fever Swamp</i> 14th Goosebumps novella

The Werewolf of Fever Swamp is the fourteenth book in the original Goosebumps, the series of children's horror fiction novellas created and authored by R. L. Stine. The story follows Grady Tucker, who moves into a new house next to the Fever Swamp with his family. After a swamp deer is killed, his father believes Grady's dog is responsible, but Grady is convinced a werewolf is the culprit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fancy (Bobbie Gentry song)</span> 1969 single by Bobbie Gentry

"Fancy" is a song written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry in 1969. The country song was a crossover pop music hit for Gentry, reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 30 of the Billboard country chart. It was covered in 1990 by country music artist Reba McEntire on her album Rumor Has It. McEntire's version surpassed the original on the country music charts, reaching the Top Ten on Billboard's Hot Country Hits in 1991.

<i>Just Because Im a Woman</i> (1968 album) 1968 studio album by Dolly Parton

Just Because I'm a Woman is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. It was released on April 15, 1968, by RCA Victor. The album was produced by Bob Ferguson. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The album's title track was the only single released and it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here You Come Again (song)</span> 1977 single by Dolly Parton

"Here You Come Again" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and recorded by American entertainer Dolly Parton. It was released as a single in September 1977 as the title track from Parton's album of the same name, topped the U.S. country singles chart for five weeks, and won the 1978 Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance; it also reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, representing Parton's first significant pop crossover hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiskey Lullaby</span> 2004 single by Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss

"Whiskey Lullaby" is a song written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. The song was a duet recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on Paisley's album Mud on the Tires. The song was released on March 29, 2004, as the album's third single, and the 11th chart single of Paisley's career. Whiskey Lullaby peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, and No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won the 2005 Country Music Association Song of the Year Award. It was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of Many Colors (song)</span> 1971 song written and composed by Dolly Parton

"Coat of Many Colors" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Dolly Parton. It was released in September 1971 as the second single and title track from the album Coat of Many Colors.

Lucius Clay may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)</span> 1984 single by Alabama

"Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" is a song written by Dave Loggins, and recorded by American country music band Alabama. It was released in January 1984 as the first single and title track to the band's album Roll On. It was the group's 12th straight No. 1 single on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chain of Love</span> 2000 single by Clay Walker

"The Chain of Love" is a song written by Rory Feek and Jonnie Barnett, and recorded by American country music singer Charlie Pride and then Clay Walker. It was released in January 2000 by Clay Walker as the third single from his album Live, Laugh, Love. "The Chain of Love" reached a peak of number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, providing Walker with his thirteenth Top Ten hit on that chart. It was also his second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Full Moon</i> (Charlie Daniels album) Charlie Daniels record

Full Moon is the eleventh studio album by Charlie Daniels and the eighth as the Charlie Daniels Band, released on July 18, 1980. It produced two hit singles for the band, "In America" and "The Legend of Wooley Swamp". The group dedicated the album to Tommy Caldwell, who had died on April 28, 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll with Me</span> 2008 single by Montgomery Gentry

"Roll with Me" is a song written by Clint Daniels and Tommy Karlas, and recorded by American country music duo Montgomery Gentry. It was released in August 2008 as the second single from their album Back When I Knew It All. It became their twentieth single to reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and on the weeks of December 20—27, 2008, became their fifth and final Number One song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Behind Closed Doors (Charlie Rich song)</span> 1973 single by Charlie Rich

"Behind Closed Doors" is a country song written by Kenny O'Dell. It was first recorded by Charlie Rich for his 1973 album Behind Closed Doors. The single was Rich's first No.1 hit on the country charts, spent 20 weeks on this chart, and was also a crossover hit on the pop charts. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA for U. S. sales in excess of two million copies. Background vocals were provided by The Nashville Edition.

"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is a song written by Steve Goodman and John Prine. Prine requested to be uncredited on the song, as he thought it was a "goofy, novelty song" and did not want to "offend the country music community". Goodman released the song on his eponymous 1971 debut album Steve Goodman to little acclaim. It was more famously recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe on his 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme. It was the third single release of Coe's career and his first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard country singles charts. The song, over five minutes long, is known for its humorous self-description as "the perfect country and western song."

"Simple Man", is a song written and recorded by American music group Charlie Daniels Band. It was released in August 1989 as the lead single from their album of the same name.

"To Daddy"" is a country song, written by Dolly Parton. It was performed by Emmylou Harris in the 1970s, included on her album Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town and released as a single. Having reached number three on Billboard's Hot Country chart, Harris's version is the most familiar to most people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demon High</span> 2021 single by Lil Uzi Vert

"Demon High" is a song by American rapper Lil Uzi Vert, released on October 29, 2021. Produced by Charlie Handsome, Rex Kudo, and Pro Logic, the song sees Lil Uzi Vert sing-rapping about a failed relationship.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN   978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. Parton, Chris (November 11, 2015). "Inside Charlie Daniels' Spooky Ghost Story 'Wooley Swamp'". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. August 16, 1980. p. 67. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  4. Parton, Chris (November 11, 2015). "Inside Charlie Daniels' Spooky Ghost Story 'Wooley Swamp'". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2020.